A system employed to determine and distribute supplemental compensation to individuals on a recurring, typically monthly, basis utilizes a variable or randomized element in its calculation. This process introduces an element of chance or unpredictability into the final bonus amount, often based on performance metrics or other pre-defined criteria. For instance, an employee might receive a base bonus calculated on sales figures, with a further adjustment determined by a randomly selected multiplier applied to the base figure.
The implementation of such a compensation structure can serve several strategic purposes. It can incentivize improved performance by adding excitement and unpredictability to potential earnings, potentially increasing employee motivation and engagement. Historically, these systems have been utilized to foster a sense of fairness, especially in environments where direct performance attribution is complex or subjective. Furthermore, it can provide a means of controlling bonus budget expenditures by capping maximum payouts or statistically balancing overall distribution.