[cpplinuxdude]

It has occurred to me that bonuses don't suit me well. As a software engineer my ability to work rests upon many different layers of knowledge (my trade), assumptions (there will be electricity at my client's office when I arrive), beliefs (I will get paid).

I work hard to make sure each of these elements are in place, so that I can free my mind of them, and focus on my work.

Well a bonus turns one of my most important factors for employment into a variable, based on my performance. This is a cognitive load that I refuse to bear while carrying out my trade.

If you read up on research regarding bonuses they also seem to lead to worse performance when it comes to cognitive tasks, and I'm unwilling to work with a company that doesn't use data, facts and reason as some of their driving factors.

[dagw]

Having worked at a couple of places that did bonuses I've come regard them as a bad thing. Even when the formula for calculating bonuses is completely open and data driven it still feels unfair and quite arbitrary since on an individual level there is little you can do to control for most of the factors. There are few things that can create in-company animosity more than feeling you didn't get your bonus because some other team slacked off or not getting a bonus while another group does despite feeling you worked at least as hard as they did.

[znebby]

If you read up on research regarding bonuses they also seem to lead to worse performance when it comes to cognitive tasks, and I'm unwilling to work with a company that doesn't use data, facts and reason as some of their driving factors.

Doesn't that exclude you from all major tech companies? Also, I'd be interested in reading this research if you have a link to it?

[cpplinuxdude]

time.com/3342841/bonus-bad-news/

Yes it does, but I pretty much regard work as I do dating. In this respect being selective usually pays.

[Ntrails]

At the end of every year I'll be bemused when my employer gives me a chunk of free money for essentially doing the job I'm paid to do. I'll say a slightly awkward "Thank you, you really didn't have to..." and wander away from the meeting.

I don't understand bonuses really, I've come to simply accept they're a thing that happens and I'll cross that bridge when I come to it each year.

[toomuchtodo]

They exist to reward when times are good, but to not require pay cuts when times are lean.

[option_greek]

What about year end hikes ? Aren't they variable too.

[cpplinuxdude]

I'm a contractor.