Are Your Benefits Really Working for You?

Are Your Benefits Really Working for You?

It’s that time of year again when many professionals start thinking about what’s next not just in terms of career moves, but what they’re really getting from their current package. And while salary always gets the spotlight, benefits can make a huge difference to your take-home value and your long-term financial wellbeing.

Tax and the £100k Threshold

One area that’s increasingly catching people out is taxation once earnings creep over £100,000. At this level, personal allowances start to taper off, effectively creating a marginal tax rate of over 60% for some earners. That means a £5,000 pay rise can actually leave you with less in your pocket than expected. It’s why more employers (and employees) are rethinking how to structure compensation exploring options like enhanced pension contributions, car allowances, or private healthcare rather than just higher base salaries.

The Right Benefits for the Right Stage of Life

What makes a “good” package really depends on where you are in life. Younger professionals may value flexible working, travel opportunities, or gym memberships more highly. Those with families might look for childcare vouchers or enhanced parental leave. For others, a strong pension scheme or private healthcare can carry far greater weight than a slightly higher salary.

Bonuses: A Divided Landscape

When it comes to bonuses, the picture is mixed. Some firms, particularly in sectors like data centres and logistics, are thriving rewarding staff generously after strong financial years. Others have scaled back, taking a more cautious approach. It’s also worth noting that while some employers offer smaller base salaries with the promise of higher bonuses, that model doesn’t work for everyone. With rising living costs, many professionals are now prioritising certainty and stability over variable rewards.

What’s Next

At Kingsley, we’re seeing increasing interest in how benefits stack up across the industry and we want to help shine a light on it. That’s why we’ll soon be launching our Benefits & Bonus Survey, gathering real-world data from professionals across the built environment. The findings will be shared in the new year, offering valuable insight into what employers are offering and what employees really value.

Watch this space and if you’d like to take part, we’d love to hear from you.