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Background

In late 2003, the Treasury and Cabinet Office carried out a stock take of pay and non pay rewards to get an idea of the pay and benefit approaches in the Public and Private Sector. A key finding of this research was the need for greater focus on the understanding and promoting of the public service total reward package.

Other findings were:

1. there is no one size fits all solution to rewards;
2. reward systems should support effective performance management systems, encouraged and endorsed by leadership;
3. different approaches are often taken for different groups of staff;
4. more attention should be made to monitoring and evaluation of reward systems and their reform.

The Cabinet Office has carried out some preliminary research into Total Reward and a report on the basis of this research is attached.

Total Reward Paper [PDF, 160KB]

Objectives

The Cabinet Office has commissioned this Toolkit to assist Public Service employers to:

• understand the full potential range of their current ‘total reward’ package
• develop constructive communication with employees on their rewards
• build a total reward strategy
• integrate their total reward strategy with wider business aims
• promote key principles of public service reform agenda – particularly increased customer focus, an improved public service image and increased diversity and workforce flexibility
• encourage wider use of non pay rewards

To achieve these goals, this toolkit provides:

• Methodology;
• Communication and diagnostic tools;
• Case studies / good practice (with relevant contacts);
• Checklists of issues and guidance, e.g. salary benchmarking, flexible working.

If you would like more information on this project or on related issues please contact us on rewardsplus@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk.