# EY Rewards Human Skills Over AI

> EY's $100m bonus program highlights human skills as critical for founders in the AI era.
- Title: EY Rewards Human Skills Over AI · Inc | Shortify
- Summary: EY's $100m bonus program highlights human skills as critical for founders in the AI era. EY's $100 million bonus program for U.S. employees emphasizes human…
- Keywords: founders, human skills, bonus program, startup, Rewards, Human, Skills, Inc
- Source: Inc — https://inc.com/dave-kerpen/ey-ernst-young-most-valuable-employee-skill-startup-founders/91423294
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ey, ai, founders, human skills, bonus program, startup
## EY's $100m bonus program
EY announced $100 million in bonuses for U.S. employees this fiscal year, with criteria including business acumen, judgment, adaptability, leadership, collaboration, and AI experimentation.

> What we recognize signals what we value.
## Judgment is the most valuable skill
AI can generate strategies quickly but cannot judge which fits a team, customer, and specific context, making human judgment rarer and more critical.
## Peer nomination system
Employees nominate each other for awards, focusing on behavior like helping peers and catching errors, rather than top-down management.
## AI experimentation paired with human skills
The program rewards employees who use AI tools effectively while applying judgment to the final 20 percent of work.
## What this means for small companies
Small companies should pick one human skill to reward monthly, like a bonus or public thank-you, rather than promoting based on sales alone.
## Key takeaway

EY's $100 million bonus program for U.S. employees emphasizes human skills like judgment over AI capabilities, signaling their growing importance for startup founders.