Reward Conference highlights by John Beadle

I chaired the CIPD’s annual reward conference last week. I thought the changed format worked really well and I was impressed by the quality of the speakers and the engagement of our delegates.
 
What were my highlights?
 
I enjoyed Anthony Hilton's opening address, where he recounted in detail the lessons we can learn from previous recessions, on the basis that if we ignore history we are doomed to repeat it. He painted a vision of the future with further, radical pension change, greater transparency in pay and even more involvement of Boards in remuneration.
 
Jonathan Chapman recounted the story of the ‘HR chicken’ and walked us through the main conclusions of the risk study that he conducted for the CIPD. Have you read it? It should be essential reading for all reward professionals. He posed the challenge of whether we have the capability within our HR functions to manage very real risk issues. By the show of hands in the hall of people who have risk aspects in their own objectives I fear that this number may be relatively small.
 
Jon Terry from PwC gave a fascinating insight into the reward traits of some of our most successful companies. Among the big findings – ‘be brave’ and design plans are right for your organisation and its culture, rather than the ‘cookie cutter’ standard plans advocated by some consultants and shareholder groups.
 
During a lively, very interactive seminar on Reward Strategies in a Global Environment, I discovered that in some cases the only way to really ensure successful payroll delivery is to pack a rucksack with dollars, get on a plane and deliver it personally to the employee! I also heard again and again how difficult it is becoming to move critical skills into or out of the UK on assignment given – among other things – the impending increase in tax rates.

I listened to Anne Barnett tell the inspirational story from TD Waterhouse Investor Services (Europe) Ltd about how their reward solution helped them survive and ultimately thrive, which reminded me what a transformational effect we can have on our organisations. TD Waterhouse Investor Services (Europe) Ltd won the Total reward category of the CIPD People Management Awards last year. If you think you have, or about to deliver, a great solution for your business why not get the recognition it deserves? The opening date to submit entries for this year’s Performance and reward awards is 8 March, and I look forward to congratulating the winner at the Annual Conference in Manchester in November.

Find out more about The CIPD People Management Awards 2010  

Of course you also learn so many other things than reward at our conferences. During the risk session Ian Davidson at Commerzbank advised us that we should always take a portable smoke hood on an aeroplane (very low probability of use, but very high impact) and Eric Scoones from SAB Miller apologised for his the 'dry' session and warned to make sure we recognise that there are a lot of people in China …
 
But my most lasting memory was from the impassioned speech from Vicky Wright, our outgoing CIPD President, who warned us that we are ‘sleepwalking into old age poverty’ in society as we inexorably move towards a market practise of low defined contribution pension schemes – and ultimately none at all – for the majority of our employees. Good news for shareholders, but perhaps bad news for UK society as a whole?
 
If you went to our national conference I hope you found it as stimulating as I did. I'd love to hear your comments about how we can make it more relevant. If you didn't, where were you? Make the booking in your diary for next year!

View the CIPD research insight Managing reward risks: an integrated approach