This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
Grenzboden
niveauarm
Nov 19, 2014 11:07
9 yrs ago
1 viewer *
German term

Nasenprämie

German to English Bus/Financial Business/Commerce (general)
Trade union representatives are complaining about a proposed new pay scheme: "Wir wollen keine Nasenprämie, bei der das Unternehmen nach Gefügigkeit des Mitarbeiters entlohnt."

I would like to know (preferably from German native speakers) what the precise image conjured up by "Nasenprämie" is - not necessarily so that I can use the same image in my translation, but so that I can get to the bottom of exactly what the "Nasen-" element means here. (E.g. is it about "sniffing out" the people you feel like giving a bonus too?)
Proposed translations (English)
3 +4 brown-nosing bonus
3 +1 favouritism
3 discretionary bonus

Discussion

billcorno (X) Nov 19, 2014:
to be lead by the nose I think it means a payment "to be lead by the nose" by. The Germans (especially in Bavaria) are very cow-oriented.

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/lead by the nose
philgoddard Nov 19, 2014:
I agree with Brigitte. "Brown-nosing" does fit the context perfectly here, but I think that's coincidental. The idea is a bonus that only certain people receive, and that is not subject to transparent award criteria.
BrigitteHilgner Nov 19, 2014:
Some explanation http://www.reformzeit.niedersachsen.de/portal/live.php?navig...
(4th text block underneath the photos)
"Nasenbonus" (not only in this text) seems to refer to some arbitrary decision making.
I can't remember seeing this term prior to your question. ;-)

Proposed translations

+4
54 mins
Selected

brown-nosing bonus

I don't think the German has anything to do with sniffing, but simply that pro Nase = pro Kopf , and "I don’t like the way you look" = "mir gefällt deine Nase nicht"

Here it seems to be bonus based on inappropriate selection criteria, i.e. someone’s appearance or level of servility

The servility/submissiveness/obedience element (Gefügigkeit) might be covered by the "brown" above.

There’s very likely a better idiom in Eng., but this one gets the “nose” in.
Peer comment(s):
agree Darin Fitzpatrick : This was my thought as well. A German colleague confirms that it evokes, "Mir gefällt deine Nase nicht."
16 mins
agree thefastshow : defo has a strong emphasize to favor/disadvantage by subjective standardss
1 hr
agree philgoddard
5 hrs
neutral Michael Martin, MA : The bottom line is that the boss has to like that person. Brown-nosing might actually backfire if the boss decides a certain person won’t get the bonus because he’s being an annoying brown-noser..
18 hrs
agree Ramey Rieger (X) : whatever
19 hrs
Something went wrong...
3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "I actually used the term "arbitrary bonus" but thanks to everyone for their comments and explanations."
+1
1 day 8 hrs

favouritism

The faecal origin and connotation of the term 'brown-nosing' makes it unsuitable for polite company.
Peer comment(s):
agree Cilian O'Tuama : Mine was meant more as an explanation - this is probably more suitable as a translation, though not very colourful
16 hrs
Something went wrong...
2 days 5 hrs

discretionary bonus

That’s the closest one to “Nasenprämie” I was able to come up with among terms that are actually used in and around the workplace. Andrew is right in that favoritism is often part of the mix but it doesn’t hinge on defined qualities of employee conduct (brown-nosing). ‘Discretionary bonuses’ is a more discreet term than Nasenprämie but it’s hard to find an English term that is as explicit as Nasenprämie and yet tolerable to read when splattered all over the page..

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-discretionary-bonus.htm#di...
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search