Exploring the Link Between Pay Equity & Employee Engagement

It goes without saying, employers expect their employees to be engaged in their work. It’s also important that they feel valued and appreciated. But how are the two linked? According to a Future Forum survey, 57% of workers are open to seeking a new job within the next year. As an employer, you should be concerned about losing your workers. Retaining them requires certain considerations.

There is a direct relationship between pay equity and employee engagement. Furthermore, fair and transparent compensation practices are a strong tool for attracting and retaining talent. As any employer knows, that is a cost-effective benefit. In this article, we’ll explore the link with employee engagement and offer pay equity strategies.

What Does Pay Equity Mean to You?

Before you can set any goals, you need to understand what pay equity means to your organization. Establishing a pay equity philosophy provides the foundation for how you’ll manage it. It paints a picture of how it will fit into your company culture.

Many organizations only address pay equity to tick off their legal obligations, but your attitude should go beyond that. Make it a priority and assign reasonable budgets and attention. Discuss it with everyone, including employees, managers, executives, and stakeholders. Pay equity done right is a company-wide value.

How Pay Equity Impacts Employee Engagement

Being happy in your job is imperative to remain engaged and motivated. So how can you make your employees feel satisfied? You can create a fun work culture. Flexibility is a great incentive. But what’s really important is pay equity and a fair workplace.

“Most employees know that they are paid for performance, but when they perceive unfair practices (due to bias, racism, sexism, or simple politics), they lose confidence in the company and their sense of trust is damaged,” says Josh Bersin, CEO of The Josh Bersin Co.

Research has shown that pay equity plays a role in employee engagement. They feel valued and are much more likely to dedicate themselves to the work. Think about it – would you fully commit to a company’s mission when you’re not even certain you’re receiving equitable compensation?

Ways That Pay Equity Impacts Employee Engagement

• Loyalty – Employees won’t feel the need to look for better pay elsewhere when they’re being compensated fairly, according to their job duties. They will be less inclined to leave your organization.
• Trust – It’s much easier to build relationships and trust your managers when you’re having transparent conversations about pay. Trust strengthens when employees have reason to believe their employer is paying equitably.
• Accomplishment – There’s no better motivation than hard work being rewarded with fair compensation that reflects the internal and external market. It encourages your employees to work even harder and reach higher levels of success.

Retention Rates Matter

It’s simple – employees leaving costs your company money. Any serious employer realizes that retention rates are very important. We’ve seen various studies showing that when employees think they’re not being paid equitably compared to their peers, even if they’ve got a reasonable salary, they experience burnout.

Research conducted by Totaljobs found that 40% of women would quit their job over pay inequality. This doesn’t come as a surprise to me. If I experienced this, I know I’d not only feel less engaged, but I’d look for work elsewhere. With the labor shortage and shifting work attitudes, employers should be doing all they can to avoid turnover.

The issue with turnover is the hidden costs. These include advertising for a new position, training new hires, and making up for the productivity loss as they integrate. This can cost a business thousands of dollars, even up to months’ worth of salary. Not to mention how this affects your remaining team. Projects are interrupted and morale can easily decrease in a domino effect.

Strategies to Ensure Fair Pay Practices

A HubSpot report found that lost productivity costs U.S. businesses $1.8 trillion every year. You don’t want to be losing funds because you slacked off on pay equity. So, let’s discuss some strategies to ensure fair compensation practices.

Be Transparent – Discussing pay should not be considered taboo. Talk about how you make pay decisions and why. Transparency helps to reduce gaps that could exist due to unconscious bias or discrimination.

Make Data-Driven Decisions – If you’re not conducting market research, you’re doing pay equity wrong. Surveys and industry trends should guide your compensation practices. You’ll need to consider different demographics, locations, and the cost of living. Each of these factors will require you to adjust for fairness.

Update Job Descriptions – Knowing exactly what your employees do, regardless of their job title, is crucial in pay equity. Understand that roles within your organization will constantly be changing with time and your job description management will require regular updates.

Closing Thoughts on Pay Equity & Employee Engagement

Everyone wants to feel appreciated at work. It’s important to know that you’re being paid equitably compared to your peers. When you compensate your employees fairly, you mitigate their concerns or potential speculations. They then have more time and energy to focus on their work.

Companies that strive for pay equity reap the rewards. Retention rates increase, which promotes employee engagement and productivity. Investing in pay equity is an essential strategy for creating a successful workplace.