Base Salary and Compensation Programs

Base Pay Salary Programs

Fair and market-based compensation is a cornerstone best practice for preventing high turnover, low morale, and uneven performance.  Our clients desire to have a market-based, customized base pay structure that aligns with their:

  • Talent strategies and workforce priorities to attract, reward, and retain employees

  • Company’s compensation philosophy

  • Industry sector practices

Whether your organization desires a traditional pay program organized by job grades (for either hourly or annual salary positions), or desires a strategic pay program that incorporates variable pay as an incentive for driving specific business objectives, both approaches require a base salary program developed after a comprehensive review of positions and external market pricing.

PRJ regularly works with clients to develop a firm’s first base salary program or to ensure an existing one remains current and relevant to the business.  Examples include:

  • Pay program initial design and development

  • Recommendations for pay program updates aligned with the economy and industry trends

  • Merit increase budget recommendations

  • Market pricing to support pay decisions for new or changed positions

  • Reviews of selected benchmark positions or at-risk jobs

  • Management advisement on routine and non-routine pay issues

Objectively researched and well-developed pay programs are more likely to be implemented with administration and more easily understood by all levels of management and staff.  Our team also supports program transition and integration if desired by the client.

Implementation and Transition Support

Project execution is where success will or will not occur.  PRJ can support execution of pay program implementation or transitions in several ways, including:

  • Implementation planning and design: project plan, timelines, and compensation philosophy

  • Provide training on program design and administration to leaders, management, or staff

  • Support integration with performance management systems

  • Provide guidance on internal communications to various stakeholders

  • Develop administrative guidelines to bring consistency to the delivery of internal practices

These services are particularly helpful for clients with accelerated project implementation timelines, or for those who are implementing a base salary program for the first time.  Our goal is to help launch the salary program and ensure success of its ongoing execution for you and your organization.

Customized Technical Support and Program Analytics

Sometimes clients simply need a strategic thought partner on pay and related issues, especially during organizational change, departmental redesign, for compliance review, or when the HR team is short-staffed.

PRJ provides consulting or technical resources to support a successful project launch or to objectively evaluate your current program:

  • Pay Equity Analysis and Auditing

  • Reward Program review and cost analytics

  • Research on best practices and trends in base compensation or total compensation

  • Key stakeholder presentation design and/or delivery

  • Support for design of tracking tools for annual salary adjustments and pay decisions

  • On-site or remote support for special pay projects

  • Development or enhancement of a firm’s Pay-for-Performance Programs to align with performance objectives and criteria

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Market Pricing And Custom Salary Surveys