Only 20 percent of employees expect their year-end bonus will be more generous than last year's, while the inflation mounted to 4.4 percent, according to a survey by Chinese-language newspaper National Business Daily.

Among the 80 participants of the survey, 46.68 percent said their bonus may be "as much as last year", 9.88 percent expect no bonus and 6.17 percent think "it will be less than that of 2009", the newspaper reported Friday.

In most industries, companies give the year-end bonus following a double pay rule, the report said. "I think the amount of my year-end bonus may amount to one to two months salary," one Kelon Electric employee said. " I don't expect a bonus rise as my salary remains the same."

In some special industries, the amount of annual bonus will mainly depend on their companies, a lawyer told the paper. As a lawyer, there are no specific standards to measure achievements, so the amount of their bonuses will depend on their bosses. Most employees will see the same amount as their bonus checks from 2009. According to data from job agency Zhaopin.com, the average annual bonus in 2009 was 4,029 yuan (US$599.11).

However, employees in the auto and real estate industries may get more generous year-end bonuses, because both industries have experienced outstanding sales achievements in 2010. The average bonus for a general house salesman may be around 10,000 yuan, according to the report.

According to anther survey conducted by Zhaopin.com, companies also have different ways for bonus payment. Ninety percent give the year-end bonus by cash, twenty percent grant shopping cards, and 18 percent provide goods for their workers.

(chinadaily.com.cn December 6, 2010)