Compensation, Benefits and Total Rewards Certification Training

This Compensation, Benefits & Total Rewards course is a practical, strategic program designed to help HR professionals, talent managers and business leaders build effective compensation and rewards frameworks that attract, engage and retain top talent. In today’s competitive and rapidly changing workplace — including post‑COVID hybrid and flexible work environments - organizations must move beyond traditional pay structures and adopt a total rewards mindset that combines fair compensation with meaningful benefits, development opportunities, performance pay and non‑financial incentives. This course provides a holistic understanding of compensation theory, job evaluation, pay grading and benchmarking, benefits design, reward communication and performance‑linked incentives. Through real‑world case studies, best practices and hands‑on exercises, participants will learn how to create a reward strategy that aligns with organizational goals, enhances employee experience, and drives long‑term retention and performance.

Pay & Grading Structures

• Modern trends in compensation and pay design
• Adapting reward structures to hybrid and flexible workforces
• Exploring the HAY methodology and alternative job evaluation frameworks
• Designing reward strategies across job levels and grades
• Ensuring fairness, pay transparency and internal equity
• Using market benchmarking and salary surveys effectively



Elements of Reward - Employer Brand

• The impact of employer branding on attraction and retention
• Critical branding touchpoints throughout the employee lifecycle
• Aligning employee experience with brand promise
• Enhancing transparency, credibility and trust in reward communication
• Building a consistent, authentic total-reward message



Elements of Reward - Performance Pay

• The performance management cycle and its alignment with compensation
• Cascading organisational objectives into team and individual goals
• Designing effective performance metrics, KPIs, and success criteria
• Ensuring fairness, reducing bias and enhancing clarity in performance pay
• The critical role of line managers in performance coaching and reward decisions



Reward, Promotion & Succession Planning

• Identifying high-potential and top-talent employees using objective frameworks
• Mapping performance and potential for promotion decisions
• The succession-planning process and key governance steps
• Integrating reward, promotion and career-pathing into a cohesive strategy
• Ensuring transparency, fairness and internal mobility opportunities



Elements of Reward - Training & Development

• Maximising the ROI of training and development investments
• Exploring modern learning methods: digital learning, micro-learning, coaching, mentoring
• Selecting appropriate learning solutions for diverse talent needs
• Aligning development opportunities with career pathways and performance objectives
• Measuring learning effectiveness and linking development to reward outcomes



Total Reward & Retention

• Building employee loyalty and organisational alignment
• Strategies for employee engagement and retention
• Understanding intrinsic and extrinsic motivators
• Designing comprehensive total reward packages (pay, benefits, recognition, development, well-being)
• Identifying your organisation’s modern total reward strategy for a dynamic workforce

• Basic understanding of HR or people operations
• General familiarity with organisational structures and job roles
• Comfort working with spreadsheets or HR systems (helpful but not required)
• No prior compensation or reward-specialist experience required

• HR professionals working in compensation, benefits or total rewards
• HR business partners supporting organisational design or workforce planning
• Managers and team leads involved in performance, promotion or reward decisions
• Talent management, learning & development and organisational development practitioners
• Anyone seeking an applied understanding of modern reward and grading strategies

• 20 multiple-choice questions covering course content
• Passing score: minimum 15 correct answers
• Two attempts allowed to achieve a passing score
• Certificate issued upon successful completion

A senior emerging markets HR and talent management professional with over 25 years of experience, bringing global best practices and real-world case studies gained from working with leading multinational organisations and global brands. A former CHRO and HR/Talent Director, he has extensive experience across sectors including financial services, logistics, government, advertising and media. He is highly skilled in integrating talent management strategies for both local and expatriate workforces, successfully navigating diverse cultures, labour laws and regulatory environments to drive organisational performance and profitability.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Explain the strategic role of compensation, benefits and total rewards in attracting, motivating and retaining employees.
• Identify and analyse key elements of total rewards, including base pay, incentives, benefits, career development and non‑financial rewards.
• Design and implement effective compensation structures and pay grades that reflect internal equity and market competitiveness.
• Conduct job evaluation and market benchmarking to inform reward decisions and align pay with organisational objectives.
• Develop performance‑based incentive plans and bonus systems that link rewards to organisational goals and individual outcomes.
• Evaluate and select benefits programs (e.g., health, leave, retirement plans) that support employee wellbeing and organisational value propositions.
• Integrate compensation and benefits strategies with performance management and career development pathways.
• Communicate total reward policies clearly and transparently to maximise employee understanding, engagement and trust.
• Develop an action plan to implement total rewards initiatives that reflect best practices and organisational priorities.