FOI reference: FOI-2025-3118
You asked
For each of the last five financial years – 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25 please state (a) what the total payment was to staff at the ONS who received a performance related bonus, and (b) how many of these staff were there each year who received a bonus, and (c) what was the amount of the largest bonus that was paid?
Please can you ensure that the response to this question is responded to directly by e-mail and not just a link to a response held on a different website.
We said
Thank you for your request regarding performance-related bonus payments at the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for the financial years 2020 to 2021 through 2024 to 2025.
End-of-year performance-related bonuses at the ONS are only awarded to staff at Senior Civil Service (SCS) grades and are based solely on end-of-year performance ratings.
2020 to 2021:
A total of £181,000 was paid in end-of-year performance-related bonuses to 20 recipients. The highest individual end-of-year bonus awarded was £17,500.
2021 to 2022:
A total of £163,500 was paid in end-of-year performance-related bonuses to 19 recipients. The highest individual end-of-year bonus awarded was £12,000.
2022 to 2023:
A total of £227,500 was paid in end-of-year performance-related bonuses to 36 recipients. The highest individual end-of-year bonus awarded was £12,500.
2023 to 2024:
A total of £232,500 was paid in end-of-year performance-related bonuses to 38 recipients. The highest individual end-of-year bonus awarded was £12,500.
2024 to 2025:
A total of £195,000 was paid in end-of-year performance-related bonuses to 34 recipients. The highest individual end-of-year bonus awarded was £7,500.