Course Overview

Take the CIPD Employee Reward Generalist Elective with the support of ICS to learn how people are rewarded in accordance with their value to an organisation.  Covers financial and non-financial rewards and will enable you to embrace the strategies, policies, structures and processes used to develop and maintain reward systems.

Pre-requisites

This is a Level 7 programme and equivalent to a Master's degree, therefore a good level of management experience is required. Please call our dedicated CIPD advisors on 0500 501 346 to discuss specific entry requirements, how to gain CIPD Student Membership, and the exemption process.

Qualification

CIPD Level 7 Postgraduate Certificate on completion of four electives

Support and benefits

• CIPD Postgraduate Certificate on completion of four electives
• Access to a dedicated ICS course mentor to support and motivate you throughout
• Complimentary textbook:  ‘Employee Reward’

Key topics

• The Employee Reward Contribution

Examine the main components of a reward system: the processes, practices, structures, schemes and procedures. Consider financial and non-financial rewards. Investigate the impact of the National Minimum Wage.

• The Conceptual Framework

Examine employee reward in corporate, national and international contexts. Investigate the influence of organisational culture. Explore economic and motivational theories, including the psychological contract. Look at employee and employer expectations in relation to equality, fairness and consistency.

• Employee Reward Processes

Examine employee reward philosophy, strategies and policies. Explore reward planning and the auditing and analysis of the reward system. Learn how to develop reward systems for different organisations and discover the factors that must be considered.

• Pay Structures

Examine the usefulness of pay and benefit surveys, and learn how to conduct a pay survey. Explore pay structures, and discover how to choose a pay structure. Discover the advantages and disadvantages of job evaluation.

• Pay Discrimination and Equal Pay

Study the history of pay discrimination and, in particular, prejudice against women. Examine the Equal Pay and Equal Value Acts. Explore non-discriminatory pay structures.

• Contingent Pay and Performance Management

Explore the arguments for and against contingent pay. Discover the different types of contingent pay that exist, including performance-related pay. Examine individually-based incentive schemes and team pay. Consider how organisational performance can be rewarded. Review performance management.

• Reward Systems for Special Groups

Examine how directors and top people are paid. Explore international pay and expatriate rewards, including tax issues. Learn how sales and customer service staff can be rewarded.

• Employee Benefits

Explore topics such as the creation of a benefits strategy, flexible benefits systems, the harmonisation debate, and pensions.

• Managing and Administering Reward

Examine forecasting, budgeting and pay reviews. Consider the role of consultants and the contribution they can make to organisations. Explore how computers can be used in administering employee reward systems.

Course Code

U06

Hours of study

12 months / 120 hours

Technical requirements

CIPD membership, exam and workshop fees are additional to course fees

Outline

You’ll complete four assessments during your course and one exam (set by CIPD) on completion of your course. You’ll also attend a 2-day residential workshop. The assessments can be submitted to ICS online via the Student Community, or they can be posted to ICS. It is recommended that you submit your assessments online as you will receive your results more quickly this way.

Assessment Breakdown

• Assessment 1: 7 questions (of a choice of 10) testing your knowledge of Units 1 to 4.
• Assessment 2: 7 questions (of a choice of 10) testing your knowledge of Units 5 to 9.
• Assessment 3: 1 case study testing your knowledge of all 7 units
• Assessment 4: 1 assignment (of a choice of 2) which should be approximately 2,000 words
• Final Exam: 1 case study and 7 questions (of a choice of 10). The exam must be completed within 2 hours.

Notes

The 2-day residential workshop will take place at a central UK location.

The exam is held in May and November of each year.

Please note that the format of the exam is subject to change. The details provided are intended only as a guide and should not be regarded as definitive.