Reward strategy is the design and implementation of reward policies and practices to support and advance your organisational objectives. 

Explore our resources on strategic, total, international and executive rewards. Discover our reports and fact sheet for important insights into reward management, executive pa and risks. 

All topics A-Z

Factsheets

Regularly-updated factsheets provide overviews and information on a topic

Eight Factsheets about Reward
Factsheet
Performance-related pay
Introduces performance-related pay and issues linking employee pay and performance
Factsheet
Pay structures and pay progression
Outlines the purpose of pay structures and progression, including the common ways of structuring pay and determining, reviewing and controlling pay progression
Factsheet
Pay fairness and pay reporting
Find out what's meant by fair pay, what pay information UK employers must disclose by law and the opportunities pay narratives bring.
For Members
Factsheet
Bonuses and incentives
Understand the basics of bonuses and incentives, the trends in their application, and how to design and operate schemes effectively and ethically
For Members
Factsheet
Reward: an introduction
Introduces the basics of reward, which includes pay and benefits, and outlines the UK legal position
Factsheet
Job evaluation and market pricing
Understand the fundamentals, as well as how to choose and install the right scheme for your organisation
For Members
Factsheet
Workplace pensions
Learn about the UK law surrounding workplace pensions and how to choose new schemes or review existing pension arrangements
For Members
Factsheet
Strategic reward and total reward
Outlines the main characteristics of strategic and total reward, and looks at designing and implementing a reward strategy across the organisation
For Members

Guides

Designed for practitioners, our guides provide recommendations and advice on how to apply good practice in the workplace.

Two Guides about Reward
Guide
Tackling in-work poverty: Guidance for employers
This guide explains in-work poverty, its effects and what employers can do to help
Guide
Employee financial wellbeing
Guidance for HR practitioners and employers to support their employees’ financial wellbeing

Reports

Research and analysis by experts from CIPD and partner organisations

Six Reports about Reward
Report
CIPD Good Work Index
The CIPD Good Work Index provides an annual snapshot of job quality in the UK, giving insight to drive improvement to working lives
Report
Reward management survey
The CIPD’s eighteenth reward management survey reveals the UK benefits landscape and highlights the importance of employee financial wellbeing
Report
Role of the RemCo: How to achieve good governance of pay, people and culture
Roadmap for HR leaders seeking to broaden the remit of remuneration committees
Report
CEO pay and the workforce
This report examines the extent to which employee matters impact performance-related pay in the FTSE 100
Report
What employees think of their CEO's pay packet
Explores executive pay and employees' views on executive pay
Report
Executive reward: a behavioural perspective
An exploration of executive rewards in the UK and beyond, and the extent to which current reward structures encourage the right CEO characteristics

Case studies

Learn from real world examples of how other people professionals and organisations work with the CIPD to approach key challenges and objectives.

Five Case studies about Reward
Case study
Supporting employee financial wellbeing: Tesco Stores
Case study on actions taken to help employees improve their financial literacy and decision-making
Case study
A day in the life of a reward analyst
A day in the life of Daniel Bailey, Reward Analyst at Arval BNP Paribas Group
Case study
A day in the life of a reward officer
A day in the life of Claire Clarke, Pay & Reward HR Officer, Durham University
Case study
A day in the life of a reward specialist
A day in the life of Holly Coe, Reward and People Operations Lead at Aster Group UK
Case study
Solving business problems with people analytics: Barnwood
Case study on ensuring fair pay and encouraging staff to take time off

Thought leadership

Insight and foresight from our experts in people and the world of work

11 Thought leadership about Reward
Thought leadership
The compensation revolution: Incentives to motivate and retain future talent
Matt Burney of Indeed outlines three potential drivers to shape how and why people work in future, and what these would mean for work-life balance and employee empowerment
Thought leadership
Making reward more accessible and performance management fairer
How can technology be used to allow better access to pay and a fairer assessment of employee performance and potential?
Thought leadership
The importance of financial wellbeing in the workplace
Blog by Margaret McCloskey, Northern Ireland Partnership Manager at the Money and Pensions Service
Thought leadership
CEO pay: complex solutions for complex problems
Charles Cotton's article analyses the latest report from the CIPD and the High Pay Centre, Executive Pay in the FTSE 100, which examines how executive pay has changed within the last year
Thought leadership
Executive pay in the FTSE 100: 2020 review
Our latest CEO pay report highlights the growing need for remuneration reform at the top
Thought leadership
Why should employers be concerned about the financial wellbeing of their staff?
Charles Cotton considers new CIPD survey data on employees’ financial wellbeing and the implications for employers
Thought leadership
Coronavirus and the workforce: low pay does not equal low value
The coronavirus pandemic makes it clearer than ever that the roles we need most as a society are not necessarily the ones we value. This must change.
Thought leadership
Reward in the time of COVID-19
Charles Cotton looks at the impact coronavirus is having, and potentially could have, on the way employees are rewarded by their employers
Thought leadership
Who’s been asking for a pay rise?
Charles Cotton explores why asking for a pay rise can be a difficult topic of conversation
Thought leadership
Pay transparency: what is driving the interest and how should people professionals respond?
Charles Cotton goes through the questions people professionals need to be asking that will make them better placed to overcome the many challenges and take advantage of the opportunities from introducing pay transparency
Thought leadership
Executive pay in the FTSE 100 – 2019 review
Annual reports reveal what the UK’s top executives earn, but present little evidence to justify their share in success

Podcasts

Listen to episodes from our podcast series on a range of topical workplace, HR and L&D issues.

Two Podcasts about Reward
Podcast
Is pay transparency good for business?
Episode 194: Understanding the benefits, pitfalls and challenges of increasing pay transparency and the broader impact on global organisations
Podcast
Executive pay and the psychology of motivation
Episode 151: The pay gap between senior executives and their employees is high, but does it need to be? In this podcast we explore what motivates top earners, the importance of fairness and the future role of Remuneration Committees.

Evidence reviews

Evidence reviews enable you to ask the critical questions and use evidence for better decision-making.

Three Evidence reviews about Reward
Evidence review
Incentives and recognition: An evidence review
This evidence review summarises the best available scientific research on what works in financial incentives and non-financial recognition
For Members
Evidence review
Financial wellbeing: An evidence review
Evidence-based insight and practical recommendations for addressing employee financial wellbeing in the workplace
For Members
Evidence review
Executive reward: drivers and consequences
A review of academic studies into top pay between 2007 and 2013, highlighting the findings and considering the implications for practice
For Members

Bitesize research

Your regular overview of current research, inspiring insights and cutting-edge ideas in bitesize

23 Bitesize research about Reward
Bitesize research
Reward and Generation Z
Reward preferences of the youngest generation
For Members
Bitesize research
Reward in the time of COVID-19
The impact of COVID-19 on employers and employees has been wide ranging. These authors explored the role of compensation and benefits during pandemics, highlighting how effective reward strategies and measures can protect both workers and organisations.
For Members
Bitesize research
Tipping point?
The effect of the minimum wage on tipping in the US
For Members
Bitesize research
Pay transparency: an employee perspective
What do employees make of pay transparency?
For Members
Bitesize research
Exploring the link between UK productivity and wage growth
Why has productivity and wage growth decoupled?
For Members
Bitesize research
Benefitting from greater pay transparency
Reap the benefits of pay equity
For Members
Bitesize research
The evolving purpose of employer-benefits
Discover how to maximise benefits-packages
For Members
Bitesize research
Can commuting time explain the gender pay gap?
Discover the factors contributing to the gender pay gap
For Members
Bitesize research
Workplace disability discrimination
Explore the disadvantages disabled employees face
For Members
Bitesize research
Rewarding creativity
Explore how reward can drive innovation
For Members
Bitesize research
Finding the balance in your reward package
Explore what works best in reward packages
For Members
Bitesize research
The business benefits of being pay transparent
Read more about the authors' findings here
For Members
Bitesize research
A brave new reward world?
See the detailed findings of this research
For Members
Bitesize research
Minding the pay gap
Explore the potential impact of CEO pay ratio reporting
For Members
Bitesize research
The impact of inequality – why fairness pays
Getting the message on reward and recognition
For Members
Bitesize research
Pension scheme pressures: are employers on the right track?
Look at the analysis of this report on pensions
For Members
Bitesize research
Leading the way on fair pay
Find out who is taking action on fair pay
For Members
Bitesize research
How do we reward and recognise good deeds?
Find out how far good deeds are their own reward
For Members
Bitesize research
CEO pay decisions – time to check the fine print
Understand more about compensation decisions
For Members
Bitesize research
Money for nothing – a pay revolution?
Explore what the growing interest in UBI means for the future of work
For Members
Bitesize research
Rewarding top managers – mind the pay gaps
View key findings from this research
For Members
Bitesize research
Changing reward roles for changing times
As the role of reward professionals evolve, explore what benefit practitioners should do to be successful
For Members
Bitesize research
Pension planning – falling on deaf ears?
Employers cannot expect to effectively solve the pension problem without also solving the debt problem
For Members

CIPD Viewpoints

Our collected point of view on the key issues impacting work, from the perspective of employers and policy makers.

One CIPD Viewpoint about Reward
CIPD Viewpoint
Executive pay
Explore the CIPD’s point of view on executive pay packages, including actions for regulators and recommendations for employers

Policy engagements

Our calls for action.

Four Policy engagements about Reward
Policy engagement
Low Pay Commission consultation 2024
Read our submission to the Low Pay Commission regarding the 2024 consultation
Policy engagement
'Pot for life’ pensions proposals depend on increased workforce awareness, warns the CIPD
Read our response to the UK’s Department for Work and Pensions’ ‘Looking to the future’ consultation
Policy engagement
Informing the UK’s National Living Wage for 2024
Read the CIPD’s response to the Low Pay Commission’s 2023 consultation
Policy engagement
Assessing the value for money of defined contribution pension schemes
Read our recommendations to the UK’s Department for Work & Pensions, Financial Conduct Authority, and the Pensions Regulator

Learning

We offer a range of evidence-based courses tauilored to suit you and your needs.
Our Essential Insights courses are free as part of the CIPD membership.

Exploring Reward Essential Insights

Explore the key features of different reward types and their role in supporting organisations to attract, retain and motivate employees

Base and Variable Pay

Increase your practical knowledge of pay structure and design. This course will provide you with the skillset you need to lead in discussions on differing pay structures, identify the strengths and weaknesses of the various pay models, and ensure pay fairness.

All CIPD Learning courses

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Choose from our extensive range of topics and learning options 

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