Sometimes these things are actually accounting issues. Employee bonuses are operating costs. But executive bonuses are a more complex instrument, and are governed by different sets of accounting and fiduciary regulations.
This is why, for instance, a firm may decide not to pay out bonuses to employees during a bad year -- but may still reward its top executives with hefty bonuses. The firm may actually be obligated to pay out the bonuses to its executives by way of their contracts, or in some cases, as scheduled advances on their insurance policies. (This latter practice is becoming increasingly common as a tax-deferral strategy).
If it is an obligation then it is not a bonus. It may be a tax avoidance scheme. Executive pay is in most cases not performance related and is a fairly corrupt scheme alas. Rewards for failure are far too common.
This is why, for instance, a firm may decide not to pay out bonuses to employees during a bad year -- but may still reward its top executives with hefty bonuses. The firm may actually be obligated to pay out the bonuses to its executives by way of their contracts, or in some cases, as scheduled advances on their insurance policies. (This latter practice is becoming increasingly common as a tax-deferral strategy).