Employers need to align the rewards desired by employees with the needs of the business. There are various elements to reward and it is important that they choose the appropriate mix of base to variable pay, fixed to flexible benefits and pay to non-pay rewards. They should moreover be aware of the various organisational risks that are involved when making decisions on how they reward and recognise individual and collective contribution. There is also a need to recognise the signals that pay sends out about the organisation, so it is important that an appropriate communications strategy is adopted to explain to staff what behaviours, values and performances the organisation is rewarding, how and why.