Why Employers Offer Variable Pay to Retain Employees

Why Employers Offer Variable Pay to Retain Employees Why Employers Offer Variable Pay to Retain Employees Variable pay is employee compensation that changes as compared to the employee salary which is paid in equal, and expected, proportions throughout the year. Variable pay is used generally to recognize and reward employee contribution toward company productivity, profitability, teamwork, safety, quality, or some other metric deemed important by senior leaders. The employee who is awarded variable compensation has gone above and beyond his or her job description to contribute to the organizations success. Variable pay is awarded in a variety of formats including profit sharing, bonuses, holiday bonus, deferred compensation, cash, and goods and services such as a company-paid trip or a Thanksgiving turkey. Why Employers Must Offer Employees Variable Pay and Benefits Variable pay is an expected employee benefit if you are going to excite and retain employees. They want the opportunity to earn  variable compensation to bolster their basic salary. And, todays employees are also looking for more than just a basic salary and benefits package when they decide to come on board and work for an employer. It is no longer enough for a company- even a global company- to offer the same generic benefits to every person they hire. Employees now expect comprehensive benefits packages that are tailored to their own personal needs- not just to broadly defined demographic needs. However, personalizing benefits packages starts with employers truly understanding what their employees  most value and need. In other words, benefits are only as valuable as each employee views them. As such, the greater the flexibility and  variety of the benefits program, the more likely all of your employees are to feel appreciated. Employer Costs in Pay and Variable Pay According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (ECEC), a product of the National Compensation Survey, measures employer costs for wages, salaries, and employee benefits for nonfarm private and state and local government workers. Supplemental pay benefit costs for private sector employees in December 2016 averaged $1.15 per hour worked or 3.5 percent of total compensation. Supplemental pay includes employer costs for employee overtime and premium pay, shift differentials, and nonproduction bonuses. In December 2016, the largest component of supplemental pay costs for private industry employers were nonproduction bonuses, averaging 83 cents per hour worked or 2.5 percent of total compensation. Nonproduction bonuses are given at the discretion of the employer and are not tied to a production formula. Common nonproduction bonuses include end-of-year and holiday bonuses, referral bonuses, and cash profit sharing.   A Critical Step Is Explaining Employee Variable Benefits Employers must present both the intrinsic and extrinsic value of the benefits they offer in an easy-to-read and understandable format to employees. Conveying benefits packages in layman’s terms is not an easy task. Efficiently relaying this information is a time-consuming- but critical- task. From health insurance to retirement plans to variable compensation, one company may offer many types of benefits for employees. Some of these benefits can confuse employees. (Most everyone has wondered how much to contribute to a 401(k) or what is a reasonable deductible.) Make sure your system gives employees access to a resource to ask questions in real-time about which plan makes the most sense for them or their families. Employers should also offer an explanation as to why they offer certain benefits upfront. For example, a younger employee may not see the point in life insurance and view it as a wasted benefit. But if the employer provides information on how many employees are near retirement and place great value on having life insurance, those younger employees will likely be more receptive. All employees see the benefit of variable compensation, but employers need to be very clear about how an employee can earn it, how much they are paying, and who is eligible to receive it. If the employer communicates particular goals, levels of productivity required, or quality standards to achieve, for example, it is critical that every employee who achieves the goal receive the rewards. In the same vein, it makes sense for employers to openly share information about the cost of benefits. Benefits are costly, especially if a company provides a wide range of unique benefits, but most employees don’t realize this. Your average employee has no idea about the percentage his compensation is increased by the value of his benefits. If an employer is clear about how much the company is investing to make its employees happier and healthier, those employees will have more appreciation for the benefits offered. Ask Questions, Make Changes One of the most difficult challenges for HR departments- especially as they start to add new and unique benefits- is having an open line of communication with employees. Explaining benefits well is only half the battle. Companies should also consistently survey their employees  (quarterly is recommended)    to understand their benefits satisfaction. If a company realizes that a particular benefit isn’t working or isn’t valuable to employees, they should announce the benefits changes they will make to address the dissatisfaction. Employees will see that the company cares about their feedback. Bottom Line: Flexibility Engagement A Happier Work Environment It is impossible to develop one single benefits solution that will take care of every employee, especially if you consider the diversity of locations, family, health, financial, and travel needs. Employees do, however, need to understand the value of the personalized benefit program that you offer to them to value you as an employer. A modern, cutting-edge rewards experience can help position your employer’s brand as an industry leader. It will allow your employees to understand and enjoy their benefits package and variable pay opportunities to their fullest degree- and you will reap the reward of satisfied employees.