I based that one on last year. Heard this year drop. Rarely hear any exceptional. Probably need to be national hero to earn exceptional.

It is more common than you think. About 2 out of every 10

This year PB already known. From what I understand, most average ones can expect 2 - 2.5 months plus minus.

The earlier poster comes along announcing his or her superstar bonus of 3.5 months. From what I’m aware, this is not the norm for most MAS officers save for superstars.

So, the question posed is to find out if the bonus pool has increased for ordinary folks (average meaning not scholar, not superstar, not yet identified as high po), such that they may aspire to receive 3.5 months by working hard to perform well in the next year.

This being a salary forum, it is a valid question lest others go away with the misleading impression that 3.5 months is the norm in MAS.

As for the bang average officers you encounter at work, how about mustering the bravado to tell their managers? It could be that their managers are new in the role and do not want to rock the boat, otherwise, could it be that the officer who is bang average at work has some exceptional people skills such as flattery aka giving the answers your boss wants to hear! Half joking!

One of the hard truths is that managers most times don't need someone to be a high performer. They are content with the officer being average and maintaining status quo. Hence the lack of negative feedback which makes officer hallucinate that they are exemplary. There are limited places at the top and they need a pool of officers to make up the average pool.

exemplary people are usually quite obvious one. the rest are just simply normal.

HR told me that bonus is 1.9 months for average performer, and 2.5 months for good performer eh

If there no negative feedback, how you know they are hallucinating about their exceptional abilities?

Well if they are on promotion list, we will soon know whether they are bang average or bosses see something the masses don’t!

Increment to salary
 

Is the increment given based on our performance bonus?
How is it calculate?

How are people evaluated for appraisals? Are there clear work targets for individuals to fulfill?

Do most people get average ratings at the minimum, unless they mess up badly?

2 out of every 10 is "excellent", not "exceptional"...

The highest grade is for those who are clearly a cut above the rest, like some ex-staff whose names ended with "Shanmugaratnam" and "Menon".

The unwritten implication is that it also means that they are severely underpaid for their talents as compared to the private sector.