1 What factors contribute to the difference in the award of bonuses or performance loadings between men and women? Performance loadings are synonymous with bonuses and are mostly granted following a performance review and in academia are often known as ‘market loadings’. These are an attempt to overcome what is seen as inflexibility of the regulated pay system in universities in order to attract and retain academic high performers.

A study by Bailey, Madden, Alfes and Fletcher (2016) found that ‘discretionary loadings are particularly susceptible to gender influences’ and that more men than women received all three types of loading considered (market loading, performance loading and higher duties allowance),