Hi ajapale,
Mu bonus is based on individual performance and is subjective. There is a scoring system at the annual review and my rating for 2004 was higher than previous year. Objectives are set annually, however there is no actual link to the bonsues. It is the intention of the company to eventually have a transparent system however that does not exist at the moment. I was also on maternity leave in 2001 and my bonus was not affected, it actually went up considerably as I had been promoted just before I went on maternity leave. Just to add my contract of employment states that bonues are discretinoary but may no reference to them being prorated for maternity leave. I am aware of an instution where the terms of employment do state that the bonus will be prorated for maternity leave.