Directors consider scrapping their bonuses

Top civil servants across government departments, including the culture department, have agreed to forgo any bonuses they would be entitled to this year in light of the economic situation.

Jonathan Stephens, permanent secretary at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), has written to national museum directors informing them of the decision and asking them to reflect on what operating as part of a public service means.

Bonuses for directors can be as much as 20 per cent of salary and are usually based on performance. The director of Tate is entitled to a bonus of up to 15 per cent of salary, and in 2007-08 received £12,357 in non-consolidated bonus payments.

By contrast, Neil MacGregor, director of the British Museum, receives no bonus on his salary, which was £130,000-135,000 in the same period.

Although no directors contacted by Museums Journal said they would waive bonus payments for the 2008-09 financial year, Mark Jones, chairman of the National Museum Directors' Conference, said: "I am sure that directors will think carefully about the example set by permanent secretaries and respond appropriately."

David Fleming, director of National Museums Liverpool, is in talks with his trustees about scrapping the bonus element of his pay. "It is embarrassing to ask staff, trustees and volunteers to go the extra mile and then be the only person at NML who benefits financially," he said.

"Personally, I would rather be on a fixed salary like everyone else here, but this is a contractual matter that needs to be agreed by my trustees."

Mike Dixon, director of the Natural History Museum, said it didn't make sense to change remuneration arrangements in the 11th month of the financial year, but added that the public and private sectors might have to behave differently in the future.

A DCMS spokesman said it was a matter for individuals and their trustees.