There was a great little piece in The Standard's 'City Spy' column Monday. And it concerned a Goldman employee, who is said to have been upset over the size of his bonus.

The story goes that the Goldman staffer, said to be a 'senior executive in hedge fund sales', was so fed up after being told his bonus number, that he returned to his desk, picked up his chair and hurled it across the trading floor. The chair is said to have demolished a 'bank' of PCs. If true, the staffer is lucky to still have a job, let alone a bonus!

Whilst on the subject of bonuses, according to the Financial Times, a new survey undertaken by recruiter Morgan McKinley has revealed that 44% of City employees polled expect a 30% increase on last year's bonus, while 21% believe that their increase will be 100% or more! That said, the recruitment firm appears to have based its data on the views of just 145 'City professionals'.

Finally, don't underestimate the emotional stresses which come with anticipating the size of your bonus cheque. And it's not always about the money. It's sometimes the peer pressure of others finding out that your bonus isn't as big as theirs. It's about having to swagger around pretending that you've been paid up big. It's about having to spend a fortune in the bar, just to give the impression that you've go a big wad, It's about the feeling of self-worth and of being valued. But it's clearly also about the dosh. After all, a big bonus and a big ego often go hand in hand.

Will you get the bonus you deserve ?

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