Tag: Compensation

Bonus Compensation: A Matter of Discretion

By Angelo D. Catalano, Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP Incentive or bonus-based compensation can create many thorny issues. While some year-end bonuses resemble gifts from the boss, especially if they’re paid around holiday time, other bonuses are intended to be incentives tied to performance by a group or an individual.

Ask the Expert: What Are the Rules for Work Travel?

I have a company that does lighting designs for events that require employees to travel from their homes to various locations. Sometimes travel is required out of state. Typically the travel time is one to two hours. Sometimes employees meet at the warehouse and ride in the company van. Do we pay for the time […]

Recognition Matters

By Sharon McKnight, CCP, SPHR Recognition programs award employees for past behavior rather than drive future behavior and, as a general rule, have no predetermined goals or performance levels that employees are required to achieve. Also, they’re usually budgeted at the organizational level instead of being budgeted by individual departments and focus more on recognizing […]

What’s Your Market Position?

By Sharon McKnight, CCP, SPHR One of the primary elements of any compensation philosophy is the company’s stance on employee pay relative to the market. Essentially, there are three options: lead, lag, and lead-lag.

Pay Transparency: What It Is and What It Does

By Susan Schoenfeld, JD In 2014, in an effort to address the issue of pay transparency, President Obama signed Executive Order (EO) 13665, Non-Retaliation for Disclosure of Compensation Information, which prohibits federal contractors from discharging or discriminating in any way against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their own compensation or the […]

Market Performance, Pension Contributions Drive Rise in CEO Compensation

According to research released by The Conference Board (a global, independent business membership and research association), the median total compensation of CEOs of U.S. public companies in the Russell 3000 index soared 11.9% in 2014 over the previous year and as much as 34.7% over 2010. Equity awards (excluding stock options) represent 34.7% of the […]