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Fair Reward

What it is and why it's important

Fair Reward means employers pay workers enough to meet their needs and offer benefits like annual leave, sick pay, and pensions that are better than the legal minimum. Employers who work with trade unions have an advantage in setting these conditions.

As an employer, you know that rewarding workers fairly and treating them with dignity and respect is the right thing to do. Research has consistently shown that unfair work has a detrimental impact on employees’ physical and mental wellbeing. But as well as the obvious benefits for employees, there’s also a clear business imperative for organisations to introduce Fair Reward policies, as employees become more engaged, productive and committed.

Below you will find information to help you understand what you need to consider to reward your employees in a fair way.

How do businesses ensure they pay rates that represent fair reward?

Guidance on how your business can ensure that you pay rates that represent a fair reward for the work undertaken.

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Video length: 1:24

How do you become a Real Living Wage accredited employer? And is it difficult to achieve the status?

Becoming an accredited Real Living Wage employer demonstrates a commitment to fair reward for both current and future employees, Clare Sain-Ley-Berry, Interim Director at Sustain Wales, explains how you can become one.

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Video length: 1:28

What does pay transparency mean? And how can it be achieved?

Clare Sain-Ley-Berry, Interim Director at Sustain Wales, discusses how employees pay is determined and how transparency is best shown across your business.

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Video length: 1:18

How should businesses approach issues linked to gender, race and disability pay gaps as part of their commitment to fair reward?

Your businesses should approach issues like recruitment, job evaluation and job design with a focus on addressing gender, race, and disability pay disparities as part of your commitment to fair reward. Clare Sain-Ley-Berry, Interim Director at Sustain Wales, highlights how.

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Video length: 1:30

How should employers respond to recruitment and retention challenges with better pay and conditions given the financial pressures many businesses face?

Interim Director at Sustain Wales, Clare Sain-Ley-Berry, talks about the recruitment and retention challenges across various business sectors and how your business must consider responding with better rates of pay, improved terms, and enhanced conditions.

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Video length: 1:31

What benefits do employers gain from offering more than the statutory entitlements as part of fair reward?

Clare Sain-Ley-Berry, Interim Director at Sustain Wales, provides guidance on whether offering more than the statutory minimum for benefits such as sick pay, annual leave and maternity/paternity leave entitlements can return various benefits.

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Video length: 1:44

How do businesses get started in creating this environment? And what should they prioritise?

Interim Director at Sustain Wales, Clare Sain-Ley-Berry, explains how your business can create an environment where employees fair reward is respected as part of a much wider approach to the fair work agenda.

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Video length: 1:20

What the experts say

Business Wales have worked with industry experts on each of the six themes identified for SMEs to understand and work effectively within the Fair Work principles.

Resource Pack

Download the Fair Reward resource pack that will support you to make changes to your business to become a Fair Work employer.


Business Wales Helpline

03000 6 03000

Lines are open 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday.

Rydym yn croesawu galwadau’n Gymraeg.
We welcome calls in Welsh.