Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Weekly Discussions
Lori Caldwell
Richard Thompson
WEEKLY DISCUSSION 2
Weekly Discussions
Week 1 Discussion 1
Compensation Strategy
advantage. When the employees are more productive and skilled then the company can gain a
competitive advantage. A company can keep these highly trained employees by offering good
Human resource strategies are another form of compensation other than money. These
strategies are in the form of flexible hours, trading days with other employees, and offering
daycare onsite for employees children. These benefits can go a long way in keeping experienced
workers as in the competitive strategies. There is also the offering of medical and dental
strategies. These strategies are in the form of base pay, bonus awards, merit increases, and stock
WEEKLY DISCUSSION 3
options. Employees are a human asset for any company and can affect the profit margin. The
compensation strategy can help keep the most important asset of the company, human capitol, by
Competitive advantage, human resource strategies, and compensation strategies all work
together to help a company meet the organizations business strategies. By keeping the best
performing employees a company can meet the company production goals to make the company
Week 1 Discussion 2
Compensation Practices
Discuss the various factors that influence a companys competitive strategies and compensation
practices. Assess how a company can mitigate these factors using effective compensation
practices.
There are laws in place to protect both the employee and employer as far as
compensation is concerned. Some of the laws are minimum wage, equal opportunity, and
overtime pay. These laws ensure that employees are paid fair and not discriminated against
The employees goals, employers goals, and governments goals all influence a
companys competitive strategies. The employee wants to make a good wage, health insurance,
and safe working conditions. The employer wants high profit margins and high return on
investments. The government wants social good with little involvement in the private sector
(Martocchio, 2011).
The ideal scenario is when a company has highly qualified employees that stay loyal to
the company. The profit margin for the company is high and cost is low. The benefits and
compensation are high enough to allow the employees to contribute to the local economy
(Martocchio, 2011).
Week 2 Discussion 1
Define the concept of seniority and merit pay plans, including the strengths and limitations of
such plans within an organization. Discuss the job, organizational and/or other factors that
Seniority pay is a form of pay that is paid to an employee for their length of time on the
job. This is added to the base pay of the employee. The increase is a percentage of the base pay.
An example of that would be if 20 employees making different base pay all get a 5% increase
they would not all receive the same amount of money, it would be 5% of their base pay. The
WEEKLY DISCUSSION 5
strength of seniority is that everyone will get an increase in pay but at different increments. The
problem with the plan is that no matter what the performance of the employee they will still get
an increase in pay for staying with the company. There will be some that work hard to contribute
to the company goals but there are always those few that do little but still get a pay increase
(Martocchio, 2011).
Merit pay is another form of pay added to the base pay but in a different way. A merit
raise is dependent on the performance of the employee. If the employee works hard and does a
good job they will receive an increase in pay equal to their performance. On the other hand if
they perform poorly they will not get an increase in pay. This form of raise motivates the
employees to work better and helps the company keep experienced workers. The problem with
merit pay systems can be in the form of favoritism. Many times managers will have favorites
among their employees maybe without even realizing. It could be a long time employee that is
older and more experienced so the manager feels they deserve the raise even if their work is less
Pay-for-knowledge pay programs are just what it says. The employer will pay an
employee for learning new tasks or jobs in the company. This makes that employee more
versatile within the company. This form of pay is a type of reward system where the employee is
rewarded with an increase in pay for learning task above their normal activity level (Martocchio,
2011).
I know this pay for knowledge system well. My employer uses this system to motivate
employees to learn new skills so they can fill in when someone has to be off work. The way it
works is if you learn the job the next level up from your base pay position then you will get an
increase in pay. For every level you go up you earn more. I have worked my way up from a
WEEKLY DISCUSSION 6
material handler to a KP operator. This is the highest position in the company other than
management.
When trying to decide between seniority pay and merit pay it is best to look at the
business and the employees and decide which one will most motivate them. Will one improve
performance more than the other or could it cause ill will among the employees causing
production to fall. No two companies are the same and what works for one may not work for the
Week 2 Discussion 2
Discuss how incentive pay plans both individual and group motivate employees to achieve
high levels of performance. Identify potential weaknesses of these plans and suggest steps that
can be taken to make these plans highly effective. Then, choose one industry that either an
individual or group incentive pay plan would work best providing support for your reasoning
How do incentive pay plans motivate employees and groups to achieve high levels of
performance?
Identify potential weaknesses of these plans and suggest steps that can be taken to
Choose one industry that either an individual or group incentive pay plan would
work best.
Incentive pay or variable pay is defined as compensation other than base wages or
salaries that fluctuates according to employees attainment of some standard (Martocchio, 2011,
p. 386). The way this program works is that employees are motivated to perform well is that the
incentive pay is non-recurring form of pay. This means that the employee has to work to earn this
pay every period that the pay covers. For example a company pays incentive payments each
quarter so the employees have to perform each quarter to earn the extra pay (Martocchio, 2011).
One problem with using this form of pay is that there is always those people that let
others do all the work while they still get credit for meeting goals. This can cause bad feelings
between workers and create high turnover rate. This is not good for a company because it causes
the skill level to be low also causing production to be low. There is also those doing the majority
of the work feel that the loafers are affecting their pay. This can cause those who work hard to
look for work elsewhere. This then causes the company to be left with less than desirable work
I work for a company called Evonik, which uses the variable pay plan as a companywide
incentive. Each year there are goals for each department, safety, and company projects. Points
are awarded for meeting the goal, and partial point for meeting half the goal. Then at the end of
the year all the points are totaled up and there is a formula used to determine what percentage the
bonus will be. The overall performance of the company will determine if there is a multiplier.
This is paid out in March each year and most of the time it ends up equaling two weeks pay.
Wek 3 Discussion 1
Building Blocks
Discuss the basic building blocks of developing a market competitive pay system, including the
market pay system. 1.) Strategic analysis: to gather data on competitors and determine the
possible growth of the company long-term. Examine the companys finances and functional
capacity. 2.) Compensation surveys: again gathering data on the competition about
compensation. This data will cover wages, salaries, and employee benefits. The benefits have
become the most important element in creating a market-competitive pay system. 3.) Integrating
the internal job structure: This is done by using the data collected about the competitors pay
rates. Then the information from outside firms and inside the company are combined to come up
with competitive pay for the employees. 4.) Compensation policies: These policies are put
together using internal company data and the strategies of the competitor. They also have to
Pay rates are set by using market pay rates as a reference point. A regression analysis is
used to set pay rates for jobs that are comparable to jobs in the external job market. The pay is
WEEKLY DISCUSSION 9
also compared to the jobs within the company. The use of the compensation survey data and job
analysis help the compensation professionals design an internal consistent job structure
(Martocchio, 2011).
In 2001 my company added a new line that can make many forms of acrylic. This is
different than any other line in the plant. The company uses the Hay Group to perform job
analysis and set pay scales. The operators of the line feel that they are not paid what they should
because they have as much responsibility as a FF operator but only make technician pay. The
reason given to the operators is that the FF operator has two people under them and the PC
operator only has one. Everyone except the HR manager feels the same about the pay scale for
Week 3 Discussion 2
Job Analysis
Provide a brief overview of the job evaluation process, including the importance of compensable
factors. Detail the compensable factors of a position you are familiar with and their impact on
that positions salary, and you may want to reference the job analysis and job description process,
which form the foundation of job evaluation. Identify at least four pitfalls that exist for
Job evaluation allows the determination of differences of a group of jobs. This allows
them to set a value and priorities scale for the work. Once the scale is established management
can set a pay scale for most jobs in the company (Martocchio, 2011).
WEEKLY DISCUSSION 10
Characteristics considered are skill, effort, responsibility, and working conditions. The use of
these four characteristics can help decide pay for jobs that are not alike can be equal when it
I will use the same example from my first discussion post. The job is Post Color Operator
(PC) operator. Working requirements: must be able to weigh ingredients to exact amount in
Working conditions: hot, dusty, working with chemicals, dyes, and oil. Working around
hot equipment and water. Also lifting up to fifty pounds. Monitoring feed stock, driving fork
truck, and electric pallet jack. Must be able to input settings into the computer and make
adjustments to settings to get product in spec. Perform testing on product and document results.
If a company fails to follow the job evaluation process they could end up over paying or
under look at the paying their employees because they failed to look at the market pay rate. The
pay incentives may not be enough to draw the quality of employee they need. Individual pay
rates if they are low then it can cause high turnover of workers. Collective bargaining can bring
trouble to a company through the unions that speak for the employees about compensation
(Martocchio, 2011).
Week 4 Discussion 1
Benefits
WEEKLY DISCUSSION 11
Discuss the role of benefits in compensation. Review the primary reasons an organization
provides benefits to its employees; predict future trends in relation to employee benefits,
including national healthcare; identify factors that should be considered when creating a benefits
plan.
There are many forms of benefits when considering compensation. There are voluntary
benefits like paid time off, protection programs, and services. Then there are the government
mandated benefits like social security, workers compensation and the most recent addition is the
family and medical leave act of 1993 (FMLA). These benefits are an alternative form of pay for
The reasons organizations provide benefits to its employees is to enhance both work and
life experience. Benefits are also offered to employees and candidates to keep the company
competitive. It also helps retain the experienced workers making for less turn over (Martocchio,
2011).
Looking at the future of employee benefits there are changes in the way of retirement
funds are being done. There were set retirement plans in the past but now the retirement plans are
going more toward a 401(k) plan. Companies and employees are looking at the new consumer
focused health plans to try and control benefits cost. Most companies are global today making
the total cost of compensation and benefits are outside the U.S. This will play a huge part in the
benefits workers in the U.S. receive. We are now fully into an age when events outside the U.S.
labor market and economy are the primary driver of benefits and compensation trends within our
boarders (Salisbury, 2008). The future of healthcare and retirement plans will still be backed by
WEEKLY DISCUSSION 12
employers. This is due to the fact that employees trust their employer more than they do the
government with their health care and retirement plans (Martocchio, 2011).
There are many things to consider when creating a benefits plan. The incentives and
bonus plans are based on performance of the employee, group, or company. Understanding the
cost of the benefit plan before it is presented to the employees. This will prevent people from
expecting something then it turns out the company cannot afford the benefit at the time. The
payroll taxes must be added into the payroll budget. Then there is the issue of hourly paid
employees and those on salary and what benefits are offered to each employee. Then there is the
payroll budgeting. There is only so much money allocated for payroll so there has to be different
percentages allotted for different parts of the compensation package. Then when it is all put
Salisbury, D. L. (2008). Benefit Trends: Change is now constant. Retrieved December 17,
Week 4 Discussion 2
Discuss the origins of employer-sponsored retirement plans. Then, discuss the 2-3 most
prominent trends in retirement plans including its impact for both the employee and the
organization.
WEEKLY DISCUSSION 13
There are several types of retirement plans; employer sponsored retirement plans, social
security old age, survivor, and disability insurance (OASDI), IRAs and Roth IRAs. Retirement
plans before WWII were mostly utilized by people in the rail road, banking, and public utility
industries. The revenue act of 1921 stopped wage increases so companies started offering
pension plans that did not fall under the restriction of wage increases. The companies could put
the money into a pension plan for the employees so they would have it in the future. Today the
companies and employees both get tax breaks on money put into any type of retirement plan
(Martocchio, 2011).
There are fewer people participating in retirement plans because of eligibility. Most
companies only offer retirement plans as a benefit for full time workers. The thing is that with
cut backs there are more part time workers making them ineligible to participate. There are areas
of industries where the employees feel that they do not make enough money to save for
There are many different kinds of retirement plans but most organizations have a defined
benefit plan or a defined contribution plan. The defined benefit plan is expensive for the
employer to fund. The pension fund is insured by the pension benefit guaranty corporation
(PBGC). A company pays a premium to the PBGC so that in the event they are not able to honor
their financial obligation to the retirees the pension plan is insured (Martocchio, 2011).
Defined contribution plan is a plan where both the employee and employer make
contribution toward the retirement plan. Each put a percentage of the employees wages into
accounts where the finds are invested for the employee. This plan has rules about how much a
contribution can be. This plan does not guaranteed a set amount to be paid. Because the money is
invested there is the chance of loss of funds and gains on investments (Martocchio, 2011).
WEEKLY DISCUSSION 14
When I worked for American Greetings they had both a 401(k) and profit sharing. These
monies were kept separate and you never saw how much you had in the profit sharing account.
The 401(k) account you could see what was in there but the investments were made for you.
Where I work now when I first started they had the defined benefit plan but a few years later
they changed over to the defined contribution plan. The employees that were vested in the
defined benefit plan would keep that plan and those that were not yet vested changed over to the
defined contribution plan. There is the 401(k) plan as well but we have the option of choosing
how to invest the money. The company also matches the employees contribution up to six
percent. About a year ago they blended the plans so that the employee also has a say about the
Week 5 Discussion 1
Contrast the principle difference between executive pay and non-executive pay, including
a discussion on controversies associated with the growing disparity between executive and non-
Executives are paid a large salary for the knowledge they hold. There is a great amount of
responsibility that goes along with the executive positions they hold. Non-executives are not paid
as much because they have less responsibilities. Both groups are paid discretionary benefits. The
difference is executives get extra perks that go along with those benefits (Martocchio, 2011).
WEEKLY DISCUSSION 15
When you look at the difference between what executives are paid and what non-
executives are paid the difference is astonishing. The executive may have responsibilities and
knowledge but is it worth millions of dollars. It is said that executives are paid 24% more than
non-executives when it should only be 20 times what a non-executive is paid. An example of this
is a non-executive that makes $100,000 a year would mean the CEO would only make $2 million
a year not the $22 million the CEO of Starbucks makes (Bloxham, 2011).
References: Bloxham, E. (2011, April 13). How can we address excessive CEO pay?
http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2011/04/13/how-can-we-address-excessive-ceo-pay/
Week 5 Discussion 2
Contingent Workers
Contingent workers are assuming a greater role in todays organization. With that as a
background, discuss compensation and benefit issues associated with the following workers:
part-time, temporary, independent workers, and flexible/telecommuting. What impact may these
Part time workers are paid less than full time workers and most of the time companies do
not give discretionary benefits to part time workers. Temporary workers work for many different
companies. Because of the moving around from place to place some workers do good work
while some do not try to work hard at all. They feel that it is not worth the time and trouble.
Some temporary workers may have ill feelings toward full time workers because they do the
WEEKLY DISCUSSION 16
same work but are paid less. Independent workers do not receive any benefits from companies
they perform services for. They are employees of an outside company. Flexible/telecommuting
workers can make adjustments to their work schedule to meet their needs and the companys
needs. This lets the employee take care of company business and still have time for home
(Martocchio, 2011).
With all these different types of workers inside an organization it makes keeping the
compensation and benefits budget in check a complicated process. Some of the workers could be
assigned to a certain department so their pay will come from that budget while others are there to
perform a specific service so they would be paid from a project budget. Where the money comes
from depends on who is being paid and for what reason (Martocchio, 2011).
Where I work they use temporary workers hired through a temp service. There are also
contractors that come in to do specialty work. The temp service takes a certain amount from each
temporary worker as a fee so Evonik pays them extra so that after the fee is taken out of their
check they are still making the same as the full time workers. The temporary workers used for
entry level work try to do good work so that they may be asked to be made full time if there is an
opening. The contractors are used for jobs that are a special task jobs. These are usually jobs that
are only done once a year and it would cost more to train people to do the job and buy the
Week 6 Discussion 1
Expatriate Pay
WEEKLY DISCUSSION 17
Evaluate the following methods for establishing base pay in international assignments:
home country-based pay, headquarters-based pay, and host country-based pay. Include within
your discussion the strengths and weaknesses of each method and factors that should be
considered when determining the appropriate international pay strategy. How should
organizations balance host-country income tax differentials? How do compensation plans affect
assignments:
Home Country-Based Pay Method: The home country-based pay method will pay the
expatriates the same as if they were working in the U.S. Job evaluations are used to ensure the
two positions are comparable. This method of pay works well for expatriate work because the
hob is usually short term. The down side to this method is when the expatriates home countrys
pay is larger than what the local people are paid for doing the same work (Martocchio, 2011).
Host Country-Based Method: The host country-based method pays the expatriates
using the same pay scale as the local workers. This method of pay is normally used when the
expatriate will work at a location for a long term. This benefits a company when the cost of
living is lower in that area. The same thing can be a burden to a company when the cost of living
the same pay scale that is used at headquarters. This method is used for expatriates that work in
one country for a while then move to another. This method makes it easier to pay the employees
by the standard of one country regardless of where they work (Martocchio, 2011).
The host-country organization choose between two choices for tax protection regarding
expatriates. The choices are tax protection and tax equalization for these traveling workers. For
both of these methods employers use a hypothetical tax based on the taxes that would be paid if
they had worked in the U.S. When using the tax protection method the employer will pay the
employee back for any income tax that occurs above the hypothetical tax that was calculated.
When using the tax equalization the employer calculates the hypothetical tax and takes the taxes
out during the year. The employer pays all the taxes due both foreign and domestic that exceed
assignments?
Everyone works to make all the money they can to provide for their family. The
compensation plans offered to employees for travel look good because of all the extras offered.
This is sometimes misleading because they think they will have all this money left over but find
out later that it takes that extra money to get by. Then there is the issue of being away from the
family. If the job is not for at least 6 months then thy are away from home until the job is done. If
it is more than 6 months they get time off to visit their family (Martocchio, 2011).
Here at Evonik there was a guy that had to go to China for a year to help setup a new
plant. The company paid for all his expenses while there, his pass port, and shots. He was paid
his normal pay plus the agreed upon incentive pay which was never made public. Then the next
year we had a guy go to Taiwan to set up a plant but had to go for 6 months. Bothe of these guys
came home for a two week visit once and the guy that went to Taiwan had his family visit him
Week 6 Discussion 2
Select one country whose pay and benefits practices are discussed in chapter 15 and
compare them to pay and benefits practices used in the United States. Include in your discussion
how these practices are similar and how they are different.
I selected Canada to do my comparison on because they are our neighbors to the north.
When it comes to compensation Canada has a statutory minimum wage law. The pay scale is set
by the province the worker lives and works in. In the United States there is a federal minimum
wage law and there are state wage laws. When there is a difference between the two the worker
In Canada the law states that employees are entitled to paid holidays and two weeks paid
vacation. In the United States there is no such entitlement. Employers have the option to offer
In the event of having a baby both countries offer maternity and paternity leave. Canada
offers 17 weeks leave total where the United States offers 14 weeks leave (Martocchio, 2011).
Canada recently started offering compassionate care leave that consist of up to 8 weeks of
unpaid leave to care for a family member. In the United States this is referred to as family and
medical leave act (FMLA). This provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a family
Canada does not give time off for military service. In the United States if an employee is
in the reserves they are allowed time off to meet their military requirements. An employer will
hold a military persons position usually for 6 months of deployment. After that time they will be
Both countries offer similar pension and retirement plans. The plan in Canada is very
much like the 401(k) plan in the United States. Basic medical care is paid for by the provincial
medical insurance plan. This plan is funded through federal and provincial taxes. Major medical,
prescription, dental and vision are available through employers (Martocchio, 2011).
References
Bloxham, E. (2011, April 13). How can we address excessive CEO pay? [Supplemental
http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2011/04/13/how-can-we-address-excessive-ceo-pay/
Salisbury, D. L. (2008). Benefit Trends: Change is now constan. Retrieved December 17, 2015,
from http://online.wsj.com/ad/employeebenefits-benefit_trends.html
WEEKLY DISCUSSION 22