ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade Business Related Discussion Bonus Results

So far I've not done anything negative. I analyze the job and go over it with them and encourage. I remind them that they blew an opportunity to make some money etc. Some people are motivated, some could care less and just want a check. Those don't hang around long.

I don't do such jobs. Our largest jobs only run maybe six months.

What do you mean? Trying to beg off the job? They work where I need them.

If they are fired or quit I keep the bonus.

I don't have all the answers. I am leaning towards cutting their pay for losing jobs according to their time on the job. The same formula that is applied when they win. I suspect that would do more harm than good but I'm not totally opposed to it. It just hasn't been a real issue yet. When I determine I've got a guy with a production/attitude problem, I replace him, after giving him motivational talks first. If he doesn't improve after a few talks he's a goner. Sooner if he's got an attitude problem.

I don't have answers either, and was just looking for some.

I had a great boss several years ago, he gave us a fixed bonus to start at christmas and doubled it every year. As employees we'd already survived the cull rate and proven our worth - he was with the crew on every job and promoted a strong drive to knock it out and keep moving. my bonus if I had stayed with him ten years would have been 40,000. I believe he would have kept his word too.
I would have been happy knowing I would get $600 every year (Kicking myself for not staying but at the time I found him overstepping and trying to manage our personal lives too including telling me that my wife was holding me back in my work life the damn shame is I quit but he was right)
I'd say don't play favorites, issue a fair bonus if any, and put a "bonus gripe department" sign on a shop door that leads to the alley
a bonus is a gift -performance based- but a gift. never let them forget that.

I have been thinking of making the hourly rate a little less then the norm with a system similar to teester. This way there is a double incentive to get the bonus.