Bonuses

When you define course-types, you have the option of associating bonuses with each course type. When a course is defined, it uses (by default) the bonuses set for the selected course-type; however, the bonuses for a particular course can also be customized. Bonuses can be used for many things: compensation for large number of students, reimbursement of expenses, pay for grading homework, compensation for especially demanding types of courses, etc.

Bonuses are defined in three steps:

Step 1: Bonus Names

Bonus names are entered under (Accounting : Payroll : Other Bonuses : Names). Here you define the following information for a bonus

• Name. The name of the bonus.
• Rate. Is the bonus a fixed rate, i.e., a fixed amount of money? Or is it a percentage of the teacher's salary? If it is a flat-rate, then check the "rate" box. If this box it not checked, then the bonus will be calculated as a percentage of salary.
• Salary. Check this box if the bonus is additional salary for the teacher, i.e., if it is taxable. If this box it not checked, then the bonus represents expenses being refunded to the teacher, and is not regarded as part of the teacher's salary.
• Active. Checked if this bonus is currently in use, and should appear as an option for course-types and courses.
• Note. Any note that you would like to enter about this bonus.

Step 2: Bonus Rates

Bonus rates are entered under (Accounting : Payroll : Other Bonuses : Rates). Here you define the monetary amount of the bonuses. If the amount of a bonus is to change, then enter a new rate with a date in the future. For example, the figure at right shows a bonus "diploma course" that was originally defined to be Fr. 10.00, but increased to Fr. 15.00 in August 2003.

While not absolutely necessary, it is often useful to define a bonus "none" with a rate of 0. You can also see this bonus in the window at right.

Step 3: Bonus Assignment

Once you have defined the bonuses, you can assign them to course-types. Clicking the bonus-button in the course-type window opens a register, where you can define which bonuses apply to this course type. For each bonus, you enter the following information:

• Bonus. Select the name of the bonus to use
• Apply: Choose how the bonus will be applied. The choices are
  • By event. The teacher receives the bonus once for each course event, i.e., once each time the course meets.
  • By lesson. The teacher receives the bonus for each lesson. Example: if your lesson-length is 45 minutes, and a course meets for 60 minutes, then the teacher will receive 1-1/3 times the bonus amount.
  • By student and event. The teacher receives the bonus once per student attending, for each course event. For example, if four students attend, the teacher receives four times the bonus amount.
  • By student and lesson. The teacher receives the bonus once per student attending, for each course lesson. For example, if four students attend and the course event lasts for two lessons, the teacher receives eight times the bonus amount.
• Minimum: The minimum, above which a bonus is paid. Minimum has different meanings according to the setting of "Apply":
  • Apply by event. Any setting greater than 0 will annul the bonus.
  • By lesson. Refers to the number of lessons. For example, if a course event is three lessons in length, and minimum is set to one, then the teacher will receive (3 - 1) or two times the bonus amount.
  • By student and event. The minimum refers to the number of students. For example, if four students attend and minimum is set to two, the teacher receives two times the bonus amount.
  • By student and lesson. The minimum refers to the number of students. For example, if four students attend, minimum is set to one, and the course event lasts for two lessons, the teacher receives (3 - 1) * 2 or six times the bonus amount.