Commissions, especially if they make up a large part of your salary, are huge motivators.  Sure we work to do our part in society, feel good, contribute...but we need that $$.  Raising commission, or lowering salaries a bit but offering a commission plan where employees can earn more by contributing more, will deff result in more getting done.

If it's deserved, then I say go for it. Employees who are recognized in this manner will nearly always do their best.

My installers work on straight commision and they know that the more they do, the more they make. My best guys are pulling down better money than me.

We're all working for money. It's always nice to get more money!!

Having both commissions and bonus structure plus my salary I can assure everyone that those commissions and bonuses are a huge motivation to work harder primarily because they are unattained. For those who make the argument that increasing SALARIES motivates people I suggest they think of this: if my bonuses and commissions were guaranteed as part of my salary would I have any incentive whatsoever to work additional hours? What would the incentive be for the facility I manage be to hit target budget? What would the incentive be for me to make my business profitable?

oh yes .. after all making money is the most important purpose of having a job .. the more you give to encourage the more you'll gain as a manager

This would work if you were in sales but what about the rest of us.

I think sales comp plans can make a difference in motivating your sale force. For example, if you cap someone's earning potential for a given period, you are in effect capping their effort for that same period. I've actually had to build a couple of these things, and from my experience, plans that are simple - ie for each dollar of product that i sell, i earn this much in commission, and without caps - tend to be the most motivating.