UK Gender Pay Differential Expands in 2025, According to Brightmine Research Findings

In the realm of human resources (HR), Brightmine has been a trusted guide for over two decades, helping leaders navigate the ever-evolving world of work. As a leading global provider of people data, analytics, and insight, Brightmine serves more than 10,000 customers worldwide.

Recently, Brightmine, a part of LexisNexis® Risk Solutions, a RELX business, conducted a comprehensive analysis of payroll data for 1,132,020 individuals employed in 999 organizations. The research aimed to shed light on bonus practices and their impact on gender equality.

The findings reveal a significant gender bonus gap, with men's bonuses being 1.8 times higher than women's, amounting to an average difference of £2,190. This gap widens with age, peaking in the early 50s, where men average a bonus of £8,693, compared to £4,193 for women.

The analysis also uncovered disparities in bonus eligibility and value across various industries and job functions. For instance, private-sector employees received the biggest payouts (average £6,827; 12.3% of salary), but this sector was notably more selective, with only 10.5% of employees receiving a bonus. In contrast, employees in the public sector received bonuses worth an average of £2,178 (4.2% of salary), but a higher proportion (13.5%) were eligible for these bonuses.

Job function plays a role in bonus amounts, with sales and marketing staff receiving bonuses worth 23.5% of salary, while science workers receive the lowest amount (1.5% of salary).

The research also suggests employers review their reward strategies to ensure bonuses reinforce fairness and retention, not inequality. It calls for employers to audit bonus practices to identify and address gender disparities.

Notably, the companies identified by Brightmine with a higher proportion of female employees not receiving bonuses compared to male employees include tech giants such as Amazon, Meta, and Salesforce.

LexisNexis® Risk Solutions, the parent company of Brightmine, employs more than 36,000 people worldwide and serves customers in more than 180 countries, with offices in about 40 countries. The Brightmine product suite transforms how organizations use data, analytics, and insight to reduce risk, improve talent strategies, and increase HR impact.

The research underscores the need for a comprehensive review of bonus practices to foster a more equitable workplace and ensure that all employees, regardless of gender, are fairly compensated for their contributions.