YES - CATHY MONAGHAN, HEAD OF HR CONSULTING, PES
If the HR function operates as a valid business function, making anobvious contribution to the bottom line and to the success of theorganisation, they are paid well. Traditionally, functions such as salesand finance that are more tangible have commanded larger salaries, andthere is still a perception that HR professionals should not be on thesame level. Indeed some HR departments reinforce this, still performingin an administrative capacity and so get paid appropriately. It is up toHR professionals to take their place at the board table, as one of my HRdirectors once said to me, shoulder to shoulder with other core businessfunctions and prove they are worth it.
NO - SANDRA PILSON, MANAGING DIRECTOR, PEO PEOPLE
In general, talented, strategic HR professionals are not well enoughrewarded. This is particularly apparent in the public sector wheresenior talent is regularly offered only two-thirds of the pay availablein the private sector. It is hardly surprising that it often fails toretain the top talent it badly needs Even private companies are failingto retain top HR professionals, for although they may receive goodfinancial remuneration, only 42% of HR directors hold a position on theboard. Many senior people are turning in frustration to freelance workor to establishing their own consultancies. CEOs need to be aware ofwhat they want and what they need and then be prepared to rewardaccordingly.
YES - JOELLE WARREN, MANAGING DIRECTOR, WARREN PARTNERS
At a senior level, we are finding that candidates generally are muchhappier to move from company to company, but this is not so much aboutmoney, or even the total package, as much as it is about much softerissues. They are concerned with the culture of the organisation, theperson they will be working for, and the flexibility of work patterns.In these respects, HR directors play a key role in defining the employerbrand and helping to shape the culture, providing strong leadership anddevelopment of people within the HR function. No longer are ourdiscussions with senior executives spent on the question of money. Thesedays, candidates are much more concerned with values.
NO - ANDREW GORDON, DIRECTOR jobs.ac.uk
On paper HR professionals in more senior roles are in fact quite wellrewarded. However, the problem lies at the more junior levels, offeringpoorly paid, menial and uninspiring paper-based roles. From myexperience at Ford people who joined at the lower levels did so to gainexperience and were off as soon as they could find their next job up theladder.Too often HR professionals are seen as paper pushers, keepingtrack of timesheets and annual leave. This leads to a warped perceptionof HR and weakens its strategic role within business. So no, it'scertainly not paid well enough compared to other white-collar jobs whenyou consider the value quality HR people add to an organisation.
