Are employers obligated to pay bonuses to employees?

In Virginia, employers are not always obligated to pay bonuses to employees unless specified in an employment contract. For employers who do offer bonuses, the bonus must be paid out as stated in the contract agreement. In most cases, bonus payments are discretionary and not required by law. If an employer does offer bonuses, they must abide by the terms of the employment contract. Bonuses must be paid out in accordance with the agreement, and the employee must be aware of the bonus payment as outlined in the contract. An employer is also allowed to modify or revoke a bonus payment if it is stated in the employment contract. For example, if the agreement states that the employer has the right to change the bonus payment terms at any time, the employer is within their rights to do so. An employer is not obligated to pay out bonuses unless the agreement specifically states that bonuses will be paid to the employee. If an employer chooses to provide a bonus, the payment must be made in accordance with the terms of the contract. If an employee is uncertain of the bonus provisions of their contract, it is best to speak to their employer to clarify the details.

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