51Ask a Manager
Compensation Related Topics
the new overtime pay rules are here — if you earn less than $47,476, read this
Ask a Manager
MAY 18, 2016
The salary and compensation levels will be updated every three years, to meet the 40th percentile of full-time salaried workers in the lowest-wage Census region (currently the South). If you regularly work more than 40 hours a week, your employer might choose to reduce your base hourly wage to account for the overtime pay you’ll need to receive, in order to ensure that your overall annual compensation stays about where it is now. The new overtime rules that we’ve been talking about here for the last month were finally released by the Department of Labor today.
how can I keep my star performer, without being able to pay or promote him (while his less competent coworker earns double)?
Ask a Manager
AUGUST 29, 2016
have compensated him with raises every year. We are growing but not to the point where we can hire. I am not able to compensate the five-year adequately and still win bids for projects. A reader writes: I am a partner in a small engineering firm. Six years ago when I was brought on, I was allowed one staffer. hired a new grad, Fergus, who turned out to be great. He knew or could adapt to any design software out there, wasn’t lost in the world of theory, and turned in work that was actually able to be constructed. He has been one of the main reasons my department has grown.
how can I get out of our awful Staff Appreciation Day?
Ask a Manager
AUGUST 12, 2016
To add insult to the injury, I know I will have several proposal deadlines on this very day, so I see at least one or two late nights in the office coming up for me just to compensate for this frivolous event that I certainly could have lived without. A reader writes: How do I get out of our Staff Appreciation Day? Sounds more like Staff Punishment Day to me, with activities including traveling together to an inconvenient location outside our city, a “one-hour bike ride,” mandatory potluck, and ball games. All my staff will be on vacation this day (lucky!); workplace practices
is employee taking too much sick leave, I keep getting surprise raises, and more
Ask a Manager
MAY 10, 2016
If she has the sick leave to take, it’s not really fair to tell her that she can’t take it. I get that it’s putting a strain on your budget, but you have an exemplary employee who’s doing nothing more than using the benefits that are part of her compensation, and doing it because she’s sick. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Is my employee taking too much sick leave? I’m a relatively new manager and I’m struggling a little with how to handle one of my employee’s use of sick leave. My budget for that is quite limited. Thank you! short answers
The Performance Management Storm: Four Macro-Trends Driving the Change
Advertisement
have evolved, the basic tenet of “rate and compensate”. development and compensation in a. 1Why Your Company Will Need to. Rethink Performance Management eGuide Part 1: The Argument. for Change 2 3About this Guide Organizations are increasingly. moving from traditional performance. management systems (organized as. an annual review process) to newer. performance development systems.
 |
boss asked me to be “brutally honest,” manager ignores my emails, and more
Ask a Manager
JUNE 20, 2016
more reasonable policy is for the manager to find coverage for the person, when coverage is needed, so that people aren’t dependent on the good will of their coworkers in order to be able to use the benefits included in their compensation. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Boss asked me to be “brutally honest” during an exit interview. resigned earlier this week with my department head. would have liked to have done so with her assistant, who more closely manages me, but she is on vacation. This assistant is a difficult person to work for, and is quite a micromanager.
my new coworker is my childhood bully, getting people stop with replying-all, and more
Ask a Manager
SEPTEMBER 19, 2016
He added his announcement as a forward to a chain of emails that included the salary and compensation conversations he had with HR. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. My new coworker is my childhood bully. recently started a new job. colleague, who has an unusual name, was a childhood playmate turned middle school bully of mine. Until now, I have not had contact with this individual since that time and have worked hard to sever ties with a painful past. So am I. This is 100% up to you and what you would feel most comfortable with. ” or “Great, got it!”
letting a boyfriend stay with you on a business trip at a new job, using a bunch of vacation time right before resigning, and more
Ask a Manager
MAY 11, 2016
That vacation time is part of your compensation package, and you’re entitled to use it. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Should I let my boyfriend stay in my hotel room during my first business trip at my new job? have recently starting a traveling job as an interviewer with a team. It is the first time I have a traveling position, and it requires weekly travel and hotel stays to different locations. We will be staying about two hours from my boyfriend’s home next week (we are in a long distance relationship). What’s your take? Don’t do it. wouldn’t care.
my boss wants me reachable by phone and email on the weekends, I think a coworker is fudging her time sheets, and more
Ask a Manager
JULY 12, 2016
But no, it’s not reasonable to expect round-the-clock availability unless (a) it’s a norm in your field that they reasonably assumed you would have known about and you’re compensated well for it or (b) they disclosed it in the interview and you’re compensated well for it. 2. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. My boss wants me reachable by phone and email on the weekends. recently joined a new company as a middle manager, and I manage a team that works seven days a week. On arrival, I was given a work mobile and laptop. No, this is not reasonable or normal.
The Performance Management Storm: Four Macro-Trends Driving the Change
Advertisement
have evolved, the basic tenet of “rate and compensate”. development and compensation in a. 1Why Your Company Will Need to. Rethink Performance Management eGuide Part 1: The Argument. for Change 2 3About this Guide Organizations are increasingly. moving from traditional performance. management systems (organized as. an annual review process) to newer. performance development systems.
|
I’m furious that my vacation request was denied, Civil War reenactor beards at job interviews, and more
Ask a Manager
JULY 24, 2016
Do I need to be compensated for all the time I spend away (e.g., It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. My vacation request was denied, and I’m furious that my coworkers got to take time off then. In March, I submitted a vacation request for July 13-15. My manager denied the request, saying that it was during a “black out” period following our second quarter close. She explained that no one is allowed to take time off during any of the two weeks of a quarter close. emailed my manager the above conversation and copied her two bosses. Should I shave anyway?
team member caused drunken scene at coworker’s wedding, asking for Friday off the first week on the job, and more
Ask a Manager
SEPTEMBER 8, 2015
Team leads are responsible for rankings, which determine your raises and bonuses, but don’t know how much you make (or even the percentage change); if you have a problem with your compensation, you’re referred to HR. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Team member caused a drunken scene at coworker’s wedding. I am a team leader in a very small company. The team I manage only has two other members. A few weeks ago, one of them, Jamie, got married. A few other colleagues and I were invited to the evening reception. He also spat blood all over the bride.
a hiring manager isn’t what you think, and other vocabulary lessons
Ask a Manager
NOVEMBER 2, 2015
HR: HR handles benefits, compensation, ensuring compliance with labor laws, and so forth. They It’s been a while since I’ve talked about this and I see these words confused all the time, so let’s straighten out some vocabulary issues. 1. Fired vs. laid off vs. terminated. Fired: If someone is fired, they are being let go for cause. At least officially.) So don’t go around telling people that you were fired if you were actually laid off, and vice versa. Terminated: Covers all possible scenarios. But But don’t say it — it sounds ridiculous. 2.
new hire can’t work the schedule she agreed to, men’s bathrooms vs. women’s bathrooms, and more
Ask a Manager
APRIL 17, 2016
By the way, I compensate a LOT on the other end to accommodate the time differences when it’s just me on the U.S. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Should my company have more men’s bathrooms than women’s bathrooms? I am a woman working at a software company of about 10,000 people. Like many software companies, we have about twice as many male employees as female employees. As our hiring increases, there started to be an occasional wait for the men’s restrooms. That would solve the whole issue, although I understand some people are squeamish about them. 2.
Leaving performance reviews behind: Where to start [Guide]
Advertisement
prioritizing them over compensation and. 1Making Dynamic Performance. Development a Reality eGuide 3Introduction Does your organization want to adopt. more dynamic approach to managing. performance and developing employees? We see a stampede of organizations. moving in this direction. At the same. time, we also see that, all too often, managers in such organizations are simply. guidance.”.
when job candidates won’t share their salary expectations
Ask a Manager
OCTOBER 7, 2015
A reader writes: I have always asked job candidates what their compensation requirements are, either before they come in to meet with me or after they have come in. asked him to disclose his compensation requirements because we wanted to move forward with an offer and he didn’t want to disclose. Most candidates do not have any issues disclosing what they’re looking for, although some get a little uncomfortable. Recently, I had a candidate who I spoke to over the phone, and I thought he was great. He came in to meet with us, and again, we thought he was great. hiring
why won’t my manager let me work extra hours?
Ask a Manager
JANUARY 12, 2016
My compensation was not changed as well. I am really confused and I just want to do work. A reader writes: I graduated in May 2015 and accepted an internship position in December. work for a very large corporation and am part of a two-person team (me and my manager). After two weeks, our full-time, permanent recruitment coordinator (RC) gave her notice and officially left at the end of the year. My manager decided to just “give” me this role, while still expecting me to do my internship tasks. Of course I was excited about the opportunity. Daily. advice about your boss
when should a new manager start doing real work, correcting errors in other people’s letters, and more
Ask a Manager
SEPTEMBER 26, 2016
realized after sending the email that this is the first time I’ve been asked about salary so late in the game — usually there’s some discussion of required compensation in the first phone interview to make sure we’re on the same page. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. How new is “too new” before a manager starts to do real work? I’ve worked at a company for 17 years, and for the past 8.5 years in a break-out division that’s now the fastest growing/most profitable of the company. This is great! It strikes me as rude.
how to tell a freelancer not to stop by in person, my boss keeps asking how much I paid for things, and more
Ask a Manager
SEPTEMBER 16, 2015
At this point, if I had not been receiving the compensation that I have, I would think that they were trying to force me out. My perception is that even though I’m recognized for my skills through compensation, it seems that the only people getting opportunities are the ones who those who complain or threaten to quit. I’m not that type of person and have no desire to become that way. I’m starting to think about leaving, but would first like to find a way to stay without threats. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. It really drives me bananas.
my friend doesn’t approve of my work and will be my new boss, what happens after a rude response to rejection, and more
Ask a Manager
JUNE 22, 2016
We were thinking about telling him that in order to complete the request, we would need to spend an ample amount of time to compile this data, and we would need to be compensated for that. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. My friend doesn’t approve of my work and is about to become my new boss. We’re going through major restructuring at work. My friend and I are both in positions with a reasonable amount of responsibility but are currently peers and have different managers. She recommended me for the role. How do you suggest we go about this? They both loved me.
my reference is an ex, warning an acquaintance not to take a job at my awful company, and more
Ask a Manager
SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
So I have been promoted twice and have not been compensated. It’s four answers to four questions. Here we go…. 1. Should I warn an acquaintance not to take a job at my awful company? know someone, friend of friends, who may be trying to join my small company. However, it’s a terrible place and several of us are trying to leave ASAP. If this were a friend I would def let her know. But this is an acquaintance. Do I say something? I ran into this person, and she excitedly told me she was meeting with the boss Friday. She asked me how I liked the job and I couldn’t lie.
my manager wants to come to my house, my commute is doubling, and more
Ask a Manager
APRIL 25, 2016
Would you be willing to consider revisiting my compensation in light of those factors?”. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. resigned and now my manager and HR want to come to my house. resigned last week, effective immediately, yet HR and my boss want to come to my house this week and discuss something or other with regard to official documentation. have been off ill for a while, had a visit from my boss, and a few weeks later I just decided that I’d rather have my health and some measure of sanity than go back. Do I need to get a court order, a restraining order?
I was promoted without warning in an all-staff meeting, how to explain a firing when interviewing, and more
Ask a Manager
FEBRUARY 8, 2015
The fact that you got a raise less than a year ago and a big year-end bonus doesn’t come into play here now; that was compensation for your old position. I’d approach your boss and say something like this, “Since I’m taking on a new role and increased responsibilities, I wanted to talk with you about the salary. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. I was promoted without warning in an all-staff meeting. I’ve been promoted twice in the past 8 months. Any advice? What did you have in mind for the position?” So get rid of that counselor.
the friend I recommended for a job pushed a coworker, how to handle goodbyes for a hostile employee who’s leaving, and more
Ask a Manager
MAY 30, 2016
My staff members are compensated for the extra hours they work; I am not. I’ve told my supervisor, but nothing has been done. Managers often don’t get the rewards that their staff get; it’s part of being a manager, and the idea is that you should be getting compensated in other ways (such as a higher salary). 5. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Should I have a goodbye party for a hostile employee who’s leaving? An employee of mine resigned today by walking into my office and saying “I am leaving. My last day is Friday.” Yes, Google. short answers
my exempt employees are confused about how to manage their own time
Ask a Manager
JANUARY 19, 2016
This group is compensated and evaluated based on results, not how many hours they work. have a spiel for explaining this to my reports, which goes something like: “You’re evaluated and compensated based on your results, not how many hours you work. Then there’s your employee who’s basically acting like she’s non-exempt despite being exempt (taking PTO for a couple of hours here and there, wanting to be compensated for an hour of email during a sick day, etc.). A reader writes: I manage two groups of employees. If you’re taking vacation time, don’t work.”.
I’m being asked to cover for an under-performing coworker
Ask a Manager
FEBRUARY 1, 2016
Second, acting as the EA’s “accountability person” would be an unofficial role — basically, additional responsibility without additional compensation (I am a non-exempt hourly employee, while the EA is salaried exempt). A reader writes: Recently, a superior in a different unit of my department, to whom I do not report, told me in a confidential email that one of the executive assistants in her unit was having performance issues — “letting things slip,” in her words. My role in the department is different now. Am I in the wrong here?
my staff keeps requesting time off at the last minute, even though I keep asking for advance notice
Ask a Manager
JULY 18, 2016
feel that in some situations, such as illness or emergencies when an employee would take a sick day, that’s part of what I am compensated for as a manager — to take on the responsibility of closing the gap when we are short-handed without notice. A reader writes: I am a manager in a small office (me, my boss, and my three direct reports), within a very large organization. The size of our office is a bit unusual; most departments have 50+ employees, and many are 100+). As a result, many of our HR policies are set up in an extremely structured way. have explained (with words!
we need to make up any time we spend at conferences, grieving employee won’t come back full-time, and more
Ask a Manager
MARCH 31, 2016
Anyone who works for a state agency knows that if you give up a full-time line, there is no guarantee you will ever get it back, nor can you hire another part time person to compensate. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Grieving employee won’t come back full-time. I’m writing as a a manager of an academic department in a state institution of higher education. manage a staff of two in a small department and one of my employees tragically lost her husband after the new year very suddenly, and about 5 years before she was set to retire. Any advice? There should be.
what’s the ideal personality type for a manager?
Ask a Manager
MAY 23, 2016
That said, personality models can certainly be useful in helping you understand your own behavior and where you might want to make a particular point of compensating as a manager. A reader writes: I consistently test as an INTJ on the Myers-Briggs personality test (I went down that rabbit hole after reading one of your older posts). I am great at planning and developing long-term, big idea strategies for my organization, but I really struggle making personal connections with staff. And I can only handle a few minutes of small talk before looking for my exit. It’s a trick question!
employer altered my LinkedIn profile, gifts for Admin Professionals Day, and more
Ask a Manager
APRIL 8, 2015
The interview is mostly fine, other than he seemed to harp on why I wanted to leave my current company. (I’m not happy with compensation or the culture, but I wasn’t going to say bad things about my current position.) It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. My old employer altered my LinkedIn profile without my permission. recently left my job as a recruitment consultant on (what I thought were) very good terms with my employer. He accused me of deliberately being misleading and dismissed me from the process. ” 2. really do not think this should be done.
a salary negotiation success story, with lessons
Ask a Manager
OCTOBER 28, 2016
After discussing my manager’s (very positive) feedback, we confirmed the official title change and segued into updating my compensation accordingly. took the same approach with my own salary negotiation (in fact, I pretended I was hiring for the Teapot Manager role myself when researching compensation). 3) I documented my accomplishments. really took to heart everything you’ve said about much of a person’s work being invisible to the manager, and it helped. 4) Even though my role changed significantly, I stayed realistic about compensation. salary
how to announce a firing, I’m losing my bonus, and more
Ask a Manager
AUGUST 14, 2015
Comparing with my co-workers feels petty, but I do feel I should be compensated for experience, extra time put in and additional responsibilities. It’s four answers to four questions. Here we go…. 1. How to announce a firing to the rest of your staff. Can you please provide me with an email script to inform my employees that someone has been dismissed? Unfortunately, Jane’s last day with us was today. We wish her the best of luck, and we’ll be moving quickly to hire a replacement. The real key, though, is to ensure that your staff understands how performance problems are handled.
time off at the holidays: can my employer do that?
Ask a Manager
DECEMBER 3, 2015
No law requires extra compensation for working on holidays. This is the time of year when my in-box gets flooded with questions about how companies can and can’t handle time off around the holidays. Here are answers to some of the questions I receive most commonly. 1. My company is closed around Christmas and making me use PTO or take the time unpaid. Can they do that? They can indeed require that you use vacation time for that period, even if you don’t want to. have to work on Christmas and New Year’s. Can they make me do that without extra pay or giving me a comp day?
was my vacation request unreasonable, can I ask if I’m about to be laid off, and more
Ask a Manager
MAY 20, 2016
This interview was for a full=time permanent role, but I have only ever worked contract positions where these types of last-minute overtime projects were expected and compensated well. It’s four answers to four questions. Here we go…. 1. Was my vacation request unreasonable? Last month, I submitted a request for a single week’s vacation with approximately two months of lead time (submitted in April for June vacation), and was told that they were not willing to take someone off another task for that long and that I could take two days off. Yes, your request was reasonable.
my company told me to change my LinkedIn information, interrupting coworker, and more
Ask a Manager
MARCH 28, 2016
At first, I was excited to work here, but the compensation he offered is way less than I could make anywhere else. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. My company told me to change my LinkedIn information. My company does not have a social media policy. I was recently told that I needed to change my LinkedIn profile as HR felt that I was misrepresenting my duties. My duties are varied. I was told to change it in order to reflect my job description and not actual duties. I was also asked to remove my accomplishments. Boss is acting like none of it ever happened. Is
how can I make my coworkers understand my migraines, job offer was pulled after I resigned my current job, and more
Ask a Manager
JULY 30, 2015
Can I request compensation for this before I consider relinquishing this? It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. How can I make my coworkers understand my migraines? I get migraines. have for more than 20 years. usually get one a month, but occasionally they come in clusters and I’ll have a week or two getting them on and off. I see a neurologist and am on prescription medication, so I am doing what I can to mitigate the problem. understand that when I get them and have to go home for the day, this can affect the people I work with. It does. This sucks for everyone.
did I mess up the negotiations for my new job?
Ask a Manager
MAY 16, 2016
When I called back to negotiate after sleeping on the offer, I told the HR rep I expected to receive the compensation we discussed initially, and he didn’t seem to blink. Or maybe feeling this way is par for the course since I can sometimes be a pushover and this was the first time I was truly invested in negotiating for something I really wanted. (I have asked for more money in the past, and it’s never been a deal-breaker, let alone a high dollar amount.) ” I told him it was in my target range and would be fine. Note from Alison: Exactly!]. Maybe that was a mistake?
how to get info from job candidates who turn down our offers
Ask a Manager
DECEMBER 10, 2015
Lots of people don’t like discussing their compensation, and you’ll get plenty of no’s to this. A reader writes: I am not a jobseeker (yet), but am currently working as untrained HR personnel. There are some things my management wants to know about job candidates under two circumstances, but I’m not sure if they are okay questions to ask. guess I just want to know what I’m doing is right or wrong, even if I have no choice in the matter. So, first, what are the questions appropriate to ask if a candidate turns down our job offer in favor of another offer? What did they offer?
coworker won’t say please and thank you, telling someone’s boss they were speeding, and more
Ask a Manager
FEBRUARY 2, 2016
Frankly, you could even ask them what they’ve paid in the past — “Did you pay a different travel wage with nannies in the past?”) You also probably should ask for more compensation for going away for a few months than for a week, since one is far more disruptive than the other. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Brusque coworker won’t say please and thank you. I’ve been at my position for about three years now. My coworker has been at her job for about 1.5 years. My issue is that she never says “please” or “thank you.” told him I was not.
Let's personalize your content