Q. I have a weird suspicion that I am not being paid the salary my company offered me last April. My company offered me $40,000 a year, but when I do the math based on my paychecks, the amounts don't add up to $40,000, but more like $36,000. I am paid every second Thursday and before taxes, my paycheck is $1,538.46 (the same every week). Is there a calculation I can use to see if this actually adds up to $40,000 after one year?A. Your company is not withholding funds.There are a number of ways companies can pay annual salaries to their employees. Some companies pay once a month, which means em... view article details

Salary.com estimates that at least one employee in ten has viewed compensation information on the Internet within the last year. That number is expected to grow, as salary sites have become a routine component of both the job search and the career management process. In response to questions from HR professionals about what to do when an employee knocks on the door with a salary printout in hand, Salary.com has prepared this advice for and from employers on responding to online data.There probably is no way for employers to prevent employees from using salary sites, and no advantage to doing s... view article details

It's a jungle out there. When conventional job search approaches leave you feeling defeated, consider unconventional methods to find a job. We've received many job hunting tips over the years. Some are a little bit crazy, while others are pretty clever. Yet, all have, at one time or another, got the job done. Don't let hiring managers get you down Don't fall into the "send resume and salary expectations" trap and forgo engaging on your own terms. Consider sending a $1 gift card and suggest meeting for coffee. At a minimum, the gift will be memorable. If the meeting happens, consider bringing ... view article details

The strength of tomorrow's workers depends on parents today. Get a Job, Kid! Family togetherness is a wonderful thing, until your thirty-year old starts sending drink orders from the basement and commenting at breakfast that it "sure would be nice" if you’d remember to use fabric softener on his t-shirts. Toddlers make for cute anecdotes. An unshaved genius with great potential but no real direction except for the path to your refrigerator makes for awkward moments at neighborhood parties. So, start now. Potential is but an outline for your child’s future. Fill it in with the life skills that ... view article details

"Get a Job Kid!" Family togetherness is a wonderful thing, until your thirty-year old starts sending drink orders from the basement and commenting at breakfast that it 'sure would be nice' if you’d remember to use fabric softener on his t-shirts. Toddlers make for cute anecdotes. An unshaved genius with great potential but no real direction except for the path to your refrigerator makes for awkward moments at neighborhood parties.So, start now. Potential is but an outline for your child’s future. Fill it in with the life skills that will help him or her stretch and grow and -- get a j... view article details

A pay philosophy is a company's commitment to how it values employees. A consistent pay philosophy gives the company and the employee a frame of reference when discussing salary in a negotiation.The goal of a pay philosophy is to attract, retain, and motivate employees. For companies in the private sector, this usually requires a competitive pay philosophy. For companies in the public sector, this means a well-rounded philosophy, with a focus on benefits and work life.Companies attract, motivate, and retain through total compensationThe purpose of a good compensation philosophy is to attract, ... view article details

Q. I have been working for a company as a cooperative learning experience for eight months, even though I'm not a student but a recent graduate. (I needed the experience.) Now I am being offered a one-year contract, and have learned I am grossly underpaid. Can you give me some resources to justify not only my market value salary, but also what percentage health, 401(k), and vacation time adds to my base cash value? Since I will be a contractor, which adds risk, I feel this should be calculated into my total value as well as the out-of-pocket expenses I will pay without benefits. I feel I can n... view article details

All Hail the Chief(s)! This article has been brought to you by the letter “C.” If you see a “C” next to somebody’s title on a business card, you’ve most likely met a person of some importance. But, have you ever wondered about how much C-Suite executives make? Look no further! We’ve compiled a list of seven average annual “chief” salaries to give you an idea of how much these big wigs make annually, on average. 1) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Median Annual Salary: $754,713 CEOs are responsible for the short- and long-term profitability and growth of their company. They organize leadership and... view article details

Descriptions of job titles appear in a variety of forms in the workplace. Recruitment ads, compensation surveys and other benchmarking tools, as well as corporate or departmental development plans all use some method of describing a job. The brief descriptions of highlighted positions that are seen in compensation surveys and other benchmarking tools are called job descriptors. These outline the major responsibilities associated with the position that can be applied universally. These are therefore sometimes standardized. While they may contain details like exemption status or job location, t... view article details

Q: Hello Jack,I just completed an exploratory (group) interview and mini-individual interview with an HR Manager at a prestigious non-profit organization that services Developmentally Disabled individuals nationwide. I have 12 years in the field of Disabilities, starting out as a case manager and working myself up to two supervisory positions within the last five years with a year gap in between as I was pursuing my Masters in Social Work. I'll be  getting my MSW by 2013. I cant help thinking that I made a huge mistake in writing a salary range of $48k-$50k on my application. When I sat with h... view article details