Chapter 11

This week we learned about pay. We learned about all of the different pay stuructures and policies, and the decisions that are invovled in establishing them. Basically Organizations decide relative pay for different jobs within their company (this may vary depending on job functions or responsibility). They decide the average paid for the different jobs and then use this information to put together a pay structure policy. Economic forces can be a big influence on decisions regarding pay. Companies have to juggle meeting the demands of employer markets and product markets. Depending on the companies situation and their business strategy, a decision is made whether to pay employees below, at or above the market rate (each of which can have its consequences). When people are deciding if they are paid fairly the compare their pay/input ratio with other people's pay/input ratio. I know I have done this before when evaluating my pay level. I have asked many people about their jobs and their pay structures. Unfortunately, I feel that being a student and only accepting part time jobs puts you in a position to get paid lower than market value, which is frustrating. Normally, I have felt underpaid and have usually left most jobs hoping for a better opportunity. It's important that Human Resources constantly compares actual pay with pay structures to see and make sure that the practices and policies match. I feel that it is a big responsibility to work with managers in making sure that employees are happy and motivated with their pay structure. I didn't realize how much went into pay structures and found it interesting to learn about.

Funny Experience

We recently took our first test and had a fall break so I'm not sure if I need to post for the past week as most of it was a review and guest speaker. I will post anyway, I wanted to talk about a funny experience I had related to our class. When we talked about discrimination in class I talked about how I didn't know how anyone would be able to sue someone on the basis of discrimination, I just didn't understand how someone would have enough information to be able to prove they were discriminated against. I thought to myself that even if someone was discriminating they would just think it to themselves and that would be that. The point was brought up in class that so many employers are stupid and say things that get them in a mess. I recently was in an interview and the employer said MANY things to me that I could take to court! I was so surprised! And although I wouldn't sue the company I thought it was interesting that I was sitting in an interview and I actually knew what things she could and couldn't ask me and I noticed the things she shouldn't have been saying. At many times throughout the conversation she asked about my family life, my religion, etc. Also, she told me that I wouldn't work for a certain position because she was looking for someone older (although she did say no offense before she said it, ha!). She also told me I would work for a few positions because she was specifically looking for women to do the jobs because of the product market (scrapbooking, home decor, etc.). These are jobs that men could handle, and many men could exceed at, so I knew she shouldn't have been telling me that information either. It was a funny experience and related to class so I thought I'd share. I'm glad I have a background in case I'm the one doing the interviewing one day!

The Importance of Assessing Performance (Ch. 8&9)

We learned this week about the different ways to assess performance and develop employees. I liked learning about the different ways we can asses employees because I feel that employee performance reviews are so important in an organization. My first job was at Discover Card Financial Services. At this job we had quarterly performance reviews. I actually liked these performance reviews and I think my manager had a lot to do with that, she handled them very professionally. I always knew where I stood and what I could improve, and also was rewarded raises every six months if I did the necessary things to deserve them. I thought this was the norm in many businesses and boy was I wrong! I had my job at Discover Card when I was 16. I am now 22 almost 23, and have had many other jobs during the past 6 years, not once have I been given regular performance reviews. This has made me develop a strong opinion about performance reviews. Most people think of them as a burden and I have seen the effects a quarterly performance review can have on my work ethic and motivation. I think it's so important that employees know where they stand and what they can do to improve so that they feel good about their job and what they are contributing to the workplace. I think it's easy to get in a lazy mode after so many months of getting by with no performance reviews and I don't like the way I feel when I get into a "lazy mode," they make me feel unproductive and unsatisfied with what I am contributing to the organization.