{"id":14148,"date":"2025-11-24T09:10:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-24T09:10:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/?post_type=resources&#038;p=14148"},"modified":"2026-07-06T10:46:59","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T10:46:59","slug":"an-faq-guide-to-pay-review-planning","status":"publish","type":"resources","link":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/total-rewards\/benchmarking\/an-faq-guide-to-pay-review-planning\/","title":{"rendered":"An FAQ guide to pay review planning"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-f85887e8 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-929090b5 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:70%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-not-stacked-on-mobile lnrs-hide-block-on-desktop is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-container-core-column-is-layout-23777fc9 wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Written by: <\/p>\n\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-396749221673b8ac7695565b15cd4cd4 wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/author\/sheila-attwood\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Sheila Attwood<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-container-core-column-is-layout-23777fc9 wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group lnrs-hide-block-on-desktop is-content-justification-right is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-e2981758 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:10px;padding-left:10px\">\n<p style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Share<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"addtoany_shortcode\"><div class=\"a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_28 addtoany_list\" data-a2a-url=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/total-rewards\/benchmarking\/an-faq-guide-to-pay-review-planning\/\" data-a2a-title=\"An FAQ guide to pay review planning\"><a class=\"a2a_button_linkedin\" href=\"https:\/\/www.addtoany.com\/add_to\/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brightmine.com%2Fuk%2Fresources%2Ftotal-rewards%2Fbenchmarking%2Fan-faq-guide-to-pay-review-planning%2F&amp;linkname=An%20FAQ%20guide%20to%20pay%20review%20planning\" title=\"LinkedIn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><a class=\"a2a_button_x\" href=\"https:\/\/www.addtoany.com\/add_to\/x?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brightmine.com%2Fuk%2Fresources%2Ftotal-rewards%2Fbenchmarking%2Fan-faq-guide-to-pay-review-planning%2F&amp;linkname=An%20FAQ%20guide%20to%20pay%20review%20planning\" title=\"X\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><a class=\"a2a_button_facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.addtoany.com\/add_to\/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brightmine.com%2Fuk%2Fresources%2Ftotal-rewards%2Fbenchmarking%2Fan-faq-guide-to-pay-review-planning%2F&amp;linkname=An%20FAQ%20guide%20to%20pay%20review%20planning\" title=\"Facebook\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><a class=\"a2a_button_email\" href=\"https:\/\/www.addtoany.com\/add_to\/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brightmine.com%2Fuk%2Fresources%2Ftotal-rewards%2Fbenchmarking%2Fan-faq-guide-to-pay-review-planning%2F&amp;linkname=An%20FAQ%20guide%20to%20pay%20review%20planning\" title=\"Email\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The autumn marks the busiest time of the year for reward professionals planning their next pay reviews. Pay awards during 2025 have centred on a 3% increase, below the October 2025 CPI inflation rate of 3.6%.&nbsp;Are employers now looking to make higher awards over the coming year? Will internal and external factors keep a lid on pay rises? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The latest resources by Brightmine&nbsp;offer the data and tools needed for smart decision-making. This helps when setting budgets for yearly pay reviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Plan next year&#039;s pay review with confidence.\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/w0PAu4YIbUk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This guide answers the most common questions. The answers come from Brightmine research, alongside our pay settlement database, and subject matter experts.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-when-do-most-pay-awards-take-effect-and-when-should-budgets-be-set-nbsp\">When do most pay awards take effect and when should budgets be set?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most pay awards take effect in the first half of the year. In April, 47% of pay settlements come into effect, followed by <strong>28.8% in January<\/strong> and <strong>7.8% in July<\/strong>. The pattern changes slightly by sector. Manufacturing organisations prefer January more than other sectors. The public and not-for-profit sectors focus heavily on April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most organisations set budgets for pay reviews three months before implementation. This means that 52.2% of organisations review pay budgets between September and December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More detailed sector breakdowns are available in <a href=\"\/uk\/resources\/total-rewards\/benchmarking\/pay-review-planning-2026-considerations\/\">Pay review planning \u2013 Factors to consider<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-objectives-should-guide-the-pay-review-process-and-what-data-is-essential-nbsp\">What objectives should guide the pay review process, and what data is essential?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The pay policy can differ between organisations. It may focus on rewarding behaviours associated with business success, attracting skills to the organisation, talent retention or incentivising achievement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Organisations looking to make cost-of-living increases or target, for example, the median\/upper quartile in the relevant market, will need data on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-brightmine-list-item-spacing-small\">\n<li class=\"\">Inflation rates.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Other organisations\u2019 pay review plans.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Market salary data that can be filtered for your organisation\u2019s needs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other factors to consider and how to use the data you collect are covered in <a href=\"\/uk\/resources\/total-rewards\/benchmarking\/pay-review-planning-2026-considerations\/\">Pay review planning \u2013 Factors to consider<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-factors-are-influencing-2026-pay-budgets\">What factors are influencing 2026 pay budgets?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Organisations typically review a number of different data points when drafting budgets for pay reviews. Affordability and employer national insurance contributions will be the key drags on the value of pay rises over the coming year. However, inflation, competitor organisations, and the national living wage will create some upward pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Downward pressures:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Affordability \u2013 72.9% (of organisations citing this factor)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Employer National Insurance contributions \u2013 57.1%<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Organisation performance \u2013 34%<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Upward pressures:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Inflation\/cost of living \u2013 66.5%&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Pay levels in the same industry \u2013 57.1%&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">The level of the statutory minimum wage\/national living wage \u2013 47.3%&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">See how other organisations are managing the national insurance contributions increase in our <a href=\"\/uk\/resources\/total-rewards\/pay-trends\/november-2025-pay-and-labour-market-update\/\">November 2025 pay and labour market update<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-the-practical-implications-of-the-living-wage-rises\">What are the practical implications of the living wage rises?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The living wage, as supported by the Living Wage Foundation, sometimes called the real living wage, increased by 6.7% on 22 October 2025, with employers having until 1 May 2026 to implement the new rate. The increase adds \u00a31,657 annually per full-time (37.5 hours per week) employee outside London. If this increase \u2013 or the forthcoming rise in the national living wage &#8211; is higher than the overall paybill increase being planned, it could result in entry-level pay gaps being narrowed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use the <strong>Brightmine<\/strong> <strong>Pay Grading tool<\/strong> to:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-brightmine-list-item-spacing-small\">\n<li class=\"\">Model the cost of a pay rise across the entire structure&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Identify employees below April NMW\/NLW&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Flag those falling outside the increased salary bands&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"\/uk\/resources\/total-rewards\/benchmarking\/pay-review-planning-2026-considerations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pay review planning guide<\/a> provides step-by-step instructions.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"\/uk\/demo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Request a demo<\/a> to see this in action.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-the-current-forecasts-for-2026-pay-awards\">What are the current forecasts for 2026 pay awards?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pay awards in the past year were lower than those in 2024. However, employers feel more settled now. Many are planning pay awards in 2026 at the same level as in 2025. Forecasts for 2026 pay awards centre on the 2.5% to 3.5% range, with a 3% prediction being the most common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Access segmented forecasts by industry sector in the <a href=\"\/uk\/resources\/total-rewards\/pay-trends\/forecasts-for-pay-awards-in-2026\/\">Forecasts for pay awards in 2026 \u2013 Infographic<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-which-non-financial-benefits-are-gaining-traction\">Which non-financial benefits are gaining traction?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Employers are keen to understand what employees would like to see in their benefits package, and are reacting to the feedback they receive. Health and wellbeing benefits are a key focus, including those that go beyond the traditional idea of \u201cemployee benefits\u201d to include flexible working options. Offering some flexibility in their offering, to allow employees to tailor their package to suit their particular needs, allows employers to have a full package that appeals to diverse populations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For deeper insight into how organisations are shaping their employee benefits offering, watch the <a href=\"\/uk\/resources\/total-rewards\/pay-trends\/november-2025-pay-and-labour-market-update\/\">November 2025 Pay and Labour Market Update webinar<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-plan-with-purpose-use-our-references-below-to-start-planning-now\">Plan with purpose: Use our references below to start planning now:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"\/uk\/resources\/total-rewards\/benchmarking\/pay-review-planning-2026-considerations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pay review planning \u2013 Factors to consider<\/a><br>A companion guide to help you\u202fplan your next pay review,\u202ffeaturing key data points you\u2019ll\u202fneed to approach the 2026 pay review season with clarity and confidence.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"\/uk\/resources\/total-rewards\/pay-trends\/understanding-bonus-payment-trends-for-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Understanding bonus payment trends for 2025<\/a><br>Explores the latest data and trends shaping bonus decisions based on Brightmine Compensation Planning data.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"\/uk\/resources\/total-rewards\/pay-trends\/november-2025-pay-and-labour-market-update\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">November 2025 pay and labour market update (on-demand webinar)<\/a><br>Learn about the economic and labour market outlook shaping reward decisions, and where employers think their 2026 pay awards will land. This session is valuable for anyone preparing key pay decisions for 2026.\u200b\u200b&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"\/uk\/resources\/total-rewards\/pay-trends\/forecasts-for-pay-awards-in-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Forecasts for pay awards in 2026 \u2013 Infographic<\/a><br>Whether you work in the private or not-for-profit sector, trusted pay forecasts are essential for planning next year\u2019s pay review. Use these insights to balance budgets, retain talent, and stay competitive.\u200b&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"\/uk\/resources\/total-rewards\/benchmarking\/deciding-pay-and-benefits-for-new-positions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Four steps to deciding pay and benefits for a new position<\/a><br>Explore the essential components\u202fof designing a reward package for\u202fan individual vacancy. With\u202fmonthly-refreshed UK market data\u202fand automated job matching\u202facross all roles, you\u2019ll be equipped\u202fto make confident, data-led\u202fdecisions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column lnrs-hide-block-on-mobile is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-left-color:var(--wp--preset--color--secondary-gray);border-left-width:2px;padding-left:10px;flex-basis:30%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained wp-container-2 is-position-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-25208b0e wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:10px;padding-left:10px\">\n<p style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Share<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"addtoany_shortcode\"><div class=\"a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_28 addtoany_list\" data-a2a-url=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/total-rewards\/benchmarking\/an-faq-guide-to-pay-review-planning\/\" data-a2a-title=\"An FAQ guide to pay review planning\"><a class=\"a2a_button_linkedin\" href=\"https:\/\/www.addtoany.com\/add_to\/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brightmine.com%2Fuk%2Fresources%2Ftotal-rewards%2Fbenchmarking%2Fan-faq-guide-to-pay-review-planning%2F&amp;linkname=An%20FAQ%20guide%20to%20pay%20review%20planning\" title=\"LinkedIn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><a class=\"a2a_button_x\" href=\"https:\/\/www.addtoany.com\/add_to\/x?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brightmine.com%2Fuk%2Fresources%2Ftotal-rewards%2Fbenchmarking%2Fan-faq-guide-to-pay-review-planning%2F&amp;linkname=An%20FAQ%20guide%20to%20pay%20review%20planning\" title=\"X\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><a class=\"a2a_button_facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.addtoany.com\/add_to\/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brightmine.com%2Fuk%2Fresources%2Ftotal-rewards%2Fbenchmarking%2Fan-faq-guide-to-pay-review-planning%2F&amp;linkname=An%20FAQ%20guide%20to%20pay%20review%20planning\" title=\"Facebook\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><a class=\"a2a_button_email\" href=\"https:\/\/www.addtoany.com\/add_to\/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brightmine.com%2Fuk%2Fresources%2Ftotal-rewards%2Fbenchmarking%2Fan-faq-guide-to-pay-review-planning%2F&amp;linkname=An%20FAQ%20guide%20to%20pay%20review%20planning\" title=\"Email\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cararra-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-cararra-gray-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\"><div class=\"wp-block-avatar\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/07151644\/sheila-attwood.webp\" width=\"96\" height=\"96\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/07151644\/sheila-attwood.webp 2x\" alt=\"Sheila Attwood\" class=\"avatar avatar-96 wp-user-avatar wp-user-avatar-96 alignnone photo wp-block-avatar__image\" \/ style=\"border-top-left-radius:500px; border-top-right-radius:500px; border-bottom-left-radius:500px; border-bottom-right-radius:500px;\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-container-core-column-is-layout-23777fc9 wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Written by: <\/p>\n\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-396749221673b8ac7695565b15cd4cd4 wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/author\/sheila-attwood\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Sheila Attwood<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cararra-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-cararra-gray-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-bleach-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-22a7c014 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:14px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:15px;padding-bottom:15px;padding-left:15px\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Benchmark with confidence. Lead with insight.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Compare your data to industry benchmarks on turnover, training, compensation trends and more with the Brightmine HR &amp; Compliance Centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"\/uk\/demo\/?intcmp=cta|blog|quote|request-a-demo\" style=\"border-radius:25px\">Request a demo<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group lnrs-hide-block-on-mobile has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-64c039dc wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-secondary-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-secondary-gray-background-color has-background\" style=\"margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read more articles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-query is-layout-flow wp-block-query-is-layout-flow\"><ul class=\"wp-block-post-template is-layout-flow wp-container-core-post-template-is-layout-a7dce961 wp-block-post-template-is-layout-flow\"><li class=\"wp-block-post post-13709 resources type-resources status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry category-reports topic-benchmarking topic-pay-trends\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.192), 16px);line-height:1.3;text-decoration:underline;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-0b1b36f3c2dfa7682bfd13b67e3228a9 wp-block-post-title has-text-color has-primary-black-color\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/total-rewards\/pay-trends\/bonus-payments-2026-gaps-and-disparities\/\" target=\"_self\" >Bonus payments 2026:\nWho gets what \u2013 and where the gaps persist<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-12006 resources type-resources status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry category-whitepapers topic-dei topic-hr-compliance topic-pay-equity topic-pay-transparency\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.192), 16px);line-height:1.3;text-decoration:underline;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-0b1b36f3c2dfa7682bfd13b67e3228a9 wp-block-post-title has-text-color has-primary-black-color\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/total-rewards\/pay-equity\/uk-gender-pay-gap-reporting-expert-guide\/\" target=\"_self\" >UK gender pay gap reporting: An expert guide<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-22205 resources type-resources status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry category-press-releases topic-pay-trends\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.192), 16px);line-height:1.3;text-decoration:underline;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-0b1b36f3c2dfa7682bfd13b67e3228a9 wp-block-post-title has-text-color has-primary-black-color\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/total-rewards\/pay-trends\/pay-trends-2026-september-report\/\" target=\"_self\" >Pay trends 2026 | September Report<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-bf6e01c1 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h2 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Will internal and external factors keep a lid on pay rises? This guide answers the most common questions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":14151,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"resource-author","categories":[8],"tags":[],"topic":[26,68,25,69,29],"class_list":["post-14148","resources","type-resources","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blogs","topic-benchmarking","topic-employee-benefits","topic-pay-equity","topic-total-rewards","topic-workforce-planning"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.3 (Yoast SEO v28.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>An FAQ guide to pay review planning | Brightmine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Are employers now looking to make higher awards over the coming year? Will internal and external factors keep a lid on pay rises? 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