They give out BONUSES because they cannot give them raises outside the GS government employee job classifications.
Only in government...
Know a guy who is a fed worker. He works 4 days a week and is supposed to work Fridays at home. Well on Friday and the wife go away for a long weekend every weekend. \
When the cuts came on he complained he was not getting his bonuses and 70 grand was not enough to live.
He lives in frigging south GA.
Hell I wish I got half of that and would work much more and without bonuses.