Tag: Compensation

In A Win for Public Employers, CA Supreme Court Rules PAGA Penalties, Other California Wage & Hour Laws, Do Not Apply

In August 2024, the California Supreme Court decided Stone v. Alameda Health System, which clarified that the meal and rest break requirements of the California Labor Code at sections 226.7 and 512 and other Labor Code provisions do not apply to public employers. The Court also held that the California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) penalty […]

Keeping Salaries Secret—A Losing Game

Employees have long been exhorted not to share their salaries with others. Of course, those exhortations have notoriously not worked, as a recent survey demonstrates. What the Survey Tells Us A survey of 1182 employed Americans conducted by Self Financial revealed some interesting insights into what they do, and don’t share about their salaries—and how […]

Using Non-Financial Rewards to Incentivize Employees

Companies often default to financial strategies to drive desired employee behaviors, whether those behaviors are increased engagement, ownership and initiative, or simply better employee retention. For instance, a manager might promise a promotion and accompanying raise to an employee who succeeds in completing a challenging project. Or an organization might motivate staff through a quarterly […]

The Rise of Pay Transparency: Navigating New Laws and Changing Workplace Norms

In American culture and social settings, it’s long been taboo to discuss one’s salary. Sharing that information around those who earn more can make the lower earner feel inferior. Sharing with those who earn less can feel like gloating. More broadly, most people feel it isn’t anyone else’s business how much they make. But things […]

Embracing Loud Vacationing: Why It’s Time to Quit Quiet Vacationing

In an era where “quiet vacationing”—pretending to work while taking unreported time off—has become commonplace, it’s crucial that HR leaders take a vocal approach to encouraging and embracing time off by “loud vacationing.” I am encouraging this movement as a direct response to the trend of employees feeling guilty about taking their well-deserved breaks. It’s […]

Supreme Court to Decide Whether ADA Permits Former Employees to Sue for Post-Employment Benefits

The Supreme Court of the United States recently granted certiorari in Stanley v. City of Sanford, Florida—a case about whether the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) permits former employees to sue for alleged discrimination in providing post-employment fringe benefits.  The case has practical significance for employers.  If the Court finds that the ADA does apply […]

diverse

Women in Tech More Likely to Leave Job for Higher Pay than Men

Disparate treatment of women in the tech industry is, sadly, almost a cliché of that industry, even after years of attention focused on such problems, which include everything from pay disparities and uneven promotion rates to sexual harassment and even violence. But the negative impacts of this treatment don’t fall solely on female employees. Tech […]

The Pros and Cons of Signing Bonuses in Today’s Job Market

In the battle for talent in the U.S. labor market, employers have several arrows in their quivers: salary, annual bonuses, benefits like health and dental insurance, vacation time, flexible scheduling, company culture, etc. All of these can be used to entice candidates to apply to work for a given employer, and these various arrows can […]

Multigenerational Study Reveals Employees’ Distinct Perspectives on Benefits

From Zoomers to Boomers, today’s workplace comprises four generations with divergent views and perceptions of their employment. What’s on the minds of this increasingly broad employee base as it continues to skew younger and benefit needs become even more nuanced? ARAG, a leading provider of legal insurance, recently conducted the Multigenerational Workforce Study 2024 to […]

The Evolution of Retirement: From Pensions to 401(k)s and What It Means for Employee Retention

In the modern, information-based economy, human talent is incredibly important to just about any organization. Finding, recruiting, and retaining that talent is consequently extremely important as well, and businesses have many strategies aimed at retention, from creating diverse and inclusive workspaces to tenure-based bonuses and advancement schemes. But what ever happened to the ultimate corporate […]