Performance, pay & rewards · Core

Sign-on bonus

Also called: joining bonus

ELI5

A payment offered for joining an organisation.

Used in conversation

“The announcement should not get ahead of the agreed process for sign-on bonus.”

Pitch context

You will see “Sign-on bonus” in organisation plans, workforce reviews, change programmes and people reports when the discussion reaches performance, pay & rewards.

Why it matters: In performance, pay & rewards, a loose definition can change rights, obligations, approval, disclosure or enforceability.

Caution

Meaning, enforceability and required process vary by jurisdiction and agreement; this definition is not legal advice.

Sources & evidence · 2

Direct term-level sources and supporting source families.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — BLS GlossaryDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-16
OECD — G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance 2023Direct source · institutional · checked 2026-08-16