Performance-related pay Performance management

Some employers use 'performance-related' pay to encourage and reward good performance at work.

Examples of performance-related pay include:

  • annual pay rises linked to individual performance
  • commission
  • bonuses for meeting certain targets or objectives

Making fair decisions

Employers should be careful with how they use performance-related pay. The process for deciding who gets a pay rise should be fair and objective.

Employers must avoid treating people 'less favourably' because of a protected characteristic. This could be discrimination.

If it isn't used in a fair way, performance-related pay can have an impact on working relationships.

If workers do not think it's being used fairly, there's a risk that they will be:

  • less motivated
  • dissatisfied at work
  • more likely to leave

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