Bonuses should 'only form small part of motivating employees'

Date: 30/03/2009

The culture of bonuses is starting to die out in the UK since the start of the economic downturn, with one commentator recommending businesses look elsewhere for their reward and recognition.

Stephen Archer made his comments to HR Zone, stating that bonuses have become a dirty word which has become almost "synonymous with avarice and unfairness", with the expert emphasising that companies should look to more traditional methods of motivating employees.

However, new strategies of team building and recognition schemes should not go in the opposite direction, with Mr Archer asserting that to produce a culture where going the extra mile is "frowned upon" would be suicidal for performance.

The motivation specialist said that a future bonus culture needs to be more transparent and performance-based, "proportionate and less widespread" with companies making bonuses a small part of their employee reward strategy.

His calls come after comments from Peter Aughton and Merrelyn Emery of the Age, who asserted that businesses must focus on motivation and not short-term gains in order to ride out the storm caused by the current economic climate.

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