February 2012
Completing our coverage of non-executive fee levels in FTSE listed companies, we look at rates for non-executive directors (NEDs) across the FTSE mid-250. Our analysis suggests that NEDs in mid-250 companies not only receive less than their FTSE 100 counterparts, but due to lower fee increases, the gap is increasing. Given the current focus on executive pay, we also provide readers with details of the latest data on directors’ remuneration from IDSPay.co.uk covering 730 companies across the FTSE 100, mid-250, SmallCap, Fledgling and AIM market segments. As ever, the picture is a complicated one, with earnings variations in part being a reflection of company size, but also being a reflection of more highly geared incentive arrangements in top companies.
Also in the news is the gap between pay in the public and the private sector. With composition of each workforce so different, we ask whether such a comparison even possible, and take a look at what the raw statistics show. Unsurprisingly perhaps, we find that behind the headlines, upon a closer inspection, it is more difficult to draw hard and fast conclusions. Elsewhere, we outline how Thomas Cook realigned its remuneration policy in line with the company’s recovery programme and for the first time, we review the job market for procurement professionals.
- Findings from the latest boardroom compensation data posted on IDSPay.co.uk
- Our round up of non-executive director fees in FTSE mid-250 companies
- Details of Thomas Cook’s realigned remuneration policy
- A look at the job market for procurement professionals
- An analysis of public and private sector pay comparisons
- Survey round-ups including Law librarians and the general insurance market
- News items including the Government’s executive pay consultation and the latest economic data
January 2012
More investor scrutiny, greater corporate governance responsibilities and bigger workloads are continuing to put an upward pressure on non-executive directors’ (NEDs) fee levels according to our survey of NED board fees in FTSE 100 companies. Additionally we review the findings of the final report of the High Pay Commission looking at ways to reform directors’ remuneration - some of whose findings and recommendations at least are likely to be taken seriously in official circles.
Also covered is the likely impact of the Chancellor’s Autumn statement on the economy generally and for HR professionals more specifically. Elsewhere we report on Punch Tavern’s switch to a focus on short-term incentives for directors as a result of falling profits and changing company goals. We also take a look at the current state of the job market for accountancy professionals by speaking to recruitment industry professionals and analysing salary rates for various roles.
- Results of our annual survey of the non-executive fees paid by FTSE 100 companies
- A review of the final report of the High Pay Commission and its recommendations
- A look at the Autumn statement and measures of concern to HR professionals
- An outline of how Punch Taverns rebalanced directors’ short- and long-term incentive plans
- We talk to recruitment specialists and take a look at the job market for accountancy professionals
- An explanation and guide to understanding pay increase figures
- Survey round-ups of the ONS’s annual survey of hours and earnings and voluntary sector executives
December 2011
If our look at management pay prospects for 2012 is anything to go by, there is unlikely to be a quick escape from the present squeeze on management and professional salaries. Neither does it seem that what is lost in salary is going to be made up for in bonus payments, as our salary award data finds that more employers are expecting payments to be lower next year than higher. Buttressing our report on management pay prospects for 2012 are the findings from our last quarterly look at management and professional pay awards in 2011. Based on 122 pay reviews it found that the pace of salary growth for managers and professionals is slowing, although it is too early to conclude if this is the start of a trend or simply a one off blip.
Elsewhere, we review our eighth biennial report on company car policies which looks at key trends and provision for both status and job need drivers and we take a look at how Smiths Group amended its incentive arrangements in light of concerns raised by shareholders. Drawing on IDS research we also see how the pay and conditions of senior HR professionals are holding up in the face of recession.
- Results of our latest quarterly management and professional pay award round up
- A round-up of our eighth biennial company car policy report.
- Details of amendments to Smiths Group’s boardroom incentive arrangements
- A look at pay and conditions of senior HR professionals
- An insight into management pay prospects in 2012 looking at past and predicted trends
- News articles looking at management consultants, graduate employment destinations, women on FTSE 350 boards
November 2011
Incentive revivals in FTSE 100 boardrooms are continuing apace reports this month's edition of the Executive Compensation Review. This is one of the findings from our annual look at the latest trends in top directors’ remuneration. At a time when the UK economy continues to stumble and stutter executives are now pocketing significantly more at the median than they did during the peak pre-recession year of 2007/08. In a separate article we draw on our own research and take a look at what the evidence shows about top pay and performance – whether we really are paying for performance – which has long been the watchword for boardroom compensation.
Elsewhere this month we find that according to our annual round-up of management and professional staff bonuses, based on data collected during our quarterly pay award surveys, management bonuses are still below pre-recession levels. We also look at call centre managers’ pay, an innovative executive incentive scheme introduced at construction company Berkeley Group, and round-up four surveys looking of executive pay and benefits.
- A review of the latest trends in FTSE 100 directors’ remuneration
- Our annual round-up of management and professional staff bonuses
- An outline of Berkeley Group’s innovative senior executive incentive arrangements
- Call centre managers’ pay
- Salary survey reviews of business economists, marketing professionals, City benefits and national managers.
- A look at what the evidence shows about directors’ pay and performance
October 2011
Special issue - In-house lawyers' pay and benefits
September 2011
Management pay awards continued to edge up reports this month's edition of the Executive Compensation Review. This is one of the findings from our latest look at management pay awards over the three months to July. Despite the marginal increase, pay awards are still well below current rates of inflation. This reinforces the wider picture that, like the rest of the workforce, managers and professionals are experiencing a squeeze on their living standards.
For the fifth year running, we look at boardroom remuneration in building societies and mutual insurers, who have received less scrutiny recently than their banking counterparts, but nevertheless remain answerable to their members. This month we also look at boardroom pay and incentive arrangements at Cable and Wireless Worldwide, and use our 30 years of experience monitoring and reviewing salary surveys to provide you with our own guide of what to look out for when choosing a pay survey.
Results of our latest management and professional pay award round-up
- Our fifth survey of top pay in building societies and mutual insurers
- A look at boardroom pay and incentive arrangements at Cable & Wireless Worldwide
- A look at the current pay and job prospects for graduates
- Our own guide to choosing and using a salary survey
- Salary survey reviews of operations directors and pay in local government
August 2011
Special issue - Directors' pay in smaller companies: AIMs, Fledglings and SmallCaps
July 2011
- Results of our special survey looking at the sales staff function
- A look at the changes made by Tesco to its executive pay in the face of shareholder concerns
- A look at the pay and job prospects for City professionals
- Survey round-ups of executive remuneration and research and development staff