How to avoid bonus issues and taxes

I usually ignore press releases that land in my inbox as most are not relevant for the blog ... but this one intrigued me and so I thought it might interest readers too ...

BANKING SALARIES ON THE UP AS BONUS POOLS LOOK SET TO SHRINK

An analysis by recruitment specialist Poolia of year-on-year banking salaries over the past four years shows 2010 base salaries at a four year high. During 2010, the average salary for a banking employee in the City was 17% higher than in 2009, 25% higher than in 2008, at the height of the credit crunch, and 17% higher than in 2007.

Poolia’s Andrew Bath, general manager of the company’s specialist banking team, explains that this is in part due to the fact that the market has picked up, with staffing levels growing again after the financial crisis levels, but there are other reasons.

“Many banks are choosing to increase base salaries to compensate for the fact that they are reducing the bonus pool. This is especially true of middle and back office roles, where most employees can expect less generous bonuses in 2011.

“Partly this is due to public and political pressure, and some banks in the City have even looked to Westminster for guidance on what is an acceptable bonus level.

“Despite the recent flurry of media coverage, several banks have already announced that their 2011 bonus pools are likely to be down by at least 10% and possibly as much as 30%. We expect this to be the case in every City institution ...

He concludes “that this is likely to encourage a further move to higher base salaries and smaller bonuses, as banks borrow from their bonus pool to hike up the starting package to lure the best talent, leaving the long-term future of the traditional big City bonus reduced at best, if not in the balance.”