Compt: How to Give a Spot Bonus - Admins
A spot bonus allows Admins to manually add extra stipend funds to one or more Employees. These funds can be applied to an existing active stipend the Employee already has, or to a dedicated spot bonus stipend created specifically for one-time awards.
Spot bonuses are commonly used to provide additional support, recognition, or a one-time stipend amount outside of the regular recurring funding schedule. Once issued, the funds behave like normal stipend funds and can be used by the Employee according to that stipend’s rules.
OVERVIEW
Compt is a platform employers use to manage stipends, reimbursements, and Business Expense programs for Employees. A stipend is a set amount of money your company provides for eligible expenses.
A spot bonus is a manual funding adjustment that adds extra money to an Employee’s stipend balance. Admins can choose the amount, currency, stipend destination, expiration date when applicable, and include a message explaining the bonus.
Some companies create a dedicated spot bonus stipend. This keeps one-time bonuses separate from regular stipends and allows Admins to issue custom amounts and expiration dates without affecting other stipend budgets.
WHEN TO USE
Use a spot bonus when you need to:
- Reward an Employee with additional stipend funds
- Issue a one-time bonus outside the recurring stipend schedule
- Provide a custom stipend amount for a specific situation
- Award funds without changing the regular stipend structure
BEFORE YOU START
Before issuing a spot bonus, confirm that:
- You have Admin access in Compt
- The Employee already exists in the Team tab
- The stipend you want to use is active
- If selecting multiple Employees, they all share the same active stipend
- If using a dedicated spot bonus stipend, it already exists on the Stipends page
If multiple Employees are selected, only stipends shared by all selected Employees appear in the For Use Toward dropdown.
HOW TO
To give a spot bonus:
- Log into Compt.
- Click Stipend admin, then Team.
- Select the checkbox next to one or more Employees.
- Click Actions.
- Click Give Spot Bonus.
- Review the For section to confirm the correct Employee or Employees are selected.
- Enter the bonus amount in Bonus Per Team Member.
- Open the For Use Toward dropdown.
- Select the stipend that should receive the bonus.
- If one Employee is selected, review that Employee’s active stipends.
- If multiple Employees are selected, review the stipends shared by all selected Employees.
- Review the Usable through field.
- If using a dedicated spot bonus stipend, choose a custom expiration date if needed.
- If adding the bonus to an existing stipend, confirm the bonus should follow that stipend’s existing expiration rules.
- Review the Currency field.
- Update the currency if needed.
- Enter a note in the Message to Team Member if you want the Employee to understand what the bonus is for.
- Click Confirm Bonus.
- Confirm the spot bonus has been issued.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
The bonus funds are issued immediately after you click Confirm Bonus.
Employees will see the added balance in their stipend and can submit a claim using those funds according to the stipend’s eligible categories and your company’s policy.
Reimbursement is processed through payroll. For exact timing, Employees should check the FAQ tab in Compt for company-specific details.
TROUBLESHOOTING
If the stipend you want is not showing:
- Confirm the stipend is active
- If you selected multiple Employees, verify they all have the same active stipend
- Confirm the selected Employees are eligible for the stipend
If you want to issue a bonus, but the Employee does not have the stipend:
- Create a dedicated spot bonus stipend on the Stipends page
- Assign the Employee to that stipend
- Issue the spot bonus to the dedicated spot bonus stipend
If the expiration date cannot be edited:
- Confirm whether the bonus is being added to an existing stipend
- Existing stipends use their current expiration rules
- Use a dedicated spot bonus stipend if you need a custom expiration date
If the wrong Employees were selected:
- Cancel the action before clicking Confirm Bonus
- Return to the Team tab
- Select the correct Employees
FAQS
Q: What is a spot bonus?
A: A spot bonus allows Admins to manually add extra stipend funds to one or more Employees.
Q: Can I give a spot bonus to multiple Employees at once?
A: Yes. You can select multiple Employees from the Team tab and issue the same bonus amount to all selected Employees.
Q: Can a spot bonus be added to an existing stipend?
A: Yes. If the Employee already has an active stipend, the bonus can be added directly to it.
Q: Why would I create a dedicated spot bonus stipend?
A: A dedicated spot bonus stipend allows Admins to issue one-time awards without affecting an Employee’s normal stipend balances.
Q: Can I set a custom expiration date?
A: Yes, when using a dedicated spot bonus stipend. If you add the bonus to an existing stipend, the expiration follows that stipend’s existing rules.
Q: Can I add a message to the Employee?
A: Yes. The Message to Team Member field allows you to include context about the bonus, which is recommended for clarity and recordkeeping.
Q: When are spot bonus funds available?
A: Spot bonus funds are issued immediately after you click Confirm Bonus.