In recent weeks the Department of Health and Social Care in England set out plans to introduce fair pay agreements for adult social care workers. The concept of fair pay agreements is not new in other jurisdictions, especially in the Scandinavian countries, and they address some core issues around recruitment, retention and ensuring workers in certain sectors are paid enough money for the important work that they do. The formation of a special negotiating body for adult social care represents a significant policy shift towards a partnership model that will be closely watched by industrial relations practitioners, trade unions and HR professionals alike. This body will make its own decisions and give advice to the Government about the fair pay agreement. Late last year I facilitated, as host of the International Industrial Relations Agencies body, a conference entitled “Let’s talk about pay” whereupon my counterparts from around the globe discussed with local stakeholders, the profound truths around the industrial relations issues purely associated with pay, people and policies.