When a bonus is grated to the CEO or any other employee at a company, the company must record an accrued bonus liability. The company would debit bonus expense and credit accrued bonus (liability).
The typical bonus amount can range from 1% to 15% of an employee's salary, usually depending on a number of factors such as industry, company performance, and individual or team accomplishments. The average bonus for employees continues to rise over time. In 2020, the average employee bonus was only 8.1%.
For example, if you plan to issue a 5 percent bonus at the end of the quarter, accrue 5 percent of your total salary expense during each month's closing cycle. Post a debit to your employee bonuses account for the total amount of the accrual, followed by a credit to the bonus accrual account.
Bonuses are additional incentives offered to employees on top of their regular salary, often aimed at increasing productivity and enhancing employee retention. Most bonuses can be categorized as either discretionary (not guaranteed) or nondiscretionary (guaranteed, as shown in your employment contract).
Allocate bonuses to each division or work group. Give each employee in a certain group -- for example, the administration division -- the same bonus. This method rewards and encourages cohesive group performance, but rewards non-performing team members at the same level as the hardest workers.
You may get a bonus one year but nothing the next, so be sure you understand how your employer selects people to receive a year-end bonus. Executives receive higher bonuses that can multiply based on performance, while most employees earn bonuses equal to 1% to 5% of their overall salary.