Human Resources
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- 16 Jul 2018
- Research & Ideas
Kids of Working Moms Grow into Happy Adults
In earlier research, Kathleen McGinn and colleagues discovered that adult kids of working moms are high achievers at work. Now it turns out they are happy, too. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 06 Jun 2018
- Research & Ideas
Cut Salaries or Cut People? The Best Way to Survive a Downturn
When times are tight, companies usually respond with employee layoffs. But what if they held on to workers and cut their salaries instead? New research by Christopher Stanton and colleagues has the answer. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 04 Jun 2018
- What Do You Think?
Are There Conditions Under Which Directors Should Consider Hiring a CEO Fired Elsewhere for Inappropriate Behavior?
SUMMING UP: Executives fired fairly or unfairly over worker violence and harassment charges are about to seek new jobs. James Heskett's readers have widely divergent beliefs about whether they should ever be considered for new posts. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 29 Apr 2018
- Working Paper Summaries
Analyzing the Aftermath of a Compensation Reduction
This study of the effects of compensation cuts in a large sales organization provides a unique lens for analyzing the link between compensation schemes, worker performance, and turnover.
- 25 Apr 2018
- Research & Ideas
We May Have Taken Too Much Credit for Easing Workplace Segregation
Racial integration of American businesses hasn't improved much despite 40 years of trying. Rembrand Koning discusses the unexpected reason why. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 09 Apr 2018
- Sharpening Your Skills
The Dark Side of Performance Bonuses
To motivate workers, employers often turn to incentives such as money or recognition. What's become clear is that these programs can also result in unintended consequences—like a financial crisis. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 26 Mar 2018
- Research & Ideas
To Motivate Employees, Give an Unexpected Bonus (or Penalty)
Susanna Gallani finds that employees can be more motivated by the anticipation of a reward or punishment than the actual payoff. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 05 Feb 2018
- What Do You Think?
Should Companies Disclose Employee Compensation?
SUMMING UP Do you want your salary broadcast on the company website? James Heskett's readers debate the value of corporate transparency on compensation. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 22 Jan 2018
- Sharpening Your Skills
Why You Are Unhappy at Work
Sometimes the deck is stacked against you at work. Learn more about how you can overcome toxic co-workers, paycheck blues, and a job set up for failure. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 17 Jan 2018
- Research & Ideas
If the CEO’s High Salary Isn't Justified to Employees, Firm Performance May Suffer
Researcher Ethan Rouen discovers that rank-and-file employees understand the boss deserves a big salary, but only when the number is fully explained. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 10 Jan 2018
- Research & Ideas
Working for a Shamed Company Can Hurt Your Future Compensation
People who work for a company guilty of malfeasance may see their future compensation curtailed, even if they are guilty of nothing, according to research by Boris Groysberg, Eric Lin, and George Serafeim. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 04 Jan 2018
- Cold Call Podcast
How to Monetize Happiness
Is there a business model around happiness? Hitachi believes that a happy employee is a productive one, and is investing in "happiness sensors" to prove the connection. Ethan Bernstein explains why in this podcast. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 18 Dec 2017
- Op-Ed
Why Employers Must Stop Requiring College Degrees For Middle-Skill Jobs
Employers are guilty of "degree inflation," requiring lofty academic bona fides for jobs that don't really need them. Joseph Fuller says the practice is hurting American competitiveness. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 06 Dec 2017
- Working Paper Summaries
Does Financial Misconduct Affect the Future Compensation of Alumni Managers?
Analyzing data from an executive search firm, this paper explains how former employees who are free from wrongdoing still pay a price in stigma after incidents of corporate financial misconduct. The finding is potentially disquieting for all managers, because it suggests that one’s human capital can be impaired even long after one moves on and suggests the need for developing a human capital strategy for reacting to misconduct of past employers.
- 14 Sep 2017
- Op-Ed
Op-Ed: Google Engineer Deserved to be Fired by the CEO
Was Google CEO Sundar Pichai right to fire engineer James Damore after his condemnation of the company's diversity initiatives? Of course, answers Bill George; treating colleagues as gender stereotypes rather than as individuals poisons the workplace. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 11 Sep 2017
- Research & Ideas
Why Employers Favor Men
Why are women discriminated against in hiring decisions? Research by Katherine Coffman, Christine Exley, and Muriel Niederle finds the answer is more subtle than expected. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 11 Aug 2017
- Working Paper Summaries
Rethinking Measurement of Pay Disparity and Its Relation to Firm Performance
Among this paper’s contributions is evidence that different types of pay disparity matter in different ways to firm employees, and that disparity created by pay that is unrelated to the economics of the firm negatively impacts employee satisfaction, with consequences for firm performance. The paper also gives investors and proxy advisors a roadmap to interpret pay ratios and pay disparity. This roadmap may help regulators and firms to, respectively, mandate and prepare more informative disclosures.
- 02 Aug 2017
- What Do You Think?
Summing Up: Why Can’t Organizations Engage Their Employees?
Who is responsible for generating employee engagement? The employee, or the employee's managers? Readers of this month's James Heskett column have a lot to say on the issue. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 12 May 2017
- Working Paper Summaries
Equality and Equity in Compensation
Why do some firms such as technology startups offer the same equity compensation packages to all new employees despite very different cash salaries? This paper presents evidence that workers dislike inequality in equity compensation more than salary compensation because of the perceived scarcity of equity.
How Much Does Your Boss Make? The Effects of Salary Comparisons
This study of more than 2,000 employees at a multibillion dollar firm explores how perceptions about peers’ and managers’ salaries affect employee behaviors and preferences for equity. Employees exhibit a high tolerance for inequality when job titles differ, which may explain why incentives are granted through promotions, and gender pay differences are most pronounced across positions.