Nearly two thirds (65 percent) of firms have increased salaries in a bid to retain financial services professionals.

Four in ten firms plan to increase salaries to offset impact of EU bonus cap. The majority of UK leaders are concerned a rise in base pay will create an unstable cost structure. More than nine in ten (93 percent) UK financial services executives express concern about losing talented staff to international opportunities as a result of the EU bonus cap, according to new research from Robert Half Financial Services, a leading recruitment specialist. According to a survey of UK c-suite executives at financial services firms, nearly four in ten (38 percent) are ‘very concerned’ and 55 percent are ‘somewhat concerned’ about the impact of the pending regulation. With the EU bonus cap due to take effect from January 2014, which will see bonuses capped at ten0 per cent of fixed salary, or 200 per cent with shareholder approval, UK financial services organisations are implementing measures in a bid to prevent an exodus of talent. Indeed, the research reveals that nearly two thirds (65 percent) of organisations have increased salaries – by an average of 20 per cent – and six in ten (60 percent) have increased benefits to staff.

The findings show that more than half (52 percent) of financial services executives are ‘very concerned’ and 41 per cent ‘somewhat concerned’ that the bonus cap and resulting rise in base pay will create an unstable cost structure for the organisation. Unsurprisingly, large companies and those based in are more concerned about this, with nearly three quarters (72 percent) ‘very concerned’ this will happen. UK financial services executives were also asked: “How concerned are you that the bonus cap and resulting rise in base pay will create an unstable cost structure?” On average, organisations have increased salaries by 20 per cent to offset the impact of the bonus cap, while nearly one fifth of organisations have increased salaries by more than 30 per cent.

Neil Owen, Global Practice Director, Robert Half Financial Services said: “Financial services leaders are evidently concerned about the impending EU bonus cap and its potential impact on the industry’s talent pool, particularly as firms look to their top staff to pursue growth strategies. “A number of large UK financial services firms have already been examining ways to offset the cap, potentially raising salaries and benefits to retain key employees. With the UK competing with other international centres for the world’s top financial services talent, firms will need to strike the balance between risk and reward, with additional employee remuneration potentially creating an unstable cost structure.”