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Unpaid Bonuses or Incentives - Definition, Causes, and Solutions

What are Unpaid Bonuses or Incentives?

Unpaid Bonuses or Incentives are earned performance-based rewards, commissions, or additional compensation that an organization has committed to but has not yet disbursed to employees. These are contractually promised or policy-based payments that remain outstanding despite employees fulfilling the required conditions or achieving the specified targets.
Key components include:
  • Earned but unpaid performance bonuses
  • Sales commissions due
  • Achievement-based incentives
  • Promised rewards
  • Deferred compensation
  • Target-linked payments
Types typically include:
  • Annual performance bonuses
  • Sales commissions
  • Project completion bonuses
  • Retention incentives
  • Production incentives
  • Team performance rewards
  • Holiday or festival bonuses
Impact areas:
  • Employee morale
  • Financial planning
  • Legal obligations
  • Trust in management
  • Workplace satisfaction
  • Employee retention
  • Company reputation
This situation often requires resolution through proper communication, documentation, and eventual payment to maintain employee trust and comply with compensation agreements and labour laws.

Different Flavors of Bonuses

Performance Bonuses

These are like report card rewards for grown-ups. Hit your targets, exceed expectations, and there’s extra money coming your way. At least, that’s how it’s supposed to work!

Sign-on Bonuses

Think of these as welcome gifts with strings attached. “Join us and get this sweet deal!” But sometimes companies forget about the “get” part after you’ve already joined.

Sales Incentives

For sales teams, this is their bread and butter. Every sale adds a little extra to their plate – when the company actually serves it up, that is.

Why Bonuses Go MIA

The Money Isn't There

Sometimes companies promise bonuses like parents promise Disneyland – with all the right intentions but not always the means to follow through.

Fuzzy Rules

When bonus policies are clearer than mud, you get situations where nobody knows exactly what’s owed to whom.

When Bonuses Don't Show Up (The Real Impact)

On People's Morale

Imagine saving up for something special, counting on that bonus, then… nothing. It’s not just about the money – it hits differently:
  • Trust breaks faster than your New Year’s resolutions
  • Motivation drops lower than your phone battery at day’s end
  • That Friday feeling? Gone with the wind

On Staying or Leaving

When promised money doesn’t show up:
  • People start updating their LinkedIn faster than their Instagram
  • Job portals become more visited than food delivery apps
  • Water cooler conversations turn into job hunt strategy sessions

Company Reputation

Bad news travels faster than office gossip. One unpaid bonus story can:
  • Turn away potential hires
  • Make current employees nervous
  • Give competitors something to whisper about

What Companies Need to Do

Be Crystal Clear No one likes surprises unless it’s their birthday. Companies should:
  • Spell out bonus rules clearer than a Netflix subscription
  • Keep promises like they keep client commitments
  • Track everything better than a mom tracks her kids’ homework

Employee Rights (Know Your Worth!)

Understanding What's Yours

First things first – know what you’re entitled to:
  • Read that bonus policy like you read restaurant reviews
  • Keep records better than you keep your shopping receipts
  • Ask questions if something’s unclear (it’s your money we’re talking about!)

Speaking Up

When your bonus pulls a disappearing act:
  • Start with your manager (they’re usually your first line of defense)
  • Document everything (save those emails like you save birthday wishes)
  • Follow up regularly (but professionally – no angry emoji storms!)

Making Sure Bonuses Actually Happen

Smart Company Moves

Prevention is better than cure:
  • Write policies clearer than your mom’s cooking instructions
  • Keep enough money aside (don’t spend the bonus budget on fancy office furniture!)
  • Stay on top of payments like you stay on top of your Netflix schedule

Regular Check-ups

Companies need to:
  • Track bonus commitments like they track project deadlines
  • Review policies more often than they update their software
  • Listen to employee concerns before they become employee complaints

Mrs. Manju Diyya

Vice President – Tech
She is a versatile professional with a robust educational foundation spanning both the realms of chemical engineering and physical sciences. She holds degrees from esteemed institutions such as JNTU for Chemical Engineering and Osmania University for Physical Sciences. Additionally, she has expanded her expertise by earning a certification in Data Science from Intellipaat in collaboration with IIT, Chennai. With a solid background in both academia and practical application, she demonstrates a profound understanding of data science, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). She is a dynamic individual characterized by her analytical mindset and a proven ability to drive meaningful outcomes through data-driven methodologies.

Mrs. Yuhana Hassan

Associate Vice President – Strategic Planning & Business Expansion
With almost a decade of distinguished experience in senior business management, she brings a wealth of expertise in overseeing different divisions within the IT sector. Known for her strategic thinking and deep understanding of global market trends, she has successfully expanded businesses across vibrant markets in South East Asia and the Middle East. As a leader, she has led efforts in brand development and strategic planning, driving organizational growth and positioning the company as a market leader. Beyond her strategic role, her dynamic leadership style and unwavering commitment to excellence continuously boost our company’s performance.

Chandra Babu T

Lead – Business Development
IT professional with 20+ years of experience in program management, product management, delivery management, pre-sales, and process management. Started career as a Java developer from there onwards rose to different positions in companies like Birlasoft and Unisys Global Services. Major projects are involved in GE Money, Angola National ID, United Airlines, SIDBI Bank’s Enterprise Loan Management System, Bayshore Community Healthcare Services & Health Serve, etc.

Jeelani Sheik

Chief Marketing Officer
Jeelani Sheik, a seasoned marketing leader with 20+ years in the IT industry, specializes in digital marketing and product development. His expertise lies in leveraging data-driven insights in digital marketing to produce the best possible results within budget constraints, fueling growth for small enterprises and startups. Beyond marketing, Jeelani’s proficiency extends to delivery management, strategic planning, and process development, evident in his track record of establishing and scaling delivery centers, fostering key relationships, and leading transformative programs during his tenure in TCS and Tech Mahindra. As Spryple’s CMO, he drives innovative marketing strategies, enhancing brand visibility and spearheading growth.

Srinivas Somisetti

Chief Product Officer
Srinivas, an experienced IT leader with over 20+ years of expertise, focuses on product and project/operations management. He ensures top-notch software quality in various sectors such as HRMS, healthcare, ERP, and general insurance, serving major clients in India, Middle East and the USA. Starting his HRMS journey in 2001, Worked for Temple Technologies, 3i Infotech, Saahi Systems and Tetrasoft companies, played SME Role in conceptualizing and Developing HRMS Solutions in his previous companies and also took the ownership of multiple HRMS implementation systems. Proficient in both Waterfall and Agile methodologies, especially Scrum, he has played a key role in establishing quality processes, contributing to achieve CMMI level 3 in multiple organizations. He continues to support startups, offering assistance from their inception. He also excels in developing e-commerce platforms and news portals. Beyond IT, he manages his family’s school business.

Sree Lahari Raavi

Co-Founder SPRYPLE HR
Over the course of the last 10 years, her unwavering dedication and unparalleled expertise have played a pivotal role in transforming our startup’s trajectory. In these 10+ years of her startup journey, she has guided the teams in developing applications in Healthcare Technologies (Sanela Healthcare). In addition to this, she has managed the delivery of client projects like NDTCO and Hibbett. Her tenure at Accenture, serving esteemed clients such as Zurich Financial Services, underscores her depth of experience and her capacity to navigate complex challenges with finesse.

Mr. Sriganesh Sivasubramanian

Sr.Vice President – HR Lead
HR professional with a Master’s Degree in Commerce and an Executive Post Graduate Diploma in HR Management. Had been with IT majors and MNCs, viz. HCL Technologies, Deloitte Consulting, Tech Mahindra, and Sanela Technology for over 35 years in a managerial capacity for Talent Management, Talent Acquisition, Talent Development, and Global Mobility Management. Green belt certified process improvement specialist from Deloitte .

Mr. Venkateswarlu Boora

Chief Executive Officer
Venkateswarlu Boora, as the founder and CEO, being a Techpreneur, has transformed the HRMS & Payroll solutions landscape. Started journey with Healthcare Technology Solutions. He is known for his customer-centric approach followed by relentless innovations in Information Technology. In his 25 years of IT journey, worked for MNCs like TCS, Accenture, and served major clients like Zurich Financial Services, Bank of America, AC Nielsen, CVS Caremark, Ericsson, and HR across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. In his journey as a techpreneur, he established teams and provided many IT solutions for both Public and Private sectors in India, Malaysia, and the USA. His ventures, Sanela Healthcare Software and Sreeb Technologies, proudly count ISRO, NDTCO, and Hibbett among their esteemed clients.