Over one-third of wage earners do not expect to receive a year-end bonus just ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, a human-resources professional said yesterday.
"According to our survey, about 36 percent of working adults don't expect to receive a year-end bonus from their employers," said Rocky Yang (
Taiwanese firms traditionally give employees the year-end bonus prior to the Lunar New Year, which starts on Jan. 31.
Some wage earners were not upbeat about receiving a bonus.
"It's nearly impossible for me to get a year-end bonus this year," said Pauline Kao (
She blamed the bad economy for the lack of a red envelope, adding that three years ago she received four months' pay in her year-end bonus, but last year she didn't get any bonus at all.
"I plan to quit and look for a new job after the Chinese New Year," Kao said.
"I won't be surprised if the company doesn't award any bonus this year," said a China Airlines employee that requested anonymity.
Nevertheless, Yang unveiled the results yesterday of an online survey that showed 89 percent of companies surveyed will hand out bonuses.
Between Nov. 23 and Nov. 30, 104 Job Bank surveyed 1,252 human-resource professionals and 4,840 workers over the Internet.
On average, companies plan to distribute 1.3 months year-end bonus the survey showed -- less than last year's 1.4 months.
Staff at banking and insurance companies are expected to receive the largest red envelopes, with 1.9 months' pay to be handed out in bonuses.
No. 2 and No. 3 on the list were information-technology companies, who are expected to hand 1.5 months in additional pay, and international trading companies at 1.4 months.
Retailers, travel services and the food-and-beverage sector are ranked at the bottom of this year's year-end bonus givers, with employees estimated to receive about half a month's pay, the survey showed.
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