Bonus systems are a common means in trying to motivate employees to perform well.
However, there is still disagreement regarding the effects of bonus systems. Some theories
even suggest that such systems could cause an increase in risk-behavior. This makes
further research regarding bonus systems warranted, especially when applied in high-risk
organizations. This study aims to explore potential effects on safety-related behavior associated
with bonus systems currently used at Swedish nuclear power plants. Fifteen semi-structured
A large proportion of companies around the world are presently making use of monetary incentives in the form of so-called
bonus systems in order to motivate employees to perform better (Patton, 1972). However, there are still disagreements regarding
the real effect of bonuses on motivation and performance (Pfeffer, 1997). While a few studies have found indications of increased
motivation and improved performance due to monetary incentives such as bonuses under some conditions (e.g. Engellandt &
Riphahn, 2011; Kahn & Sherer, 1990), there are also studies showing no or even negative effects of incentive systems.
Workplace accidents are increasingly common and one of the biggest issues facing employers today is the safety of their
employees. Organizational practices that promote safety are vital for organizations in general and high-risk organizations in
particular. As a consequence, many high-risk organizations use bonus systems that are more or less directed towards achieving
safety through improved safety-related performance among its employees. However, empirical research is scant regarding the
effects of these systems and the results from the little research that has been conducted are mixed as well. Some evidence
suggests that bonus systems that reward safety behavior could result in a decreased accident frequency (Goodrum & Gangwar,
2004). However, other research suggests that bonus systems designed to reward employees for working injury-free over a set
period of time could be detrimental due to underreporting of accidents as a result of fear among the workforce of losing their