Bonuses are undoubtedly a major controversial topic among our society.

Differing opinions about whether bankers should award themselves a huge amount of extra money on top of their salaries, in other words, a bonus, has raised many debates in the past and fuelled arguments which are still currently deliberated.

It seems some individuals have decided to waive their million pounds worth bonus this year.

It has been reported this past week that the Royal Bank of Scotland chief executive Stephen Hester will not take his bonus.

RBS is 84% taxpayer-owned and is set to post losses of about £5 billion for 2009. All this sum of money on top of losses of £24 billion for 2008. Therefore it would have been extremely controversial if Mr Hester had taken any bonus.

It is fair to argue that the bonus is some sort of symbol representing appropriate financial recognition for their performance, and without a doubt is it an incentive for bankers to meet targets and work well in order for the company to thrive.

However, even so, more realistic amounts of money should be awarded as a bonus.

Many of the population do equally or even more challenging jobs and are not awarded anything for it apart from the regular salary they gain which is expected.

Many people definitely feel there is an unequal balance between what should be a priority and what is irrelevant; this was particularly shown last year when bankers were collecting their bonus during the financial crisis. This certainly caused extreme uproar.

Now that we are officially ‘out’ of this Credit Crunch, it is doubtful bankers will accept their bonus with a second thought in mind.

Let time show us if any changes take place concerning this as a result of the debates and arguments sparked in the recent past.