Company Says You Should Thank Us, Employees Barf

An envelope stamped CONFIDENTIAL arrived in my home mailbox today from my company's Human Resources Department.  Inside is a "Personal Earnings & Benefits Statement," a pamphlet that lists my annual salary, 401k contributions and the cost (to them) for all of my benefits.

While a convenient "stat card," I'm not sure what the purpose of this mailing is.  Oh wait.  I think I DO know.  It's propaganda.

The final page includes my "total compensation," a figure that adds items like my 12 vacation days and 10 paid holidays to my salary.  The number is displayed in bold at a larger font size than everything else.

The point they are trying to make is you think you make X but you're really making Y.  You should be grateful.  Look how generous we are.

And I AM thankful to be gainfully employed, making an honest living.  However I'm not a child.  I don't need to be reminded that my "compensation does not mean salary alone."

Is this a foreshadow of miniscule raises?  Or perhaps no raise at all?  I'd bet on it.

Ironically, this compensation snapshot has had the reverse affect on me.  

1) I'm actually earning less a year than I thought!

2) I realize that I am less of a drain on the company that other people.  I have declined their medical insurance and started work after the pension program was frozen.  I wonder if these points can be used in salary negotiations (thoughts?).

3) I don't appreciate the fact that all of this sensitive data is sent via mail.  There's no need to risk my neighbors learning what I earn, what my job title is, or how long I've been with the company.

Should I expect everyone to have a little extra pep in their step after this reminder of how generous our employer is?  I can already see the line forming outside of HR to thank them for their generosity.

I also find the timing of the mailing quite random.  With tax season winding down in a few hours, it seems odd that this type of thing wouldn't be sent along with W-2s at the beginning of the year.

I'm grateful for benefits, but our benefits package is nothing extraordinary.  And I appreciate the reminder.

Does your job do anything similar?

P.S. - Most employees arrived to work angered over the pamphlet. I was approached by a handful of people who vented about their dislike of the tactic. Looks like an HR backfire!

Comments

[Kimberly Roden]

Benefits Statements are to inform employees -- contrary to your post, most employees do not know what the exact value is of benefits. You don't see the employer pays in premiums for insurance, worker's comp, etc. unless you work in finance or payroll. They are hard numbers and they're real.

Perhaps this is a tactic from the senior execs to weed out the bad apples so they know who to lay off... I've seen it... it happens. So, don't walk around your office with a cocky attitude complaining about the foreshadowing of a "miniscule raise." Whiners spread like poison ivy in a company and it doesn't go unnoticed. Your post certainly sounded childish, uninformed and ungrateful for being gainfully employed. Stop your bellyaching and grow up.

Respectfully,
Glad to NOT be your HR exec

[Penina Sachs]

Benefit statements are information for the employee. If the company and HR expects you and other employees to have an "extra step", they will be sorely disappointed. They are not motivators to do good work, stay with them, etc. -- just information.

The design of the statement, what is emphasized, etc. are factors that should be considered. Many insurance brokers offer these statements as part of their service. I have never been impressed with how they convey the information. In the past, I have worked with an individual that specializes in communicating in this type of information and she has always done a better job.

Most companies do not have all the information used in the statement ready at the time W-2's are sent out, no later than January 31 each other.

I think your "beef" about them being mailed to the home is not legitimate.

[Andrew G.R.]

@Kimberly: You certainly sound like you've worked in HR for several decades. I'm guessing you're insulated to the true needs and wants of your employees. I have the luxury of being able to report how employees actually FEEL. Rather than take the yesteryear stance of "you should be grateful to have a job," I'd recommend you listen to the folks who are working for you. You guys are coming across like used car salesmen selling something that's already been bought. Employees are smart, and they understand that compensation is more than a salary.

There's no need for name calling. I appreciate your comment and your viewpoint is respected. And for the record, I AM grateful to have a job, I just don't need to be told to be grateful.

[Kimberly Roden]

@Andrew, the "grateful to have a job" comment is not a "yesteryear" remark given our current job economy and market. HR's strengths should be listening and developing, among many others, of course. At the same time, it gets old reading folks who want to point fingers and blame HR for a not so perfect work environment. I've stated in the past and will state it again... HR's autonomy only goes as far as CEOs will allow. We can listen to employees and report how you FEEL all we want...but what if senior management doesn't really care? Why blame HR? If you truly knew your HR person, maybe it is him or her, maybe it's not. Understand that HR is rarely able to implement new change initiatives w/out the blessing of senior decision makers. There is "old school" management in existence and one of our responsibilities is to influence change with a progressive and forward-thinking attitude -- when and where we can.

[Andrew G. Rosen]

@Kimberly. Fair point. I believe that in our case, this missive comes straight from the top.

[Kimberly Roden]

@Andrew...didn't mean to "name call"... my apologies. This is my gig... it's what I do and it's hard to be blamed for so many things when folks sometimes do not understand the challenges behind closed doors.

[Dan Potter]

I can see both sides of the argument. I would have to say that if anyone is being "childish," it's the employers. I tend to agree with the original poster that this mailing is likely a precursor to pay freezes or worse. That's what happened at my mother's company and I've seen it before.

If Human Resources is so keen on putting the "full compensation picture" in front of employees, why not do it when a person is first hired?

[Tammy Colson]

Total Compensation is one of those products that keep employees aware of their actual benefits, and the costs associated. It helps sometimes to understand that "wow, my company is paying 80% of my health premiums" when the employee portion increases from 80.00 to 100.00.

The idea behind it is "information" - and really, nothing more. I've been in HR for many years for small, medium and F20 companies. Your Human Resources department isn't sinister, isn't Catbert, and isn't out to get you.

We facilitate, advise, coach and train - we don't make the rules - REALLY. I've met one or two individuals who really need to get out of the HR business - but those were individuals - and a definite exception to the generally awesome professionals I meet.

I'm terribly sorry that you feel this way about your company. Perhaps a conversation with senior management about the perception of getting information like this? And if you don't feel comfortable talking to senior management about it, perhaps this company has bigger issues than a Total Compensation Report?

As for it getting mailed to your house - do you feel that way when the power bill comes? or your statements for your 401k? its MAIL, dude. That's what the postal service is for - to deliver stuff to you so that it doesn't have to be delivered by hand.

@danpotter - the "full compensation picture" changes annually (and sometimes more often) if your's looks the same as it did 5 years ago - you have another issue altogether.

[Tammy Colson]

yours... sheesh. hit enter too fast.

[Andrew G.R.]

@Tammy. Yeah, my knock on the USPS delivery might be a bit paranoid. I don't care if my neighbor knows that paid $57 for electricity, but I do care that could know my job title, annual salary, 401k contribution, etc. I feel like this information (which is the first time the company has provided it), could have been distributed in-person with an explanation of why and why now. Many employees feel it is coming out of left field.

I've often defended HR, recognizing that they are in a proverbial 'no-win situation.' As KR mentioned in an earlier comment, they are often just executing marching orders from senior management.

I thank you for reading the post and sharing your thoughts!

[Tammy Colson]

I understand your concern abt delivery of sensitive information. But that type of information is mailed because many times, its coming from a third party generator, and delivery of such to each individual in a company would put that information in too many hands where confidentiality is an issue. If its sealed and mailed it actually has a better chance of getting to the individual intended without prying eyes.

It sounds to me like there was a lack of communication from the top down that the TCR's were going to be distributed. That's a communications issue (not a uncommon problem in organizations, believe me) and not a "why would HR do something so stupid and morale busting" issue.

If it were me, with similar concerns, I think I'd approach it from that direction. That there is a lot of confusion surrounding the mailing, and employees need more information. Take the proactive route. It shows leadership.

Good luck.

[tiffany1837co]

Perhaps this is a tactic from the senior execs to weed out the bad apples so they know who to lay off... I've seen it... it happens.

[tiffany1837co]

And thanks for pointing us to the Warrior Girl download, Denton! Rowena is one of my faves (I used one of her Flying Girls to illustrate my post today!) & her download is super awesome.