Category: Benefits and Compensation

This topic provides guidance on how to handle compensation issues in a way that attracts and retains the best talent and advances the strategic goals of your business. You get news and tips on what’s going on nationally and in the states, and updates on changes in regulations, possible governmental action, and emerging compensation trends.

Where’s the Public’s Breaking Point on Exec Pay?

Shareholders are voicing their disapproval over excessive executive pay. HR managers need to know the public’s “breaking point” for each pay element, says consultant Kurt Fichthorn. Fichthorn, who is vice president in the Philadelphia office of the Hay Group, offers the following chart to clarify what employers want and how it compares to what the […]

Comp Philosophy? Yes, You Must Have One

Yes, it’s worth the time and focus on your compensation philosophy, because it is the basis for everything you do in compensation. You need to get it to paper so execs, managers, and employees understand, says Rizzuti. Rizzuti, who is a principal and senior consultant with Compensation Resources, Inc, in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, […]

Exec Rewards: Use Total Comp or Miss by a Mile

Base executive pay decisions on total direct compensation and you are likely to “miss the market by a mile,” says consultant Kurt Fichthorn. To understand the importance of a total remuneration perspective, look at this table that reflects information about your CEO’s compensation, says Fichthorn, vice president in the Philadelphia office of Hay Group. CEO […]

Employers Have Opportunity to Boost Retirement Savings With Auto-escalation

Employers could use auto-escalation as a way to encourage 401(k) participants to increase their contributions and reduce the number of employees missing out on matching contributions from the plan sponsor. That’s the finding by WorldatWork and the American Benefits Institute, which said that nearly a third of U.S. retirement plan sponsors they surveyed think more […]

How the Wizard of Oz Can Help Us Be Better Managers

Here’s what Oswald said: Recently, an adaptation of The Wizard of Oz was released. If you’re like me, you grew up watching the 1939 classic. The new film got me thinking about those wonderful characters created by L. Frank Baum. There’s the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and, of course, Dorothy. Each one […]

Reform Rule on Maximum Waiting Period Details Some 90 Day-plus Scenarios

Employer group health plans must eliminate waiting periods of more than 90 days before enrolling otherwise eligible employees (or dependents) into health coverage, under proposed rules issued on March 18 by the federal agencies implementing health reform. For Clear Full-time Hires, It’s 90 Days Group health plans and health insurers in the group plan setting […]

Post-Recession Compensation: Attract and Retain Top Talent

Your organization may be at risk of losing top talent and may face future recruiting challenges as employees weigh their employment options more carefully in a recovering economy, says Daniels, who is senior consultant at Keating Advisors, LLC. Hiring Is Heating Up Recent BLS data, says Daniels, show that there is an increase in hiring. […]

Workers’ Comp 101: When Can You Discipline an Injured Worker?

"Even if we’re talking about an injured worker is in a protected classification, the employer can generally discipline that person as long as they can show good cause." David Schmit told us in a recent BLR webinar. Good cause can be defined as "a fair and honest cause or reason, regulated by good faith on […]

The 4 Approaches to Pay Structure

For companies that have cut back on pay for a few years (who hasn’t?), it’s time to take a look at your status, says Daniels, who is senior consultant at Keating Advisors, LLC. You may well have fallen behind or your structure may no longer align with your strategies. Review Your Current Base Pay Structure […]