It's what so many employees expect during the first quarter of every new year: a large bonus deposited directly into their bank accounts.

The checks are mostly still being calculated, but it is reasonable to think that they will, on average, be reduced compared to those of 2023 or 2022.

The average bonuses paid to employees during the month of January were 21% lower than the previous year. And this trend affects everyone from the lowest roles up to CEOs.

Depending on the industry and role, bonuses can represent a large portion of an employee's short-term compensation. This means that they can also influence significant economic choices, such as the purchase of a new car.

It would appear that what is influencing bonuses is not how companies performed in 2023, but how they thought they would perform, according to Todd McGovern, global leader of Korn Ferry Total Rewards.

Bonuses are often based, at least in part, on the degree to which employees and companies exceed expectations. In 2021 and 2022, in the wake of the pandemic, those expectations were set at an extremely conservative level.

When the economy recovered in 2021 and continued to do so, well, in 2022, reaching the data targets was certainly easier.

The goals were increased considerably for 2023. It seemed that, in the post-pandemic world, companies could do even better.

Explaining the situation to employees can be difficult for leaders and unfortunately, experts say, bonuses are often given without any explanation.

Leaders should share reasons for why bonuses are what they are, whether they are higher or lower than expected.

Otherwise, and this is what too often happens, from being an element of motivation and retention, they become factors that accelerate the exit of the best collaborators.