
Clawback
Clawback allows an organization to recover previously disbursed compensation or benefits under specific circumstances. Implementing effective clawback provisions involves following best practices to ensure they are fair, transparent, and enforceable.
What is clawback?
Clawback refers to a contractual provision that enables an organization to reclaim previously disbursed compensation or benefits from an employee under certain circumstances. The purpose of clawback provisions is to hold individuals accountable for their actions and ensure that they do not receive financial rewards for behavior that is detrimental to the organization or violates agreed-upon terms.
What is a clawback in sales?
A clawback in sales refers to the recovery of previously paid commissions from sales professionals. This happens when a sale is canceled, a client churns early, or the customer fails to meet payment obligations within a certain timeframe.
Sales clawbacks are commonly included in incentive plans to align earnings with long-term customer success and revenue retention. For instance, if a salesperson earns a bonus for a deal that’s later refunded or reversed, the company may reclaim that commission under a clawback clause.
What is a clawback policy?
A clawback policy is a formal set of rules or guidelines established by an organization to govern the implementation and enforcement of clawback provisions. A clawback policy typically outlines the circumstances under which clawback provisions may be triggered, the process for invoking clawbacks, and the consequences for non-compliance or misconduct.
The policy may specify the types of compensation or benefits subject to clawback, such as bonuses, incentives, stock options, or other forms of compensation.
What is a clawback clause?
A clawback clause is a specific provision included in a contract, agreement, or policy that establishes the conditions under which clawback provisions may be triggered and the process for reclaiming previously disbursed compensation or benefits.
Clawback clauses are commonly found in employment contracts, executive compensation agreements, incentive plans, or corporate governance policies.
What is a clawback clause in employment contracts?
A clawback clause in employment contracts is a legal provision that allows an employer to reclaim previously paid compensation—such as bonuses, stock options, or commissions—if specific conditions are violated. These conditions might include unethical behavior, policy breaches, or financial misstatements.
Are clawbacks enforceable in every state?
The enforceability of clawbacks depends on state laws and the clarity of the contract language. While clawback provisions are widely used and generally upheld in the U.S., their enforceability varies:
- Some states enforce clawbacks strictly if the terms are explicit and fair.
- Others may limit enforcement based on employment laws, wage protection statutes, or court interpretations.
- Federal regulations (e.g., Sarbanes-Oxley, Dodd-Frank) also play a role in certain sectors like finance.
To ensure compliance, companies must draft clawback clauses carefully and stay updated on relevant state and federal laws.

Enquêtes sur le pouls des employés :
Il s'agit d'enquêtes courtes qui peuvent être envoyées fréquemment pour vérifier rapidement ce que vos employés pensent d'un sujet. L'enquête comprend moins de questions (pas plus de 10) afin d'obtenir rapidement des informations. Elles peuvent être administrées à intervalles réguliers (mensuels/hebdomadaires/trimestriels).

Rencontres individuelles :
Organiser périodiquement des réunions d'une heure pour discuter de manière informelle avec chaque membre de l'équipe est un excellent moyen de se faire une idée précise de ce qui se passe avec eux. Comme il s'agit d'une conversation sûre et privée, elle vous permet d'obtenir de meilleurs détails sur un problème.

eNPS :
L'eNPS (employee Net Promoter score) est l'un des moyens les plus simples et les plus efficaces d'évaluer l'opinion de vos employés sur votre entreprise. Il comprend une question intrigante qui permet d'évaluer la loyauté. Voici un exemple de questions posées dans le cadre de l'eNPS Quelle est la probabilité que vous recommandiez notre entreprise à d'autres personnes ? Les employés répondent à l'enquête eNPS sur une échelle de 1 à 10, où 10 signifie qu'ils sont "très susceptibles" de recommander l'entreprise et 1 signifie qu'ils sont "très peu susceptibles" de la recommander.
Sur la base des réponses, les salariés peuvent être classés dans trois catégories différentes :

- Promoteurs
Employés qui ont répondu positivement ou qui sont d'accord. - Détracteurs
Employés qui ont réagi négativement ou qui ont exprimé leur désaccord. - Passives
Les employés qui sont restés neutres dans leurs réponses.
Why are clawback clauses used?
Clawbacks are used to protect a company’s financial interests and ethical standards. They ensure accountability by allowing the recovery of payments made based on incorrect data, misconduct, or unmet performance targets. Clawback clauses are particularly valuable in executive compensation, sales commissions, and legal settlements.
When does a clawback apply?
A clawback typically applies when:
- Financial restatements reveal inaccuracies
- An employee violates policies or engages in misconduct
- A beneficiary fails to meet agreed-upon terms or targets
- Bonuses were paid based on results that didn’t sustain over time
These triggers are often predefined in employment or contractual agreements.
How do clawbacks work?
Clawbacks allow organizations to reclaim previously given compensation or benefits when specific conditions such as misconduct, financial errors, or unmet performance goals are met. The process typically includes:
- Triggering event: An incident justifying a clawback, like a financial restatement or misconduct.
- Identification: Determining who received the compensation in question.
- Notification: Informing affected individuals of the clawback.
- Recovery: Reclaiming the compensation via repayment, deductions, or adjustments.
- Documentation: Recording the rationale, process, and outcomes for transparency.
- Review: Gaining internal approval to ensure policy and legal compliance.
How is OAS clawback calculated?
The Old Age Security (OAS) clawback, also known as the OAS Recovery Tax, is a provision in the Canadian tax system that requires high-income seniors to repay a portion of their OAS pension if their annual income exceeds a certain threshold.
The OAS clawback threshold is adjusted annually and is based on the income level at which OAS benefits are fully phased out. As of 2022, the OAS clawback threshold is set at $79,845 CAD. The OAS clawback is calculated based on a formula that determines the repayment amount owed by the individual.
For every dollar of income above the threshold, a portion of the OAS pension is clawed back at a rate of 15%. This clawback rate is applied to the individual's net income above the threshold to calculate the total amount of OAS benefits subject to recovery.
The maximum OAS pension amount that can be clawed back is equivalent to the total OAS pension received for the year. The OAS clawback is calculated and reconciled annually when individuals file their income tax returns with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
