Compensation Planning Outlook 2011: Playing It Safe in the Face of an Unsteady Economic Recovery

Things are not quite back to business as usual for compensation planners as economic recovery is still unsteady. However, this year’s Compensation Planning Outlook Survey found that organizations are planning moderate base salary increases for 2011. While the increases vary across industries, sectors, and regions, they are, on average, above the forecasted rate of inflation. Planned increases for non-unionized employees in 2011 average 2.8 per cent, up from the average actual increase of 2.7 per cent for 2010. For the first time in recent years, expected increases in the private sector (2.9 per cent) outpace those in the public sector (2.3 per cent).

Other results from the survey included in the report address incentive plans, pensions, rewards strategies and priorities, recruitment and retention, and collective bargaining issues.