Getting the balance right
Specifying an extremely low compensation package for a role will obviously limit the quantity and quality of responses, which is why most organisations advertise using a salary range. But there is no point specifying a range, if you automatically offer at the lowest level. Remember, if a candidate rejects your offer, it can cost much more to restart the recruitment process than simply upping the salary, particularly when productivity losses are factored in.
Even if a candidate accepts a low offer, they are not likely to be fully motivated in their new role, and may leave after a short period of time, negatively affecting your staff turnover levels and the performance of the organisation.
Conversely, if you offer a new employee too high a salary, that does not fit within the pay scales of existing employees, it can also lead to poor performance. Chances are, your existing employees will find out, and this will lead to resentment among your team. Salary discrepancies can also leave you open to charges of discrimination.
Keeping salaries competitive
The key to offering at the right level is to make sure your salary is competitive. Employees of not for profit organisations will usually accept lower salaries in exchange for intangible benefits such as a better quality of life and higher job satisfaction, but they will still expect to be paid at a similar level to staff in similar organisations.
Monitoring job ads from organisations of a similar type or size can help you to make sure your compensation package is competitive. TPP constantly monitor the recruitment market and can give you help and advice on benchmarking your salaries.
Even if you are simply re-filling a role following the departure of a member of staff, it is not a simple case of advertising the role at the existing salary. The job description and responsibilities for the replacement may be different, meaning you will have to conduct a review of the salary as well. You also need to be consider whether a low salary was a contributing factor in the previous incumbent’s departure.
Setting a salary range (and sticking to it)
Once you establish the industry average for a role, you should set a salary range around that amount. Make sure you have criteria set to decide which qualifications or skills a candidate would need to have to achieve the highest level. And which can be sacrificed for a lower salary.
This is particularly important if you are recruiting for more than one position, as differences in salary offers could leave you open to discrimination charges. Make sure you can back up your decisions and be careful not to simply link salary to years of experience.
The more senior or specialist the role, the more flexible you will need in terms of salary to make sure you get a candidate with exactly the right skills and experience.
Similarly, if you are only interested in hiring a candidate who is currently working for an organisation that is similar to yours, it can take a higher salary to tempt them away from their current employer than someone who is currently unemployed, particularly in the current economic environment when people are reluctant to take risks by moving roles.
Once you have specified a salary range, make sure you stick to this range when making an offer. Nothing is more likely to make a candidate reject an initial offer without any possibility for negotiation than going back on the advertised salary package, meaning you may have to start your recruitment process again from scratch.
What if your initial offer is rejected?
A candidate may reject your initial offer if they feel they deserve a higher salary and could achieve it elsewhere. In this instance you may wish to stick with your initial offer if you think it is a fair one, or you can reassess based on the value they could potentially add to your organisation.
If salary becomes a real sticking point, you could make a revised offer with an initial salary at the original level but with a clearly-defined path of progression to move the candidate up to a higher level within a specified time frame. This way, the candidate is given an opportunity to prove they are worth the extra and the organisation can ensure the additional investment will be worthwhile.
If there is no room for manoeuvre with the salary you can offer, take a look at the total compensation package. Make sure you are including all available employee benefits and consider what you could add to make the role more attractive, eg training courses, flexible working, extra paid holiday. If a candidate is not entirely happy with the salary they may still be willing to join your organisation if they think it will be worthwhile in the long haul.
How TPP can help
TPP Not for Profit constantly monitors salary packages to establish industry averages for roles of every type and level. We can help ensure your salary is as competitive as possible and give you advice on making the total package attractive to potential new employees.
We handle all potential salary negotiations for roles placed with us and are dedicated to making sure that you get the best possible value for money when recruiting.
Further Reading
Debunking Charity Salary Myths
Low Salaries Hold Charities Back
No comments:
Post a Comment