Aon Hewitt Projects a 10.6% Salary Increase for India Inc. in 2015, Similar to 2014 Outlook

Aon Hewitt, the global talent, retirement and health solutions business of Aon plc (NYSE: AON), today announced the 19^th edition of its Annual Salary Increase Survey in India. The study, the largest of its kind in India, analysed data from more than 580 companies. The results reflect a positive yet cautious sentiment in India Inc. towards salary increases.

Anandorup Ghose, Rewards Consulting Practice Leader at Aon Hewitt India, commented: "On the back of improving business confidence, a stable government and moderating inflation there is a significant improvement in business confidence across companies, however this confidences is not reflecting in salaries. The projected salary increase number shows a subtle improvement over salary increases in the last 3 years. Companies across industries are continuing to take a cautious stance and are not going for aggressive pay increases."

Sectors such as Life Sciences, Engineering Services, Chemicals and Media are projecting a higher increase than the market average. These industries have also consistently led the salary increase numbers since 2012. The overall positive sentiment in the economy has impacted the Real Estate & Infrastructure sector significantly. The sector has moved up many places to lead the salary increase pack this year. Services industries like Retail, Financial Institutions, and Hospitality represent the lower end of salary increase projections.

Source: Aon Hewitt Salary Increase Survey 2014-15

Other Emerging Trends from the Study

The survey highlighted that almost 70% of the respondents believe that there will be improvement in the business outlook. About half of all companies feel that positive business sentiment and increasing pay budgets in their competitive market are driving factors in their decision to increase salary projections from earlier years.

With changing sentiments, employee expectations have also gone up manifold. The study results show that organizations however are managing these higher expectations carefully and are not getting swayed by it. The focus on performance differentiation is far higher with a larger proportion of budgets being allocated to higher performers. Data this year shows that across the board top performers are expected to get 1.6 times the salary increase awarded to average performers. This differentiation is even higher in most service industries such as Banking and other Financial Services (BFSI), ITeS and Telecom as well as other industries like Fast Moving Consumer Goods/Fast Moving Consumer Durables (FMCG/ FMCD), Pharma etc.

Additionally, in the last five years, the percentage of employees with top performance rating has dropped by close to 30%, implying that organizations are not hesitating to differentiate sharply on the basis of performance and are allocating the share of the total increase budget accordingly.

Top/Senior Management will see approximately a fourth of their total compensation being variable and even the bottom of the pyramid, at entry levels roles, more than 12% of compensation can be expected to be paid through performance-linked pay. There is a steady trend towards greater performance-based pay and it indicates a shift in overall pay philosophy across Indian companies.

Anandorup Ghose commented: "It's heartening to see that even in good years India Inc. is showing greater focus towards driving performance-based differentiation in pay budgets. This will enable companies to manage their compensation costs much better than they have been in the past. We are also seeing an increase in overall employee benefits costs for companies; there is a marginal but definite shift in the level of benefits being offered to employees".

India Inc. attrition rates in 2014 continued to be broadly at par with 2013 at 18.1%, but key talent attrition has witnessed a 31% jump. Key talent attrition in 2014 registered at 5.9% as compared to 4.5% in 2013. Increasingly organisations are developing separate retention plans and policies for their top talent. While rewards continues as a retention tool to ring fence top talent, programs around on leadership opportunities and coaching, overseas assignments, fast track programs for hi - potentials are fast gaining prominence

With changing demographics and increased focus on employee wellness, benefits are gaining significant momentum. Of the 500+ organisations that were surveyed, 76% of the firm has indicated an increase in their benefits budget. Increase in salary linked benefits (retirals), introduction of new benefits and change in the number of people availing benefits are some of the reasons for this increased budget.

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About Aon Hewitt

Aon Hewitt empowers organizations and individuals to secure a better future through innovative talent, retirement and health solutions. We advise, design and execute a wide range of solutions that enable clients to cultivate talent to drive organizational and personal performance and growth, navigate retirement risk while providing new levels of financial security, and redefine health solutions for greater choice, affordability and wellness. Aon Hewitt is the global leader in human resource solutions, with over 30,000 professionals in 90 countries serving more than 20,000 clients worldwide. For more information on Aon Hewitt, please visit www.aonhewitt.com/india.

About Aon

Aon plc (NYSE:AON) is a leading global provider of risk management, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human resources solutions and outsourcing services. Through its more than 65,000 colleagues worldwide, Aon unites to empower results for clients in over 120 countries via innovative and effective risk and people solutions and through industry-leading global resources and technical expertise. Aon has been named repeatedly as the world's best broker, best insurance intermediary, reinsurance intermediary, captive's manager and best employee benefits consulting firm by multiple industry sources. Visit www.aon.com for more information on Aon and www.aon.com/manchesterunited to learn about Aon's global partnership with Manchester United.