Reward Association gets to grips with issues facing industry

Dr Ronel Nienaber.

The organisation will use its annual event, the SARA Conference, to be held on 11 and 12 October at Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand, to reaffirm its role in a rapidly changing industry and explain its position on key issues.

SARA was established in 1997 to create a platform for networking and the development of those responsible for reward management. It strives to ensure that its members acquire and develop the skills, confidence and passion required for the discipline.

The theme of this year's event is "Legends in Reward". Not only is it indicative of the journey the body has undertaken to be the representative reward body in South Africa and become a registered professional body with SAQA (South African Qualifications Authority), it also describes the critical juncture the industry has arrived at in terms of dealing with a number of issues that impact on general performance and development.

Topics up for discussion at the conference include:

• Lessons from the cutting edge of reward science - the unexplored competitive advantage, the role of legends in today's reward landscape,
  
• Making employee benefits more rewarding,
  
• True cultural change: Moving from base pay to incentive rewards in a financial services company and
  
• Executive remuneration.

Dr Ronel Nienaber, conference lead, explains that the main objective of the event is to inform members about the impact and relevance of these issues in order to identify solutions and adapt strategies accordingly.

At the same time the association's purpose is to guide members about trends that continue to make the industry controversial, specifically members who operate directly within the HR and rewards environment.

"The conference will focus on issues that impact the reward profession today and in the future, and review reward principles that have stood the test of time. Our line-up of guest speakers will cover subjects that are relevant and solicit a strong response from the market. These subjects include how companies will have to think about people differently and whether reward management is part of the problem or the solution with regard to productivity in South Africa," says Nienaber.

SARA is pressing upon executives, reward, HR and payroll specialists and practitioners to attend its October conference and gain insight into the many changes taking place within the reward industry and what this will mean for businesses, employers and employees.

Attendees are urged to RSVP by 7 September to avoid disappointment. For more information and registration, click through to www.sara.co.za

About SARA

The South African Reward Association (SARA) is a non-profit, membership-driven organisation established in 1997 to promote the reward profession in Southern Africa.

The organisation's primary mandate is to actively ensure that reward specialists and managers, human resources professionals and executives have the skills, confidence and passion for the reward discipline.

The field of reward management, which has now expanded beyond the concept of salaries and benefits, has taken on notable proportions as companies realise the impact of human behaviour on the strategic objectives of the business - and, how the design of rewards positively influence desired human behaviours.

It has become a real and essential art to attract, retain and engage employees at all levels within the organisation. Reward specialists, who are responsible for the design, development and implementation of reward strategies, policies and processes that will support organisational and people objectives, are deemed critical skills and these professionals need to be on top of their game at all times.

It is therefore SARA's purpose to ensure that these professionals, as well as those working closely with them, are equipped to face challenges in this industry.

From its head office in Johannesburg and its national network covering key regions including Cape Town and KwaZulu-Natal, SARA plays an important role in the development of reward professionals in South Africa.

This is accomplished via its internationally recognised training and internship programmes.

SARA's growing membership base includes corporate firms, government service and parastatal companies.

Most organisations listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange are corporate members of the Association and our individual membership listing has reached in excess of 3000.