Module 1 – Case
WAGE AND SALARY
ADMINISTRATION
Case Assignment
office meeting illustration
Google Images
Is There a Maximum Rate of Pay?
You are the Total Rewards Manager for Front Appliance
Company. You are usually a pretty relaxed, friendly, and easy-going manager.
Although you are a no-nonsense, competent executive, you are one of the most
popular managers in the company. This particular morning, however, you feel a
challenge ahead.
As chair of Front’s job evaluation committee, you called a
late-morning meeting at which several jobs were to be considered for
re-evaluation. The jobs had already been rated and assigned to Pay Grade 4. But
the Office Manager, Ortho Janson, was upset that one of his employees was not
rated higher. To press the issue, Ortho had taken his case to two executives
who were members of the job evaluation committee. The two executives
(Production Manager Peter Strong and Marketing Manager Margo Arms) then
requested that the job ratings be reviewed. Peter and Margo supported Ortho’s
side of the dispute, and you are not looking forward to the confrontation that
is almost certain to occur.
The controversial job is that of receptionist. Only one
receptionist position exists at Front Appliances, and Rebecca Reichart held it.
Rebecca has been with the firm 14 years, longer than any of the committee
members. She is extremely efficient, and virtually all the executives in the
company, including the president, have noticed and commented on her outstanding
work. Peter and Margo are particularly pleased with Rebecca because of the
cordial manner in which she greets and accommodates Front’s customers and
vendors, who frequently visit the plant. They feel that Rebecca projects a
positive image of the company.
To begin the meeting, you say the following:
(Fill in what you would say.)
But before you can finish, Peter interrupts: “I suggest we
start with Rebecca.” Margo nods in agreement. When you regain your composure,
you quietly but firmly assert:
(Fill in what you would say.)
Then you proceed to pass out copies of the receptionist job
description to Peter and Margo, who are visibly irritated.
Continue in the meeting and lead the discussion, in a
conversational tone as if Rebecca were also in the room.
Explain to the group why you insist that the job, not the
person, be evaluated.
Share with the others whether or not you think there should
be a maximum rate of pay for every job in an organization, regardless of how
well the job is being performed. Justify your response.
Rebecca is earning the maximum of the range for her pay
grade. Discuss ways an employee at the top of his/her pay range might be able
to obtain a salary increase. Be specific and give good examples that Rebecca
might also be able to apply easily to her situation.
Use at least 3 library sources and/or module materials to
help strengthen and support what you say.
Submit your response by the module due date. Your response
can be in one of the following formats:
Audio (about 8-10 minutes, with a written reference list
provided)
Audio/visual (about 8-10 minutes, providing a reference list
either within the video, on a slide, or in a separate document)
Written submission (3–4 pages, not counting the cover and
reference page)
Assignment Expectations
Your submission will be evaluated using the criteria as
stated in the Case rubric. The following is a review of the rubric criteria:
Assignment-Driven: Does the submission fully address all
aspects of the assignment? Is the assignment addressed accurately and precisely
using sound logic? Does it meet minimum length requirements?
Critical Thinking: Does the submission demonstrate
graduate-level analysis, in which information derived from multiple sources,
expert opinions, and assumptions has been critically evaluated and synthesized
in the formulation of a logical set of conclusions? Does it address the topic
with sufficient depth of discussion and analysis?
Business Writing: Is the submission logical, well organized
and well written? Are the grammar, spelling, and vocabulary appropriate for
graduate-level work? Are section headings included, if submission is in written
form? Are paraphrasing and synthesis of concepts the primary means of
responding, or is justification/support instead conveyed through excessive use
of direct quotations?
Effective Use of Information: Does the submission
demonstrate that the student has read, understood, and can apply the background
materials for the module? If required, has the student demonstrated effective
research, as evidenced by student’s use of relevant and quality (library)
sources? Do additional sources used provide strong support for conclusions
drawn, and do they help in shaping the overall submission?
Citing Sources: Does the student demonstrate understanding
of APA Style of referencing, by inclusion of proper citations (for paraphrased
text and direct quotations) as appropriate? Have sources (e.g., references used
from the Background page, the assignment readings, and outside research) been
included, and are these properly cited? Have all sources cited in the
submission been included on the References page?
Timeliness: Has the assignment been submitted to TLC
(Trident’s learning management system) on or before the module’s due date?
Module 1 – SLP
WAGE AND SALARY
ADMINISTRATION
View the following video concerning internal equity.
(Patriot Software, 2016)
Time for Change in Pay Plans?
You are a newly hired HR professional now working for Jeans
Inc. Jeans does not have a formal wage structure or rate ranges and does not
use compensable factors. Wages are basically set on prevailing wages in
surrounding communities coupled with some attempt for internal equity among
workers.
Jeans does not participate in formal pay surveys. Instead,
the administrative assistant routinely looks over online job openings and
conducts informal surveys among her friends in local organizations. Jeans has
always followed a policy of paying employees about 10% above what the assistant
determines are the prevailing rates. She thinks this reduces turnover and
fosters employee loyalty. The practice is to pay men about 20% more than women
for the same job. The assistant explains, “When we hire males, they have
families, and they are stronger and can work harder for longer hours.”
Answer the following four questions below. Use
question-and-answer (Q&A) format; in other words, include the original
question along with your response. Within your answer, support your responses
with information from at least 2 reputable sources (library and/or Web-based),
and provide the full citation at the end. Use APA format for your references.
Share your own personal experiences, readings, and research, where applicable.
Compare and contrast two job evaluation methods discussed in
this module. Which method (if any) do you recommend for Jeans Inc.? Why?
Should Jeans Inc. set up a formal salary structure based on
a complete job evaluation? Why or why not?
Is the policy of paying 10% more than the prevailing rates a
sound one? If so, how could it be determined? If not, what do you recommend?
What would you do now with respect to a pay plan process at
Jeans Inc.? Why?
SLP Assignment Expectations
Your paper will be evaluated using the criteria as stated in
the SLP rubric. The following is a review of the rubric criteria:
Assignment-Driven: Does the paper fully address all aspects
of the assignment? Is the assignment addressed accurately and precisely using
sound logic? Does the paper meet minimum length requirements?
Critical Thinking: Does the paper demonstrate graduate-level
analysis, in which information derived from multiple sources, expert opinions,
and assumptions has been critically evaluated and synthesized in the
formulation of a logical set of conclusions? Does the paper address the topic
with sufficient depth of discussion and analysis?
Business Writing: Are the responses logical, well organized,
and well written? Are the grammar, spelling, and vocabulary appropriate for
graduate-level work? Are paraphrasing and synthesis of concepts the primary
means of responding, or is justification/support instead conveyed through
excessive use of direct quotations?
Effective Use of Information: Does the submission
demonstrate that the student has read, understood and can apply the background
materials for the module? If required, has the student demonstrated effective
research, as evidenced by student’s use of relevant and quality (library?)
sources? Do any additional sources used provide strong support for conclusions
drawn, and do they help in shaping the overall paper?
Citing Sources: Does the student demonstrate understanding
of APA Style of referencing, by inclusion of proper citations (for paraphrased
text and direct quotations) as appropriate? Have sources (e.g., references used
from the Background page, the assignment readings, and outside research) been
included, and are these properly cited? Have all sources cited in the paper
been included on the References page?
Timeliness: Has the assignment been submitted to TLC
(Trident’s learning management system) on or before the module’s due date?
