Is My Employee Eligible for a Diwali Bonus After Joining Last Year?

Please let me know about the eligibility of an employee for getting a bonus. If an employee joined a Pvt Ltd firm in May 2011, is he eligible for a bonus in November 2012 or not? Please reply.

Regards,
Hema

No, you will be eligible for the year 2013 bonus as it is calculated on a financial year basis. So, from the date of joining until the end of the next financial year in March 2013, the bonus will be paid either on Diwali or from April onwards.

When he joins in May 2011, he is eligible from May 2011 to March 2012 and receives a bonus in 2012.

Bonus Distribution and Eligibility

Different companies have different cutoff dates to distribute bonuses, such as on Deepawali or New Year. The main consideration here is eligibility. A company can distribute bonuses based on the accrual at the cutoff date.

So simple and clear! 

Regards,
Chill HR

Eligibility for Bonus

As far as eligibility is concerned, every employee who is drawing wages up to and inclusive of Rs. 10,000 (Basic + DA) per month and who has worked for a minimum period of 30 days in a year is entitled to be paid a bonus. It should be disbursed within 8 months from the last date of the financial year, i.e., 31st March every year.

Regards,
Sandesh Sarode

If a man joins in May 2011, he will be eligible for a bonus. The calculation period will be from May 2011 to March 2012, with the payable date set for 30.11.2012. It is important to note that he/she should not draw a monthly salary exceeding Rs10,000/- per month.

Hope it's clear now.

Thanks & Regards,
VK Sharma
HR, Tarapur

Types of Bonuses

In case of a bonus, there are two types of bonuses. One is part of the CTC structure, and the other is a profit-sharing bonus.

CTC Structure Bonus

In the part of the CTC structure, it depends on the concerned company's HR policy as to when they will pay. Most companies usually pay during Diwali for the benefit of employees for Diwali expenses. Some companies also pay the same in April. The eligibility criteria depend on the company's strategies. The bonus calculation is based on 8.33% of the basic salary + D.A. on a prorate basis.

Profit-Sharing Bonus

Regarding profit-sharing bonuses, most companies issue them after the completion of the financial year, according to the final balance sheet of the company in April or May, but this is not mandatory. Therefore, most companies issue the bonus as part of the CTC only.

Regards,
Santosh Kulkarni
HR-Payroll, Aurangabad

If you are referring to the bonus payable under the Payment of Bonus Act, the employee who joined in May 2011 will be eligible to receive a bonus for the accounting year April 2011 to March 2012, payable by November 2012.

Regards,
B. Saikumar
Mumbai

Your query is about eligibility for a bonus under the Payment of Bonus Act 1965. Under the provisions of the Act, an employee who works for 30 days in an accounting year is entitled to a bonus. The accounting year means the year commencing from April to March every year. In your case, the employee has worked in the accounting years from May 2011 to March 2012 and as such, he is entitled to a bonus in November 2012. If he continues to be in employment from April 2012 onwards for 30 days or more, then he is also entitled to a bonus for the year April 2012 to March 2013. Hope this will satisfy you. For more clarification, please write to me at [Email Removed For Privacy Reasons] or call on [Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons].

Regards,
Avinash Kanoray
HR & Manpower Consultant and Trainer

Your queries are quite relevant. There is a simple guideline: if any employees whose salary is up to Rs. 10k per month and have worked continuously for at least 30 days in that financial year, they are entitled to a bonus within 8 months of the closing of that financial year under the Payment of Bonus Act.

Regards,
Madhuresh