UK reward metrics · Incentives & Recognition

How do UK organisations handle bonus deferral period and vehicle?

Source lumi HRBase 63 organisationsFieldwork 2026 H1

38.1%Shares/equity deferral

38.1% of organisations in the lumi HR community answered “Shares/equity deferral” on bonus deferral period and vehicle (base: 63 UK organisations, 2026 H1).

Figures describe organisations in the lumi HR community, not a random sample of UK employers.

How UK organisations answered

No deferral — bonus paid in full 0% 1yr cash 31.7% Multi-year cash 30.2% Shares/equity deferral 38.1%
Bonus deferral period and vehicle (base: 63 organisations, 2026 H1). Percentages percentages may not sum to 100 because of rounding.
Bonus deferral period and vehicle: share of organisations by answer
AnswerShare of organisations
No deferral — bonus paid in fullrare0%
1yr cashalternative31.7%
Multi-year cashalternative30.2%
Shares/equity deferralcommon38.1%

Common, alternative and rare describe how each answer sits against the community: the most chosen answer is common; an answer chosen by fewer than one in five organisations is rare.

Definition

For bonuses that are deferred, the usual deferral length and form, from one-year cash through multi-year cash to shares or equity. See the methodology for how the base is built, how not-applicable answers are handled, the public floor, and which organisations are excluded.

Cite this figure
Source: lumi HR, UK Reward Metrics, September 2026, lumihr.co.uk/metrics/bonus-deferral-period-and-vehicle
Last updated 19 September 2026 · Data licence: CC BY 4.0 for the figures in the CSV download.

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