For some of these very reasons, many companies never engaged in a year-2000 bonus program at all.

CNN: Managers turn away from retention bonuses for Y2K

The validity of a bonus should not be at issue, but the wisdom, motives and expertise of the bonus program architects should come under great scrutiny.

FORBES: The Year End Bonus - Do You Or Don't You?

Despite the fact that SAS grants no stock options and a bonus program that can be described as modest at best, the Institute has an incredibly low turnover rate.

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The NFL previously suspended Saints coach Sean Payton for the 2012 season while levying an indefinite suspension on former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who was accused of masterminding the bonus program.

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Establish a strict bonus program, not a giveaway.

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NationsBank gives bonuses based on a companywide recognition program, but it balked at a year-2000-specific bonus plan because of the inevitably high turnover in IT, according to Bob Large, executive director of year-2000 projects at NationsBank, in Charlotte, N.

CNN: Managers turn away from retention bonuses for Y2K