I was going to post an attachment but wasn't sure how to do it so it would be available to the list, so here are the results to my request on the listserv for info on how bonuses for staff members are determined at other Michigan libraries, without the submitters' names (and in some cases, shortened to pertinent data) : Each full-time staff member received the same bonus amount. I think it had something to do with the 20% pay for insurance FT staff pay into. The part-time staff received a percentage of the full-time amount based on the number of hours they worked. 1. …all part-time staff receive a $50 bonus annually and full-time get $100, regardless of level of responsibility, position title, or number of years worked. In addition, during the annual employee appreciation dinner, longevity certificates for full-time employees are given out for milestone years: 5-, 10-, 20-, and 30-years-of-service. Along with the certificate recognizing service there are Chamber of Commerce certificates (so not cash, but money that can be spent at almost any business in the county). I haven't worked full-time long enough to know if these increase with the service years, but at 5-years the recognition was valued at $50.00. 2. My Board decided to enact a 'longevity bonus' system. It is separate from regular wage increases and has four steps at five year increments. The bonuses are for all employees...PT and FT. $250/yr for years 5-9 $500/year for years 10-14 $750/yr for years 15-19 $1,000/yr for years 20+ The Board reserved the right to analyze this annually and determine if funds were available. The bonus is paid with the payroll check that encompasses the employee's anniversary. You could structure this any way your Board would like. It was a nice appreciation when budgets were pretty lean. We do have quite a few employees on the low end, several in the middle two tiers and a couple at the top. I can't say this is the reason for retention, but it helps. _-I wonder what the pay ranges are for your employees, in order to compare them with mine, for an estimate of a comparable bonus relative to pay. Sue_ General starting wages are: Clerk - $10.59/hr (all PT) up to $15/hr Reference Librarian - $16.52 (PT) up to $20/hr Dept. Head - $21.63/hr (FT) up to $25/hr Director - $28.84/hr (FT) up to $32/hr 3. We receive very generous bonuses at Christmas. They are mostly based on years of service and whether they are part time or full time. 4. …for what it is worth - when I worked for the State [Library of Michigan], they had longevity pay based on hours worked - some sort of formula. It did not kick in until you reached a threshold and then it increased by intervals of additional hours worked. 5. We pay 0.50 for every hour you worked (not including holidays, vacation or anything like that). I get $0.25 per hour my part timers are at $0.50. If it makes any difference they and I have always gotten very positive reviews. In Dorr the board won't authorize paying bonuses but we have a credit card [Citi Bank Thank you Rewards card] that accumilates points so everyone picked a gift card that they wanted and that's what they got. Interest rates are [competitive], but we earn points; the most popular choices here are: Cabela's, Home Depot, TJ Max, Barnes and Noble, Victoria Secret and Kohl's but there also some great restaurant ones as well. It also helps us thank our volunteers who also got a gift card last year. We can get them in $25 denominations. 6. We issue longevity bonuses at the end of each year. 5-9 years $250 10-14 years $400 15 + years $500 This comes to about $2000 in bonuses each year. We are a class 4 library and both full and part time employees are eligible for the bonuses Thank you to all who responded; it helped facilitate the discussion with my board! Susan Riegler, Director Alden District Library