Money talks – cash as reliable as ever when it comes to motivation, says study

-

o-UK-MONEY-facebook300

Over a quarter (27 percent) of UK employees say the hope of receiving a financial bonus is their main motivator. This is perhaps an unsurprising fact, money will always talk, but despite this a large portion of employers do not run any kind of monetary incentivisation programme.

The independent study commissioned by Xactly, a provider of cloud based solutions, revealed that financial incentives are key to engaging employees and boosting productivity.

45 percent of respondents were paid hourly or on a fixed pay rate with no potential for a bonus, and a quarter (25 percent) stated their personal performance is in no way connected to financial incentives.

HRreview Logo

Get our essential weekday HR news and updates.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Keep up with the latest in HR...
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Optin_date
This field is hidden when viewing the form

 

The scale of the missed motivational opportunity is made clear with respondents who had previously received a bonus, with over two-thirds (69 percent) stating that it motivates them to push towards their next professional goal .

 

“The UK is currently experiencing a huge productivity challenge,” Tom Castley, ‎vice president EMEA at Xactly comments.

“These findings highlight the gap between what motivates employees and what businesses are doing to engage them. The best way to boost productivity is to boost employee engagement – financial incentives are key. Of course, this isn’t about throwing money at the problem, but smart, performance-based financial reward must be utilised to help the UK pull itself out of the productivity pit,” Castley concluded.

Robert joined the HRreview editorial team in October 2015. After graduating from the University of Salford in 2009 with a BA in Politics, Robert has spent several years working in print and online journalism in Manchester and London. In the past he has been part of editorial teams at Flux Magazine, Mondo*Arc Magazine and The Marine Professional.

Latest news

Curtis Holmes: Payroll is the driver for employee engagement

Payroll has long been treated as a back-office necessity: essential, but not something that shapes culture or drives engagement. This no longer stands.

Labour market yet to show major AI impact on jobs, govt adviser says

A government economic adviser has challenged predictions of widespread AI-driven unemployment, arguing labour market data has yet to show disruption.

Young workers ‘pressured into signing NDAs after workplace injuries’

Workers say injuries are being hidden behind confidentiality agreements while financial pressures leave many afraid to challenge unsafe conditions.

CIPD recognises 30 HR leaders driving change across UK workplaces

The CIPD has unveiled its HR30 list for 2026, recognising senior people leaders whose work has delivered measurable impact across organisations and workforces.
- Advertisement -

Brits dream of being their own boss, but still cling to the monthly pay cheque, survey reveals

Britons say they like the idea of self-employment, but most still value the security and stability of traditional jobs.

AI Coaching Won’t Replace Managers. It Will Expose Coaching Debt.

As AI coaching expands, employers may gain a clearer view of where manager support is falling short.

Must read

Steve Girdler: Checking cross border candidates – Understanding the cultural and legal complexities

At the start of 2014, Bulgarians and Romanians gained...

Nestlé UK Walks its Way to a Healthier Future

Nestlé UK has always had a well developed Occupational Health and Safety program. However, in line with a business transition from a Food and Beverage manufacturer to a focused Health, Nutrition and Wellness business, over the last 12 months, Nestlé have transitioned OH towards a more integrated “employee wellness” scheme that impacts ALL of its 6,000 employees in the UK. Dr David Batman explains more.
- Advertisement -

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you