Base and variable pay
Support your organisation by learning to design and manage pay structures in a way that’s fair and reflects organisational objectives and your industry.
Perfect for:
You’ll learn how to:
- describe, choose and set pay structures
- explain equal pay, pay progression and the options available to organisations
- define and assess performance-related pay
- evaluate and benchmark bonus payments, sales incentives, and commission.
About this course
Please note, On 16 April 2025 the Supreme Court returned the ruling that the protected characteristic of “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex. The result of this ruling can be viewed on the Supreme Court website. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (the EHRC, the national equality and human rights regulator for England, Scotland and Wales) released an interim update on 25 April 2025 to help employers and others understand how to follow the law in response to the Supreme Court ruling. The EHRC is working 'at pace' to update its statutory and non-statutory guidance. We will update our content appropriately when the EHRC statutory guidance is available or changes are made.
Course length: Two days
Delivery: Online classes
Suitable for: People professionals with experience in employee reward, compensation, and benefits.
Topics covered
- reward context and job evaluation
- pay setting and structures
- pay progression and equal pay
- performance related pay
- bonus payments
- sales incentives and commissions.
What to expect from this ‘base and variable pay’ course
This course in understanding employee pay has been created for people professionals with experience of working in employee rewards and benefits. It gives you the tools to implement pay strategies aligned with your organisation’s vision and strategy, carry out good practice, and manage emerging issues. This base and variable pay course is based on the latest CIPD research and is facilitated by a leading reward specialist. By understanding benefits at work, you’ll learn to lead discussions on differing pay structures, identify the strengths and weaknesses of various pay models and ensure fair pay for all employees.
What you’ll need to do on this course
This is a two-day online course. Each day has four hours of online lessons. We recommend you support your online learning with self-directed learning before and after the course – this should take around six hours.
What you’ll get on this course
At the end of this course, you’ll receive a certificate. Taking part in this course gives you access to the CIPD Learning Hub for 12 months. Here, you can access your course content together with other valuable resources and tools. When you finish your course, you can enjoy an additional 12 months of access to other resources on the Learning Hub.
​Learning outcomes
By the end of this ‘base and variable pay’ course, you’ll be able to:
- describe, design, and manage a pay structure for your organisation
- use job evaluation and similar criteria to ensure fair pay across your organisation
- ensure pay strategies are aligned to organisational needs and vision.
Team bookings
Interested in booking this course for your team? We offer group bookings solutions for teams of four or more people.
When your teams learn with the CIPD, they get direct access to the latest professional research and insights.
And through courses co-created with industry thought leaders and practitioners, they’ll build the skills and confidence they need to inspire action, influence change and drive business value.
We offer a wide range of Learning and Development solutions to suit employees at every level – whether in HR, L&D, OD or wider people management.
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