Reality Check: Not Everyone Deserves a Bonus

The everyone-gets-a-trophy syndrome has officially gone too far. The millennial generation was raised on this incentive-killing practice because parents and educators determined it was “fair” that every kid be rewarded just for showing up. And now that attitude has made its way into corporate America in the form of bonuses for all, and it smells like something out of a locker room three days after a soccer game played in the mud.

According to a study by Towers Watson, nearly a quarter of employers surveyed admitted to paying bonuses even to employees who “fail to meet expectations.” To some, this is considered fair. Their argument might be that if you show up every day, you’re reliable, and therefore deserve to be rewarded. Truth is, not everyone can be a star, right? My question to all employers, executives and managers is, how long do you think it will take for the damage you’re causing by rewarding subpar performance to set in and destroy your business?

With the end of 2013 only a few weeks away, many business leaders are starting their annual compensation considerations and are working out the details about bonuses and raises. And many feel that they can’t give

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Posted on November 14, 2013 .