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We have had cash bonuses but they are (wait for it?) uniform -- and they have been based on company-wide events.

Also reasonable! A little annoying though, since I find most people are better served by uniform paychecks, but I understand the celebratory aspect.

It doesn't happen often enough for you to rely on it for budgeting, it's a nice surprise, not something that you think of as part of your regular compensation.

(I've worked at places where your "bonus" was regular, until it wasn't: that did not go over well...)

The first startup I worked at had a year-end bonus tied to meeting all of a list of company goals. The last year I was there, the list consisted of 3 engineering goals and 1 sales goal. We had around 25 engineers and 2 salespeople.

We nailed the three engineering goals by about October. Sales didn’t hit their goal. No bonus for anyone.

You want to build animosity in a company? I can’t think of a better way than that.

Oh, I failed to say annual bonuses. Actual, true bonuses make more sense that way.

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