New-Hire Compensation Remains Under Pressure
The rate of increase for new-hire compensation has been falling for more than a year, and employers reported that they continued to keep wages and benefits packages in check for new hires in October, according to SHRM's latest Leading Indicators of National Employment (LINE) survey. More
More Companies Plan to Unfreeze Salaries and Restore 401(k) Matches
About half of all large U.S. companies that froze salaries for 2009 plan to unfreeze them for 2010, and over a third of companies that reduced 401(k) matching contributions plan to restore them, according to an October 2009 survey. One reason: More employers think their financial setbacks have bottomed out. More
Ruling: Workers Were Employees Covered by FLSA
Two workers who performed repair work steadily for almost a year were employees, not independent contractors, because they were too economically dependent on the companies they worked for to be considered in business for themselves. Thus, they might be entitled to overtime payments under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), according to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. More
Fortune 500 Executive Comp Peer Groups: How Large?
An important component of setting executive pay is choosing peer firms against which to measure and benchmark compensation. New research looks at peer group composition at American's largest companies. More
Executive Comp Reminder: Amend for Section 162(m) by Year End
Many U.S. companies will need to amend their employment agreements, equity plans and awards, and other incentive plans and agreements by Dec 31, 2009, to preserve the deductibility of performance-based awards under tax code Section 162(m). More
Financial Execs Cite Top Cost Concerns
Employee benefits tops the list, but most still anticipate lower bonuses and raises given the sluggish economy. More
Most Companies Not Ready to Restore Executive Pay Cuts
Most U.S. companies are not planning to restore executive pay cuts or freezes made during the economic crisis anytime soon, and many are focusing on long-term shifts toward better pay-for-performance. More
Salaries Looking Up?
As they prepare salary budgets for 2010, some employers plan to reformulate total rewards packages for positions at every level. Here/’s how—and why. More
But Some Still Slimming Pay
Despite the nascent recovery, many employers are still struggling and looking for ways to keep afloat. But cutting salaries without considering the legal minefields may increase legal costs and jeopardize more jobs, a comp attorney warns. More
Out-of-Cycle Salary Adjustments Can Undercut Pay for Performance
There are repercussions when managers increase an employee's base salary out of cycle without a change in grade or level. Here's why HR should hold the line. More
Wal-Mart Eliminates Paper Paychecks
Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, has instituted a paperless payroll system for 1.4 million Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club employees in the United States. More
New-Hire Compensation
For 12th straight month, in September the rate of increase in new-hire compensation fell behind the previous year. But in the service sector, more companies actually raised new-hire compensation rather than reduced it. More
Compensation 2010: Answers to Tough Planning Questions
As recession gives way to recovery, the economy is forcing employers to re-examine compensation practices and make difficult decisions—some of which could re-shape compensation strategy in the years ahead. More
Sales Pay Mix Varies by Position
When designing a sales compensation plan, it's important to consider differences between types of sales positions and the impact they have on influencing and closing sales. More
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Where are the latest articles on benefits?
Thay are posted in SHRM Online's Benefits Discipline!
Daily Newswire
For full links/summaries to some of the best new comp/benefits stories on the web, click here. Recent compensation postings on the newswire (you may have to scroll down):
• Global Wages Falling This Year, UN Says (MSNBC.com)
• Executive Pensions Rose in ‘08 Even as Stocks Fell: Report (Reuters, Wall Street Journal)
• Wal-Mart Wins Final Approval of Wage Suit Settlement (Bloomberg.com)
• Changes to Expatriate Compensation Packages (Sibson Consulting)
Recently Posted
News and Features
REGULATION/LITIGATION:
•N> Ledbetter Law Leads to Equal Pay Ruling
• 9th Circuit Ruling Shows Compensation for Off-Site Work Is Evolving
• Wage and Hour Law Violations to Spur Stricter Enforcement
GENERAL COMPENSATION:
• Avoiding 'Pain for Performance': How to Effectively Design and Implement a Pay for Performance System
• 2009/2010 Survey Report on HR Compensation
• U.S. Salary Increase Budgets Up Just 3% for 2010
• Modest Canadian Salary Increases of 2.2% Forecast for 2010
• Starting Salaries, Demand for Graduates Slipping, Study Shows
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
• Conference Board Issues Model Executive Pay Reforms
• Supreme Court Case Has Executive Comp Implications
• Advice for the New 'Pay Czar'
Note: SHRM Online's full archive of compensation articles can be accessed via the list of compensation topics on the upper left side of this web page.
SALARY SURVEY RESOURCES
SHRM members may request links to salary survey resources for a wide variety of industries and professions, as well as severance pay practices and salary increase projections, via the Salary Survey Directory.
Also, in collaboration with Watson Wyatt Data Services, SHRM's Compensation Data Center allows SHRM members to create customized reports based on positions, geographic area, industry, organization and revenue size, profit, and other variables.