With the U.S. economy chugging along, even as the Euro Zone falters, and the Great Recession fully in the rear-view mirror for those of us who have full-time jobs, the 2014-15 bonus season may bring some welcome rewards for your people.
According to HR and benefits consulting firm Aon Hewitt, 91% of companies surveyed are setting aside funds for a variable-pay program, comprising a record-high 12.7% of payroll. Such incentives are designed to reward and retain high-performing employees, a trend that HR professionals haven't seen since before the economic downturn.
Concurrently, even the average employee can look forward to a decent pay raise this year and into next – probably approaching 3% for many workers. Of course, it varies somewhat depending on industry and geography, but the overall outlook for the U.S. workforce this year is distinctly upbeat.