Benefits and Compensation

A Compensation Philosophy That Works Across Generations

Yesterday, we started to look at some of Payscale’s compensation recommendations for workers at all stages of their careers, taken from their report Compensation Challenges for a Multi-Generational Workforce. Today, the rest of the list.

Topic: Compensation-Planning

[For #s 1-2, click here.]

  1. Review your open positions and identify what skills are needed for those jobs. Are those skills trainable? Is there someone internally who might be able to fill that position given adequate training? asks Mykkah Herner, Payscale’s Head of Expert Services and one of the report’s authors. “Is yours an organization that has struggled because of the actual or perceived skills gap?

“If so, maybe it’s time to get real: Which of the skills you are seeking are trainable? What programs do you have in place to train internal staff so you won’t be in the same position again in the future? Transition is here to stay, so even if an employer finds ideal candidates now, there is no guarantee they’ll stay with the organization forever.”


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  1. Consider which of your Baby Boomers may be retiring in the short- or long-term. Have you identified folks in Generation X or in your Millennial population who may be groomed for those leadership roles? “Companies should develop a formalized succession plan that recognizes leadership skills the organization values and identify internal employees with leadership potential, then foster those skills in your star performers,” Herner advises.

He recommends asking a number of questions throughout the process: “What is the likelihood each will retire or move on in the next 5 to 7 years? What are the leadership skills that matter most in your organization? Do you need leaders with a strong vision? Which employees are charismatic and able to build enthusiasm across the employee population? Which ones are more pragmatic? Which have a strong business sense? Or is it more important for your leaders to be able to sell your organization to outside investors or customers?"

  1. Begin a conversation with your executives about the appropriate level of transparency relative to your pay plan in the organization. “After taking an inventory of the workforce, employers should think about the organization’s culture and industry. Some more traditional industries (i.e., banking and manufacturing) avoid full transparency, while other values-driven organizations (nonprofits, for example) lean towards a high level of transparency. Newer, more innovative, industries, such as progressive marketing firms and technology companies, may also adopt fairly high levels of compensation transparency,” Herner says.

Compensation isn’t the only intergenerational concern among businesses. Millions of Baby Boomers are on the verge of retirement, and the resulting skills gap may be worrisome for companies in all industries. How can this looming crisis be managed? Through effective career development.

With the free white paper from Sage HRMS, Career Development Planning and the Changing Workforce, you’ll learn the importance of managing and developing your talent, not only in bridging this skills gap but also in keeping employees engaged. Two of the top reasons experts list for employee turnover are a lack of career growth/advancement opportunities and a lack of training. In order to stay competitive, career development plans will become very important.

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Implement an effective career development plan today! Learn how to manage the evolving face of your company with the free best practices report, Career Development Planning and the Changing Workforce. Click Here


In this free (thanks to sponsor Sage HRMS) report you’ll learn about:

  • The impending skill gap crisis facing the workforce
  • The particular challenges of career development
  • The benefits of talent management solutions
  • The qualities of a successful career development plan—and how to implement it
  • And much more!

Time waits for no business, and change is the only constant. Be sure you’re prepared for the coming shift in the workforce now!

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