Salary survey reveals ‘minimal’ executive level increases

Benchmarking salary structures in line with industry trends is crucial as companies look into every possible cost-cutting mechanism. Which is why the latest salary survey undertaken by PE Corporate Services in association with Lee Botti & Associates has attracted wide industry interest. Some 31 companies participated, with 4179 salaries presented for Gauteng, Western Cape, Kwa-Zulu Natal and Eastern Cape areas. The survey period runs from September 2007, the date of the last survey, to April 2009. “Although the overall average increase over the two-year period was 20.03%, increases at executive level were minimal and at departmental management level fairly low. Significant increases were however evident in operational clerical and controlling staff,” Adele Slotar, principal remuneration consultant of PE Consulting told FTW. “There has been enormous response from our clients who are interested in current remuneration structures during these tough economic times,” said Kim Botti, director of Lee Botti & Associates. “Where volumes are down and business is being affected, companies are implementing cost-cutting exercises – and at the forefront of these is the cost of employment. “The salary survey allows them to benchmark their structures.”