How much should a performance bonus be? On average, performance bonuses for non-executive leadership roles are 1% to 5% of an employee's annual salary.
An incentive is a broad category of rewards designed to motivate employees, including monetary and non-monetary rewards like bonuses, commissions, stock options, and extra vacation days. A performance bonus, specifically, is a financial reward given for achieving predetermined performance targets.
A common structure is tiered bonuses. Here, employees can achieve different "levels" of bonuses based on their performance metrics. For instance, reaching 80% of a target might secure a smaller bonus, while achieving 120% may earn a significantly larger one.
Be straightforward, be sincere and don't be afraid to ``toot your own horn''. Be respectful and let them know how much you love your job and what you do. Then, simply ask for your bonus (or raise). You can either leave out the amount, or if you do state an amount, be ready to negotiate.
If you're asking for a bonus for a specific project, provide facts and figures about the outcome of the project and how it exceeded the stakeholders' requirements. If you're asking for a bonus for more general reasons, offer details about why you deserve it.