Good, but not too good: The November jobs report found that wage growth remained steady at 3.1 percent last month, sending a positive market signal as a tumultuous week drew to a close. READ MORE
Are We at the Peak of Employment and Wages?
Talk about volatility!
The unemployment rate stayed at 3.7%, but the expected 190,000 non-farm jobs missed the bar by 35,000, only managing 155,000. READ MORE
House Democrats prepare to push for $15 federal minimum wage, setting up clash with big business
In winning control of the House, Democrats earned a chance to put their economic priorities front and center. READ MORE
6 Big Compensation Articles in 2018
Dealing with a tighter labor market while trying to keep pay budgets in check was a common challenge for our readers in 2018, as was dealing with pay-equity issues. Responding to the tax overhaul passed at the end of 2017 was another hot topic, as reflected in these highly read articles from SHRM Online. READ MORE
We're In A Talent War, And It's Time To Rethink Compensation
According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. unemployment rate fell to 3.7% in September, the lowest it’s been since 1969. For the first time, there are more jobs than there are job seekers. Wages for hourly workers are finally rising (up nearly 3% from the prior year). This environment is prompting employers to think differently about how they hire, retain and reward their employees. READ MORE
To Compete, You Need to Update Your Incentive Program Annually
When it comes to valuing, updating and communicating the benefits of executive compensation programs, there is a huge gap in best practices among American companies, largely based on size, and in an economy with plenty of options for talented executives in almost every industry, this can represent a significant—and preventable—risk that CEOs should not overlook. READ MORE
Board compensation at public companies rose steadily in last five years
CEO pay generates the most attention but the compensation for the people who approve CEO pay plans, the board of directors, has increased 16.3 percent in the last five years. READ MORE
Growth Is the Best Remedy for Wage Stagnation
Wages for the average American aren’t rising very quickly. Apart from a brief burst of growth in late 2014 and 2015, both average hourly earnings and total compensation (which includes health care and other benefits) have barely grown at all since 2010 when adjusted for inflation. READ MORE
In every state, the minimum wage is lower than what residents want, study says
The United States has one of the lowest minimum wages of the world’s wealthy nations. It may come as no surprise, then, that minimum wage increases are popular with voters: An August 2016 Pew Research Center survey, for instance, found that 58 percent of Americans supported doubling the federal minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $15, with 41 percent opposed. READ MORE
Executive Compensation Mistakes: Stop Treating Everyone Equally
In your business, certain functions are more important than others. And fair or not, some people on your executive team are more important than others. READ MORE
15 Remote Jobs That Pay $100,000 Or More
Flexjobs.com recently came out with a list of 15 remote jobs that earn salaries of $100,000 or more. The list analyzed full-time jobs where remote work was an option. The list can be found below. READ MORE
Nasdaq Private Market: An Overview Of Restricted Stock Units
What might a private company consider when offering restricted stock units (RSUs) as an equity incentive for employees? Nasdaq Private Market (NPM) explores this topic in their new paper, "An Overview of Restricted Stock Units." READ MORE
These six figure jobs don't require a college degree
No diploma? No problem for job seekers
More and more companies are scrapping college degree requirements for jobs in favor of candidates with experience in non-traditional education. READ MORE
You’ve heard that women make 80 cents to men’s dollar. A new report says it’s much worse than that.
Every year on Equal Pay Day, we hear that women in America make about 80 cents for every dollar men earn. For many women of color, the number is lower — black women make about 63 cents on the dollar compared with men, while Latina women make 54 cents. READ MORE
Can Cutting CEO Pay Help a Faltering Company Rebound?
When a company is underperforming, many boards take a seemingly sensible action: cut the CEO’s pay. Such a move, the thinking goes, will encourage the CEO to improve the company’s performance in order to restore his or her full pay. READ MORE
SEC targets proxy and short selling rules, compensation disclosures for possible changes
The Securities and Exchange Commission asked investors on the day before Thanksgiving to take another look at a very long list of its regulations and tell the regulator whether they should stay on the books. READ MORE
Wages likely to begin rising
I recently interviewed Andrew M. Challenger, vice president of the outplacement company Challenger, Gray & Christmas in Chicago, to discuss unemployment, wages and benefits. READ MORE
The Sound of Comp Silence
Many expected this first year of the CEO pay ratio disclosures to result in more drama. Thankfully for most companies, shareholder and employee reactions were minimal despite the media doing its thing — trying to spotlight the chasm between CEO compensation and the rest of the workforce. Furthermore, while there was speculation that the big story wouldn’t be about the CEO’s pay but about the median employee’s salary and how a person would compare his or her own pay to that of the median employee, that does not seem to have materialized … at least not yet. At the end of the day, CEO pay has long been a hot-button issue; people know it’s generally high and more than their own take-home. READ MORE
Equity Compensation Plan Participants Could Be Holding Too Much Company Stock
According to a nationwide survey from Schwab Stock Plan Services of 1,000 equity compensation plan participants who receive stock options or restricted stock awards and/or participate in employee stock purchase plans (ESPPs), equity compensation accounts on average for nearly 30% of employees’ net worth. READ MORE
Crafting an executive compensation strategy that is right on the money
In an economy characterized in part by low unemployment and industry-wide talent shortages, recruiting the perfect executive into your company’s leadership team can be a challenge. Factors such as culture, perks and growth potential all influence a candidate’s interest, but an attractive executive compensation package can be the deciding factor in motivating a qualified leader to pursue an opportunity at your firm or remain at your firm. “One of the biggest reasons key employees leave is the chase for more shiny nickels. That is, more pay,” said Gregory Hubbell, senior vice president of health and benefits at Aon, a global professional services firm. READ MORE