Although Estonian ministries have indicated that they will not pay out Christmas bonuses, performance bonuses will be awarded at the end of the year or early next year; Christmas events have also changed their format, writes ERR News.
The Estonian Ministry of Culture does not plan to pay out Christmas bonuses, but it could award a bonus for good performance if the set goals are achieved, expectations are exceeded or an employee has taken on additional work duties. Ministry spokeswoman Kerttu Kaldoja indicated that the bonuses will not be awarded to all employees, and the amount has yet to be decided. She added that the festive event will take place at the ministry’s premises, and its planning is still underway, so the total costs are not yet known. The maximum budget for the event is 14,000 euros.
The head of communications at the Ministry of Finance, Elink Kink, pointed out that there will be no bonuses there either, but there will be a bonus for good performance. The ministry has introduced an evaluation system, and the amount of the bonus depends on how well the duties are performed.
The Ministry of Education will also do without bonuses, and the ministry’s representative, Mari Annusa, said that bonuses for excellent performance are awarded throughout the year and are not related to the holidays. Annusa explained that the Christmas event will take place on one of the educational institution’s properties, and will be partially organized using internal resources. Registration for the event is currently underway, and about 180 people have registered. The planned budget is about 8,000 euros.
The Estonian Ministry of Defense informed ERR that it will not pay out Christmas bonuses, and
a separate event for employees is also not planned – a holiday party is intended only for the children of employees.
The ministry’s communications manager, Ines Edur, pointed out that an evaluation system has been introduced to motivate staff, and bonuses are awarded only if specific goals are achieved. The funds for bonuses come from the ministry’s salary fund, and a specific amount will be determined at the end of the year.
Christmas bonuses and a holiday ball are also not planned at the Ministry of Social Affairs. Employees who have shown excellent performance could receive bonuses at the end of January. Performance evaluations are held in January, and detailed performance indicators have been developed for each employee, while managers use evaluation cards to evaluate results. The amount of bonuses will depend on the available budget.
Evelin Allas, a representative of the Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs, informed that bonuses for excellent performance are awarded throughout the year, and almost a third of employees have received them. The ministry will not organize a Christmas ball, but a small event for employees’ children is planned.
The Ministry of the Interior is also not planning a Christmas party, and bonuses for employees are not planned. The head of the ministry’s personnel department, Aivi Sirp, emphasized that the ministry believes it is important to provide bonuses for excellently completed tasks.
The Climate Ministry does not have a Christmas party, but a New Year’s conference is being held, followed by an recognition ceremony. It costs about 80 euros per person. Last year, 180 employees participated, and the same number of participants are expected this year, so the event will cost about 14,000 euros.
The ministry does not pay Christmas bonuses, but at the end of the year bonuses are awarded for performance.
This has been done since the foundation of the ministry, and the amount of the bonus is up to 80% of the employee’s monthly salary.
The Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture has already held this year’s recognition event, and it cost about 14,000 euros. Each participant reportedly paid a 15 euro entry fee, and 150 employees participated. The ministry does not pay Christmas bonuses.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs awards performance bonuses to employees, but not Christmas bonuses. This ministry also uses an evaluation system, and not every employee receives bonuses, and their amounts also vary. The ministry will organize a festive event, and its participants will each pay a 15 euro entry fee. It is expected that about 200 people will participate in the event, and the budget is about 13,000 euros.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications will host a recognition event, the total budget of which is about 35,000 euros. Employees will pay a 20 euro entry fee, while guests of the event who do not work at the ministry will pay a 35 euro entry fee. Performance bonuses are also planned, but this will be evaluated in January.
Other government institutions are also making significant bonuses, for example, the head of the presidential office will receive 10,500 euros.
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