2012 Trends in Compensation and the PayScale Compensation Best Practices Report

By Tim Low, PayScale.com

Today we released the PayScale 2012 Compensation Best Practices Report. The report is a result of our end of year study on the compensation practices of small, medium and large companies. We also asked some questions about the changing world of work, the use of social media at work and for work, as well as some additional questions on technology use in HR.

Why It’s Dangerous to Pay Like “The Guy Across Town”

By Melissa Quade, CCP, PayScale.com

I hear this from my clients all the time:

“I just want to know what MY COMPETITOR 1 and MY COMPETITOR 2 are paying, so I can pay 5% higher.”

“Can you make sure that I only get data from ALL OF MY COMPETITORS in this report?”

“Why can’t I see which companies pay what in this report?”

The short answer is: collusion. It’s a big no-no.

Ownership Thinking: Can It Help Your Business?

There’s been some buzz in business circles about Brad Hams’ Ownership Thinking: How to End Entitlement and Create a Culture of Accountability, Purpose, and Profit. This weekend I sat down to see what the fuss was about, and found some interesting and some not so interesting points in his work.

Need a Laugh? Check Out Our Comp Consultant's Job Review

By Bridget Quigg, PayScale.com

What is it really like to work in compensation consulting? Our very own PayScale compensation consultant, Melissa Quade, decided to share her thoughts about her job through photos.

Gisele Tops Earnings at Fashion Week NYC

By Bridget Quigg, PayScale.com

As if Gisele's recent comments on the New England Patriot's football skills didn't draw her enough media attention, now one of the biggest weeks in her industry has arrived, Fashion Week New York. We may soon enjoy more of her colorful comments and glossy photos in the news when this glitzy gathering begins tomorrow. PayScale decided to look beyond the glamour with our worker-centric infographic, "Salaries on the Scene at Fashion Week."

FLSA Series Part 4: Interns or Apprenticeships

This is the fourth of a series of articles explaining the complicated Fair Labor Standards Act, FLSA, or the Wage and Hour Law. January and February are often when organizations are deciding if they can bring on summer interns. Many organizations would like to do this, but not all can afford to create opportunities for work of limited duration. What may motivate you to develop an intern program is that you may be able to pay your intern less than minimum wage under certain circumstances.