The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reports that the total level of bonus payments received across the whole economy, during the financial year April 2011 to March 2012 (2011/12), came to £37BN. This is an increase of 3% compared with 2010/11, and equates to an average of around £1,400 per employee in 2011/12.
Those of you who are wondering why you did not receive a £1.4K bonus will be "relieved" to learn that it hasn't got "lost in the post", but has in fact contributed to the higher than average bonuses paid to those working the in the finance and insurance industry who received a total of £13BN in bonuses. This accounts for 36% of all bonuses in 2011/12, even though the sector only accounts for 4% of all UK employees.