Payday comes for senior HR

PAY DIFFERENTIALS between generic HR positions and their specialist counterparts have changed over the past year with larger increases in pay rates for generic roles, according to a recent HR salary survey.

Conducted by Hart Consulting Group in conjunction with Human Resource Partners, a division of Staff and Executive Resources, the survey amplifies trends and directions in pay for HR professionals in the current marketplace.

The survey found that the market for HR professionals has provided increases of between 4 and 5 per cent as a whole.

Pay increases have been more generous for senior HR staff compared to their less experienced peers, however pay levels for junior positions such as HR administrators and administration officers has tended to diminish with the influx of new and less experienced staff.

Incentives have also continued to increase, with actual incentives also improving in line with the general improvement in the economic conditions for all companies.

“This is amply demonstrated by the performance-related bonuses which many HR people participate in,” said David Owens, associate director of Human Resource Partners.

“Businesses are willing to reward effective HR professionals for their contribution in making the company tick. The fact that participation in bonus payments is now extremely widespread shows that the modern corporation is willing to encourage the support of top calibre HR professionals.”

The consulting market has provided slightly higher fixed reward for staff up to the senior consultant level, however HR practitioners receive higher levels of remuneration at the senior HR manager and director level.

“If HR behaves like business partners they get treated like business partners,” said Owens.

“HR is now being much more widely accepted as a vitally important voice at the management meeting/ board table.”