This concept came to me at a recent compensation philosophy engagement. During an employee interview session I explained that the compensation philosophy would become the foundation for new compensation programs, pay levels and strategy. The very astute employee chimed in and asked: “We have a new CEO and we’re expanding into new business lines and...
The basic scale used in western music incorporates 12 notes. The scale has only five lives (staves). This combination of a simple structure and limited elements has been essentially unchanged for hundreds of years. Somehow new music is created every second of every day. These limited components have given us Beethoven’s “9th Symphony”, Gershwin’s “Rhapsody...
We all know the story about Sisyphus, the man who was sentenced for eternity to roll a stone up a hill only to have the stone roll back down and begin again. I have been speaking to compensation professionals recently who seem to have assigned themselves this same punishment. In one case, I recently spoke...
Have you ever used one of those workout things called a “Bosu Ball”? A Bosu Ball is half a workout ball attached to a round plastic platform. Many people workout standing on the soft, round ball side. My trainer turns it upside down and makes me stand on the flat plastic side. Balancing with the...
In my February 25, 2011 posting “Stock Option Moving Sale”, I suggested that rather than end up with the compensation equivalent of acid washed jeans or a teal mock-turtle neck, perhaps a better shopper could find deals that were a bit less trendy or even tenuous. Equity compensation may be better utilized like a list...
I just read two recent articles explaining that nearly every single employable American will be looking for a new job in 2011. Perhaps as many as 98% of all Americans! To tell the truth I was shocked. First, I gnashed my teeth. Then, I pulled my hair. I panicked when I realized what a drain...
We have all heard of the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) principle, but when does KISS become a WISH (When Is Simple Harmful)? Think about the color-coding at U.S. Airports. The Homeland Security Advisory Systems has been the “HIGH” threat-level orange since shortly after the color-coding system went into place. However, how many people know...
The origin of the word equity is not, as many people think, the word “equal.” In fact, its origin is almost the opposite of equal. “Equite” is a Roman word with the following definition: “members of a specially privileged class derived from the ancient Roman cavalry and having status intermediate between those of senatorial rank...
“Uncle Dan, give me a challenge!” My 12-year old niece was at the edge of the huge community pool. She and her brother were enjoying the last “pool day” of summer. They had been playing and leaping off the diving boards for almost an hour. Give me a challenge! The first translation of this phrase...
I once had a colleague who was an acronym addict. His philosophy was anything more than a TLA (three letter acronym) was inefficient and confusing. If the name of a product or service required more than a TLA, he would insist it be changed to something shorter (not my strong suit). I have been doing a...
