Author: conradot

Conrado Tapado is a Content Marketing Manager for PayScale, the leader in modern compensation data and software. PayScale’s products help employees and employers have more open and mutually beneficial conversations about compensation. Conrado’s specialties and interests include marketing and communications, innovative storytelling, content strategy, original content creation, metrics and analytics, as well as topics of technology, diversity and inclusion. He holds a bachelor’s degree in language studies (linguistics) from the University of California - Santa Cruz, an associate of applied science degree in commercial photography from Seattle Central Creative Academy, and a master of communications in digital media degree from the University of Washington.

Wondering How to Pay Fairly? Consider Using Skills Differentials. [Infographic]

We’re in an age of information overload. New jobs are being created seemingly overnight. Skills that were unheard of just a year or two ago can quickly become in-demand. Conversely, many jobs will start disappearing. Organizations must maintain a pulse on different skills needed to successfully compete in a global economy. As...

Wondering How to Pay Fairly? Consider Using Skills Differentials. [Infographic]

We’re in an age of information overload. New jobs are being created seemingly overnight. Skills that were unheard of just a year or two ago can quickly become in-demand. Conversely, many jobs will start disappearing. Organizations must maintain a pulse on different skills needed to successfully compete in a global economy. As...

PayScale Index Q4 2019: Nominal Wages Up Year Over Year by 2.6 Percent

We recently released the latest data for the PayScale Index. The PayScale Index is a wage index (base year = 2006) that tracks the quarterly changes in total cash compensation for full-time private industry workers. Additionally, it provides a wage forecast for the coming quarter. We publish the quarterly PayScale Index to...

Video Conferencing Best Practices

This piece is part of our series on sessions presented at Compference19. You can register or learn more about Compference20 here. We’ve all experienced the dreaded conference call. Dropped connections, indiscernible audio and unexpected background noise are just some of the unintended joys we’ve come to expect. Despite all the technological advances...

Five Reasons to Take the 2020 PayScale CBPR Survey

Every year, thousands of professionals and business executives participate in PayScale’s Compensation Best Practices Survey. The data we collect will be used to produce the 2020 Compensation Best Practices Report. In this industry gold standard report you will find an in-depth analysis of all the insights and trends revealed in this survey. ...

Día de la Equidad Salarial para la Mujer Latina 2019

Read English version El 20 de noviembre de 2019 es el Día de la Equidad Salarial para la Mujer Latina. Esto simboliza el día en que los salarios de las mujeres Hispanas alcanzan el nivel de los salarios de los hombres blancos no hispanos del año anterior. Es una lamentable realidad que...

Woman Studying With Books and Laptop

Woman Studying With Books and Laptop

Professional Development: Essential for Employee Retention

Keeping employees engaged and motivated is a constant challenge. There are many reasons employees quit. Too often, we have no control over those reasons. However, one proven method of bolstering employee retention is professional development. In fact, the 2019 Compensation Best Practices Report reveals that professional development for employees is the top...

Managing Payroll, Your Largest Expense: 3 Tips for the CFO

As a CFO, you have to balance a complex set of roles. Often, it includes oversight of and direction for finance, legal, compliance and human resources. However, above all, you’re expected to create long term value by driving revenue generation. Uncertain economic conditions and volatile markets in the coming year can make...

Graphic of measuring tape - compensation benchmarking article

Graphic of measuring tape - compensation benchmarking article

Compensation Benchmarking, Practices & Standards | PayScale

Competing for and retaining top talent is more of a challenge today than ever before. Existing employees and prospective job candidates now have quick access to salary data from a variety of online sources, and a greater understanding of their value in the market. To compete, organizations must assess and analyze how...

COMPFERENCE19 DAY TWO WRAP UP: Powerful Portraits, Comp Data Panel, Future of Work is Jazz

Following last night’s festive customer appreciation party at the Nicollet Island Pavilion, featuring a live band, a lumberjack show and hand-made smores, the day started bright and early for PayScale compers. After a hearty breakfast, everyone assembled in the ballroom of the Minneapolis Hilton to start the second day of informative and...

COMPFERENCE19 DAY ONE WRAP UP: The Importance of Stories, Don’t Stay in Your Lane, Minding the Gaps

A record setting 636 comp pros and HR leaders were in attendance today for a rousing kickoff of Compference19! Today’s sessions included three keynote presentations, various product demos, and a number of breakout sessions. Here are some highlights from the first day. Opening Keynote: The Importance of Stories Emily Jensen, PayScale’s Chief...

4 Tips for Market Survey Season

For those in the compensation industry, the upcoming fall season represents more than just swapping swimsuits for sweaters and drinking pumpkin spice everything. If you’re a compensation analyst (or similar) you’re about to embark upon one of the busiest times of the year: new survey season. In today’s competitive market, it’s important...

Compference19: Convince Your Boss to Approve Your Attendance

PayScale’s Compference19 is coming soon, and you don’t want to miss out. In fact, September 26th and 27th will be here before you know it. Just in case you’re still on the fence about attending, here are a few things to consider to help convince your boss that Compference19 is a worthy...

Benefits of Pet-Friendly Workplaces

Today, August 26, is National Dog Day. We’ve all heard the expression that dog is man’s best friend. But could dogs also be an employee’s best friend? It’s a widely known fact that it’s an employees market. In this day and age, when it’s harder to recruit and retain talent, companies want...

How Much Do College Degrees Impact Financial Success?

We’ve all read the headlines. College is expensive, and it’s only getting worse. Due to ever-dwindling state funding and resources, students and their families are having to pay more out of pocket than previous generations ever had to. Long gone are the days when students could support themselves – covering tuition, fees...

Compference19 Keynote Speaker: Dr. Natalie Nixon

We’re excited to introduce yet another extraordinarily talented, dynamic speaker for Compference19. Dr. Natalie Nixon is a global public speaker, published author and expert on innovation, strategy and foresight. Natalie is president and founder of Figure 8 Thinking, LLC., a creativity and foresight strategy firm. Unique Background And Approach With a background...

Compference19 Keynote Speaker: Platon

For Compference19, we’ve curated a number of dynamic speakers from different walks of life. Each of these immensely talented individuals brings a unique perspective to the table. We’re confident that our speakers will inspire you to broaden your vision, reignite your creative spirit and boost your interpersonal communication skills. Therefore, we’re...

3 Ways to Win the War for Talent

There’s a lot of rapid change happening in the market. Many of you might be seeing it right now in your current organization, while others will be seeing it in upcoming years. There’s also a shortage of workers, especially in new and growing industries and technologies who want to attract talent. Workforce...

PayScale Index Q2 2019: Nominal Wages Up 2%, But Real Wages Up Just 0.2% Year Over Year

The latest data release of the PayScale Index is now available. This index tracks quarterly and annual trends in compensation. Additionally, it provides a wage forecast for the coming quarter. We publish the quarterly PayScale Index to help employers understand how average wages are changing quarter by quarter and year by year....

Compference19: Sneak Peek of Tracks and Sessions

Compference19 is coming up soon, and you don’t want to miss it. Whether you’re a first-time attendee or a seasoned pro, there is something for everyone. This year, we’re offering more sessions and workshops than ever before. Compference19 Tracks In order to help you navigate your optimize your learning options, we’ve broken...

Compference19: About Minneapolis

Compference19 will be here before you know it. You may be asking yourselves, “why Minneapolis?” Well, why not? Not only does Minneapolis have a rich history and culture, it’s also enjoying a flourishing startup scene. Minneapolis might be known for having brutal, freezing winters. Fortunately, Compference is scheduled for September 26-27, when...

PayScale’s 2019 Compensation Best Practices Report: Canadian Edition

This Canada Day, we tip our toques to our neighbors to the north. For the uninitiated, July 1 commemorates the unification of Canada’s original three provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Canada province, which is now Ontario and Quebec) as one nation in 1867. It only seems fitting that we take...

Compference19 Keynote Speaker: Meggie Palmer

We’re excited to announce our first of multiple dynamic keynote speakers for Compference19. Meggie Palmer is an internationally renowned diversity and inclusion speaker, journalist and entrepreneur. A high energy leader, facilitator and inspirational speaker, Meggie is on a mission to close the gender pay gap. Meggie founded the PepTalkHer app, which uses...

Compference19 Last Chance Pricing Expires on July 15

The sun is out and summer is in full swing. But before you know it, fall will be here. Compference19 is coming to Minneapolis September 26-27, 2019. Be sure to grab your discounted pass while you still can. The last chance discounted price of $950 ends on July 15. Who wouldn’t want...

5 Tips for Allies During Pride Month and Beyond

Pride month shines a light on the progression that has been experienced by the LGBTQ equality movement. In recent years, we’ve seen evolution in the media, in politics and in business. However, we are still a long way from achieving complete equality. There is still a great deal of work to do...

3 Key Elements to Keep High Performers Engaged and Increase Retention

Engaging high performers in today’s talent market is difficult. In fact, according to PayScale’s Compensation Best Practices Report (CBPR), 66 percent of surveyed organizations agree that retention is a major concern. This is an increase of seven percentage points over the previous year. Additionally, 47 percent of surveyed organizations say the strong job...

This FinTech Firm Refined Their Comp Plan and Improved Employee Happiness

Ubiquity is one of the fastest growing 401K companies in the U.S. With more than $2 billion in assets, they’ve been helping 7,000 businesses and hundreds of thousand of customers with their retirement planning since 1999. The financial technology (fintech) industry is developing vigorously on a global scale. In just one year,...

Three Hot Tech Trends in HR

In the 2019 Compensation Best Practices Report, we see that investing in HR technology is on the minds of compensation professionals everywhere. How HR Tech Can Help At times, it can feel as if technology is developing at breakneck speed. What new technologies exist? Where do they come from? Will this new...

Employee_appreciation_day

Employee_appreciation_day

What Is National Employee Appreciation Day?

As you may (or may not) know, the first Friday in March is National Employee Appreciation Day. It is a day to focus attention and express appreciation of all employees, across all industries. Why It’s Important Employee appreciation is a critical aspect of maintaining employee engagement. In today’s competitive marketplace, keeping employees...

PayScale Q4 Index Shows Real Wages Continued To Decline in 2018

The most recent Q4 Index revealed nominal wages increased 1.1 percent since Q3 and 1.0 percent year over year. However, this small grown in nominal wages wasn’t enough to boost real wages for the year. Due to high inflation, real wages fell by 1.3 percent year over year. That means that while...

cbpr-Industries

cbpr-Industries

Industries Editions of PayScale’s Compensation Best Practices Report Have Arrived

The annual Compensation Best Practices Report (CBPR) is now broken down into individual industry categories. These reports are built on the same robust datasets as our overall CPBR, Canadian edition, enterprise edition and small business edition. However, in these factsheets, we drill down into individual industries. Using data from more than 7,000...

people_working_together

people_working_together

Diversity and Inclusion: What is Considered a Successful Outcome?

It’s been proven time and time again that companies with higher levels of ethnic and gender diversity perform better than other companies. On the other hand, research shows that companies with less diversity are more likely to be less profitable. So what’s keeping companies from fostering a more diverse workplace? For some,...

Employee_development

Employee_development

Why Employee Development Programs Matters (And How to Implement One)

Research shows that investing in employee development can boost employee satisfaction, performance and retention. Plus, employee development programs can be easier to implement and less costly than you think. What is Employee Development? Employee development programs are ways to improve an employee’s broader skills as a person over an extended time period...

How Great Leaders Encourage Connection in the Age of Isolation

The average person will spend 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime. Needless to say, our jobs can have a huge impact on our quality of life. If you have a bad day at the office, those negative feelings will spill over into your personal life. It will affect your personal relationships...

Employee Experience

Employee Experience

How Employee Experience Can Boost Revenue

Forbes magazine recently declared 2018 “The Year of Employee Experience.” With unemployment at an all-time low, recruiting is more challenging than ever. Forbes’ writer, Denise Lee Yohn, asserts, “Offering a superior EX can give employers a competitive advantage in attracting recruits to them and then engaging them in ways that encourage them...

Defining Your HR Career Path (And How To Get To The Top)

Are you a recent college grad thinking about going into HR? Or are you just starting out in your HR career path? If you fit into either category, you’re in a great position. Years ago, there was a perception that HR was mostly administrative. Today, there is a realization that HR plays...

2018 Compensation Best Practices Report: Enterprise Edition

How Enterprise Organizations Are Approaching Compensation This Year With the unemployment rate at a near-historic low – the lowest it has been since 1969 – businesses large and small are having to work harder and smarter to find more innovative ways to stand out from the competition in terms of recruitment; enterprise...

Four Awesome Bars You’ll Want To Check Out at Compference 2018

After a long day of comp learning and networking, you might want to treat yourself to a relaxing drink (or two). But not to worry – we’ve scouted the area and found a handful of the best local spots around Walt Disney World® Resort that you can walk or catch a quick...

LBGTQ_equality

LBGTQ_equality

7 Ways to Create a More Inclusive Workplace for LGBTQ Employees

June is traditionally the month in which we recognize and celebrate the contributions of the LGBTQ community throughout the year. It is also a time to reflect upon the injustices that have burdened the community throughout history. In this piece, we’ll take a look at how companies can promote a more inclusive...

Why Men Don`t Take Parental Leave (Even When Available)

It is widely known that women are systematically paid less than their male counterparts. In fact, women earn just 77.9 cents for every dollar earned by men. There are numerous theories as to what causes the wage gap, as well as numerous ideas of how to level the proverbial playing field. One...

Disney_world_compference18

Disney_world_compference18

5 Things To Do at Walt Disney World® Resort While You’re at Compference18

For many, Walt Disney World® Resort, Florida evokes memories of amusement park attractions, animated characters, and junk food galore. But did you know there are tons of other activities to explore at Walt Disney World® Resort, Florida? In addition to the classics – Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, etc. – here are...

Blog_Header_Compference18

Blog_Header_Compference18

Compference 2018 – Sneak Peek of Sessions

Whether you’re new to the compensation industry, a seasoned executive, or somewhere in between, there are a number of exciting sessions for you at Compference 2018. These sessions are not only informative, but will provide you with actionable advice you can put to work as soon as Compference is over. Here is...

Coaching

Coaching

How to Use Coaching To Skyrocket Employee Engagement

In this highly competitive labor market, skilled workers are leaving jobs faster than ever before. More than 70 percent of employees who are considering leaving their jobs say they must leave their current organization in order to advance their careers. PayScale’s own research on the drivers of employee engagement revealed that providing...

perks

perks

More Than Perks, Giving Employees What They Truly Need

Do trivial and unusual perks truly benefit employees? Or do they just ensure they never leave the office? We’ve all heard that it’s an employee’s market. With unemployment at a 17-year low of 4.1 percent, it’s harder than ever to attract and retain talent. As a result, companies often tout their perks...

Does Your Company Have Internal Equity?

At a time when people have easily accessible information at their fingertips, employers need to be able to explain their pay decisions now more than ever before. In 2009, President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, increasing the liability of employers to ensure equitable pay practices. Since then, numerous high-profile...