June Compensation Trends 2018: What’s Everyone Talking About?

Thank you for checking out the sixth edition of the “compensation corral” - a monthly round-up summarizing 10 topically relevant articles in the space. This month's hot topics include Iceland narrowing the gender pay gap, the #MeToo era’s impact on hiring processes, paid leave updates, the digital workforce, and more.

Here’s the top 10 articles from June we feel are worth the read:

1) Iceland Wants to Close Gender Pay Gap by 2022 

When people think of Iceland, some things that come to mind include Vikings, glaciers, and hot springs. What they might not associate this country with is being on the forefront of narrowing the gender pay gap. Fun fact: Iceland takes this topic seriously, and wants to completely close the gap by 2022.

Read more about Iceland and the steps this country is taking to eradicate the gender pay gap.

2) Companies Step up Their Vetting Processes for Potential Employees in the #MeToo Era

Since the #MeToo movement began last fall, more and more women have come forward voicing their experiences involving harassment and assault in the workplace. For liability reasons and to avoid hiring a potential harasser, employers are taking steps to ensure the people they bring in do not have a history of harassment.

For more about how organizations are combatting harassment in the workplace, check out this article.

3) How Progressives and Businesses Made an Unlikely Deal on Family Leave

After months of negotiations, the grassroots coalition of community organization Raise Up Massachusetts and its allies reached an agreement with their counterparts to create one of the country’s most robust family and medical leave programs. The plan is part of a bill that will also raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour and institute a yearly sales tax holiday.

Learn more about the bill Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker just signed into law by reading this Boston Globe article.

4) National Business Group on Health Recommends Employers Discuss Opioid Use for Pain Management with Health Plans and Pharmacy Benefit Managers

The misuse and abuse of opioids is a national issue that profoundly impacts employees, their families and employers. The National Business Group on Health has recommended employers work with their health plans and pharmacy benefits managers to assure they are implementing national guidelines for prescribing opioids to help combat this growing problem.

Read the press release from the National Business Group on Health addressing ways to prevent opioid misuse.

5) SHRM18 Helped Us “Expand Our World”: 5 Important Takeaways

Salary.com employees recently attended the SHRM18 conference in Chicago, a gathering of 22,000 HR professionals from all over the world. They got the opportunity to converse, share ideas, and network with thought leaders in the space and came back with some valuable takeaways.

Read all about the valuable lessons we took away from SHRM18.

6) Future Tech-Enabled Employment Models Will Redefine - Not Reduce - Jobs in Manufacturing

Over the next decade, the U.S. manufacturing sector is projected to lose the most jobs (-736,400) out of any sector. Future projections are expected to be more and more influenced by automation-enabling technologies. A popular misconception, however, is that these automation-enabling technologies, including machine learning, and AI, will cause an overall net decrease in employment, rather than a re-appropriation of roles and job responsibilities.

Read this article detailing a B2B technology survey that reveals workers will be facing role redefinition, not role elimination.

7) A Workplace Divided: Understanding the Climate for LGBTQ Workers Nationwide

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) found that 46% of LGBTQ workers say they are closeted at work. Additionally, 1-in-5 LGBTQ workers report having been told or had coworkers imply that they should dress in a more feminine or masculine manner.

For more statistics like these, and to better understand LGTBQ workplace issues, download this report created by the HRC.

8) The Right Technologies Unlock the Potential of the Digital Workplace

Technological advancements such as mobility, the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud, and AI have had a profoundly positive impact on workplace processes. However, organizations must keep in mind that Internet Security threats go hand-and-hand with these kinds advancements.

Check out this global study of 7,000 employees across 15 countries that explores current levels of and attitudes towards digital working, its benefits and how it influences behavior.

9) The Financial Impact of a Positive Employee Experience

The Employee Experience Index is a study of 22,000+ workers in 43 counties designed to determine the impact of a positive employee experience on retention, discretionary effort, and performance.

Download the report to learn all about the top workplace practices that lead to the highest return.

10) RiseSmart Survey Reveals Vital Insights on Talent in Transition

In a survey of over 1,000 employees in the U.S. and Canada were asked about sentiments, behaviors and outcomes of having been laid off or having worked for a company where layoffs had occurred and the correlation to employer brand.

Do you miss the month of May already? Stroll down memory lane with our May compensation trends blog post.