Christmas Bonus for Employees

Source: Adrian J. Adams Esq. 

QUESTION: According to an article in last week’s LA Times, boards cannot give year-end bonuses to employees without membership approval. And even then it may affect the association’s tax status. Our HOA has been giving bonuses for years. Are directors in breach of their fiduciary duties? Will we lose our tax status?

ANSWER: I received multiple emails about the LA Times article. I thought people had misread it so I looked it up online. Unfortunately, the Times article is a train wreck.

No Violation. Contrary to dire warnings by the Times writers, boards can give year-end bonuses to employees. Doing so is not a breach of their fiduciary duties and does not affect their tax status.

Christmas. Boards can even call them Christmas bonuses if they want. I know it’s politically incorrect and sends the PC police over a cliff but using the word “Christmas” does not violate the constitution. Christmas happens to be a national holiday.

Personnel Issues. Boards have the authority to hire employees and contract with vendors to provide services to the membership. This power is found in virtually every set of bylaws I’ve ever reviewed. In addition, associations (through their boards) “may exercise the powers granted to a nonprofit mutual benefit corporation” unless the governing documents specifically provide otherwise. (Civ. Code §4805(a).) This gives broad powers to boards to act on behalf of their associations.

Compensation.The authority to hire employees and contract with vendors means boards can pay for those services. An employee’s compensation can include year-end bonuses, either as part of a negotiated compensation package or as a reward to employees for rendering exemplary service to the association. Boards do not need membership approval for this. The Davis-Stirling Act specifically makes personnel and contract issues executive session topics for boards to address to the exclusion of the membership.

Case Law. The board’s authority to use HOA money for more than just repairing common areas came before the courts in Finley v. Superior Court. In that case, a board used HOA funds to fight the conversion of a nearby military base into a commercial airport. Members of the association sued claiming this was a misuse of their funds and exceeded the board’s authority. The court found that political contributions were not illegal and that boards can take actions they believe are in the best interests of the association, even if members disagree.

Benefits the Association. The Business Judgment Rule relieves directors of personal liability if their decisions are in error, provided they are in good faith and in the best interests of the association. In this case, employee bonuses benefit the association. It establishes good will with employees, promotes stability in the workforce, and encourages good work. Disaffected employees and high turnover are clearly not in the association’s interest—they can be far more costly to an association than a year-end bonus.

Tax Status. Giving a bonus to employees will not result in tax penalties or the loss of an association’s status as a nonprofit mutual benefit corporation. If boards have any concerns on this point, they should contact their association’s CPA.

RECOMMENDATION: Boards should not feel guilty about giving their employees a year-end bonus. And, they should seek legal counsel from legitimate sources.