Poll Finds 41% of Workers Would Be Insulted by Low Bonus

MAYNARD, Mass., November 2010 -- A recent survey of 14,066 people looking for jobs worldwide found that 41 percent would be insulted to be offered a low bonus. (7 percent of those respondents stated that they'd rather receive nothing instead of a low bonus). Alternatively, 34 percent of respondents indicated that any incentive would be welcome and additionally 25 percent don't automatically expect to receive one at all.

The trend was especially apparent in Asia, where over 76 percent of workers said they would be insulted by a low bonus.

Monster, the leading job matching engine and flagship brand of Monster Worldwide, Inc., posed the question, "Would you be insulted by a low bonus?" The key findings were:

Yes, I work hard and deserve more - 34%

Yes, I'd rather have no bonus than a low bonus - 7%

No, in this climate anything is welcome - 34%

No, I don't automatically expect to get a bonus - 25%

Workers in India (78%), Mexico (52%) and Hungary (44%) were the most likely to take offence to a low bonus. Workers in India were also the most likely to prefer no bonus over a low one.

Within the Americas, US respondents were the least likely to be insulted and seemed more sympathetic to the current climate with 39 percent of respondents feeling that anything is welcome. Workers in the Netherlands seem to be the least likely to expect a bonus at all with 39 percent reporting as such.

"In challenging economic times, many workers are squeezed due to employer headcount reductions, and as such may feel entitled to a bonus that's befitting of the extra value they're providing," said Jeffrey Quinn, business intelligence, Monster.

"The fact that a sizable percentage of respondents worldwide would prefer getting a low bonus (34%), speaks to the larger need for employers to ensure their workers are feeling valued and are receiving positive feedback and incentives on a regular basis.

Employee award programs, office outings for high performing teams and spot bonuses for above-and-beyond contributions can go a long way in this regard, and take the pressure off the annual bonus as being regarded as the ultimate performance indicator."