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Module 4 – Background

TOTAL REWARDS IN PRACTICE

In Module 4, we will be looking at the importance of determining compensation program effectiveness. There are basically two commonly used approaches to evaluate the effectiveness of HRM’s total rewards practices: the audit approach and the analytic approach.

The Audit Approach 

The audit approach focuses on reviewing the outcomes of the human resource compensation function. Key indicators and customer satisfaction measures are typically collected.

Electronic employee databases and information systems have made it much easier to collect, store, and analyze key indicators than in the past, when information was kept in paper files. 

Some examples of key pay-related indicators include: 

· Per capita (average) merit increases

· Ratio of recommendations for reclassification to number of employees

· Percentage of overtime hours to straight time

· Ratio of average salary offers to average salary in community

· Fairness of existing job evaluation system in assigning grades and salaries

· Competitiveness in local labor market

· Relationship between pay and performance

· Employee satisfaction with pay

Some examples of key benefits-related indicators include:

· Average unemployment compensation payment (UCP)

· Average workers’ compensation payment (WCP)

· Benefit cost per payroll dollar

· Percentage of sick leave to total pay

· Promptness in handling claims

· Fairness and consistency in the application of benefit policies

· Communication of benefits to employees

· Assistance provided to line managers in reducing potential for unnecessary claims 

Many firms have gone to surveys of top-level line executives as a means of assessing HRM effectiveness. For example, relating this to total rewards, the top-level line executives can see how the total rewards system and practices are impacting both employees and the overall effectiveness of the firm from a strategic standpoint. They can also help determine how well HR employees’ perceptions of total reward program effectiveness align with the views of their line colleagues.

The Analytic Approach 

In this approach, focus is placed on either: 

a. Determining whether the introduction of a total rewards program or practice (like a new benefit) has the intended effect. Usually evaluators are most interested in determining the degree of change associated with the program or practice. 

b. Estimating the financial costs and benefits resulting from a new compensation practice. In this approach, concern is placed on the dollar value (costs vs. benefits) of the new total rewards program or practice. For example, determining the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a wellness program might include:

· Annual direct program costs, per employee per year

· Percentage of cardiovascular disease risks (high blood pressure, overweight, smoking, lack of exercise) reduced or relapse prevented

· Amount spent per 1% of risks reduced or relapse prevented 
Once the total reward program or practice has been evaluated, HRM can explore how to improve its effectiveness in contributing to the competitiveness of the organization. There are several different ways HR professionals might attempt to improve the effectiveness of a total rewards program/practice:

· Restructuring: For the total rewards/HRM function to contribute strategically to the firm’s effectiveness, the senior HR person must be part of the top management team. 

· Outsourcing: This entails contracting with an outside vendor to provide a total rewards product or service to the firm, instead of producing the product/service using employees within the firm. 

· Process Redesign/Reengineering: Completely reviewing critical work processes to make them more efficient and able to deliver higher quality total reward services. This may also include implementing new technologies (e.g., HRM information systems). 

Sources:

Erfurt, J., Foote, A., & Heirich, M. (1992). The cost-effectiveness of worksite wellness programs. Personnel Psychology, (45) 22.

Noe, R., Hollenbeck, J., Gerhart, B., & Wright, P. (2006). Human Resource Management. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Irwin.

Tsui, A., & Gomez-Mejia. (1988). Human Resource Effectiveness. Washington, DC: The Bureau of National Affairs.

Required Material

Aldana, S. (2018). Wellness ROI vs. VOI: The best employee wellbeing programs use both. Retrieved from 

https://www.wellsteps.com/blog/2018/01/10/wellness-roi-employee-wellbeing-programs/

Heathfield, S. (2016). Are you getting the best benefit from your employee benefits? Retrieved from https://www.thebalance.com/most-of-employee-benefits-1917723

Helios HR. (n.d.), What makes up a great total employee rewards package? Retrieved from 

https://www.helioshr.com/2013/11/what-makes-up-a-great-total-rewards-package/

Hipple, S., & Stewart, J. (1996). Earnings and benefits of contingent and noncontingent workers. Monthly Labor Review, 119(10), 22-30. Retrieved from the Trident Online Library.

Lawrence, T. (2012). Integrating contingent workers. Baseline, (114), 13. Retrieved from the Trident Online Library.

Pedulla, D. S. (2013). The hidden costs of contingency: Employers’ use of contingent workers and standard employees’ outcomes. Social Forces, 92(2), 691-722. Retrieved from the Trident Online Library.

The Kaiser Family Foundation (2018). Employer Health Benefits 2018 Annual Survey: Section 1: Cost of Health Insurance, pgs. 31-42. Retrieved from 

http://files.kff.org/attachment/Report-Employer-Health-Benefits-Annual-Survey-2018.

Optional Material

Armstrong, M., Brown, D., & Reilly, P. (2011). Increasing the effectiveness of reward management: An evidence-based approach. Employee Relations, 33(2), 106-120. Retrieved from the Trident Online Library.

OWLPurdue. (2012, May 9). Purdue Owl: APA formatting: The basics [Video file]. Retrieved from 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdAfIqRt60c&list=PL8F43A67F38DE3D5D

Society for Human Resource Management. (2017). Visit the SHRM website (

www.shrm.org

) for some of the latest information on dynamic HRM topics, certification details, and SHRM membership information.

Discussion: Employee Incentives for Higher Productivity

 

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First Post—Module 4

Step 1) Read the statement and report in full below:

“The U.S. construction industry has an enormous opportunity to improve the effectiveness of the incentives offered to employees for increasing return on their investment and driving the desired outcomes and behaviors” (FMI Management Consulting, 2013, p. 30).

http://www.fminet.com/media/pdf/report/IncentiveCompSurveyReport_2013

Step 2) Select a specific industry to focus on for this discussion. (The report was about the construction industry. However, you should branch out and select a different industry. Everyone should discuss a different industry, if possible.) IBISWorld is available from the Trident Online Library. You may find IBISWorld useful as you prepare for this discussion topic.

Step 3) Answer the following 4 questions below using question-and-answer (Q&A) format; in other words, include the original question along with your response. Support your responses with information from at least two reputable sources (library and/or Web-based) and provide full citation at the end. Use APA format for your references. Share your own personal experiences, readings, and research, where applicable.

1. What industry did you select?

2. What are some ideas on how to improve the effectiveness of using employee incentives in the workplace?

3. What are the challenges of offering incentives in your selected industry?

4. What are your recommendations on how to overcome those challenges?