So your bonus was down in 2022 compared to 2021? Welcome to the club. For most people, it's not about direction, but extent. In the current climate, a 15% decline is good. Anything more than a 40% decline is bad. A zero is always awful.
The real question is what you do about your horrible bonus. Here, the advice varies.
"Banks have tested the water with this year's bonuses," says one London headhunter who focuses on the macro space, where hiring has been strongest. "They have been very mixed, even within teams, and there's a lot of concern about flight risk. Most banks have held something back in reserve to use as a counteroffer if people try to quit."