The secret reason you got that raise
Think back to the last time you received an adjustment to your compensation. Were you told that it was because of your performance? Or that it was because you “exceeded expectations” in 360 peer reviews? Did you assume that HR applied deliberate math, sound methodologies and calibrated results fairly and consistently across the organization to reach those conclusions?
For many organizations, there’s a secret about this process. Your manager — or the HR department, for that matter — probably can’t explain, let alone demonstrate with data and sound analysis, the factors that determined your change in pay. Here’s what’s likely really going on.
Most companies want to reward their better-performing employees with more compensation. Along with years of relevant experience, location and tenure, performance is among the most common criteria companies use to determine who gets paid more than other comparable employees.
But most of the time, the scary truth is this: Managers use their discretion and subjectively value performance differently. Why? Because they are human. And most companies lack the fundamental tools to know whether their pay policies are operating as intended.
As a labor and employment law attorney and data scientist, I’ve seen firsthand how companies mostly operate in the dark when it comes to consistently and fairly applying pay policies.
Good policies are foundational to fair pay
Effective pay policies should be fair, consistent and unbiased, and they should adequately incentivize intended behaviors and outcomes. They need to be defensible in a court of law. They should align with what companies have communicated to their employees, managers and executives.
When pay policies are implemented inconsistently (like when some managers place more weight or not as much weight on educational attainment) or based on biased data (like policies that statistically inure a benefit to one group over another), they can inadvertently become one of the biggest drivers of pay disparities.
That means that every time your organization changes compensation, it could be exacerbating the problems. And those problems are more than increased legal risk. They include hits to retention, engagement, productivity, morale and overall brand.
As more companies focus on improving fairness in the workplace to help address systemic inequality, employees deserve more transparency. They should be able to know that if an employer says they pay for performance, they actually are doing so and consistently.
Companies also deserve better tools to quickly and dynamically analyze compensation data and know with certainty whether their strategy is working as intended — or if not, how to fix it.
Data spotlights hidden gaps in pay policies
Many leaders have theories on how their pay policies are working, but few have the tools to know for sure. This is because traditionally, companies look to law firms and consultants to conduct pay equity analyses, and few are able to meaningfully and dynamically examine pay policies because it is slow, static and costly.
So when leaders do get a chance to look under the hood, the data is illuminating.
When a major insurance company recently began its pay equity analysis, leaders wanted to account for only one pay policy: performance rating. But as they looked at their data using the right tools, they realized performance ratings were not explaining variation in compensation much at all.
This finding led the team to think differently about pay policies and apply a much more nuanced approach. Now, they are using nine policies to determine how employees get paid in a much more consistent and fair way.
Another company that held itself out as a pay-for-performance organization found that it was anything but. Once their team examined pay data using the right tools, they realized their performance ratings system favored men.
Across the company, performance scores had little relationship to determining pay. And in one group, they found employees were being paid less for higher performance ratings.
By seeing the actual impact of their policies on compensation, they were able to address the root causes that were creating unfairness and focus on the factors that truly influenced pay. Again, the key to transformative change is having the right tools in place.
As more companies turn to software that enables them to meaningfully, consistently and dynamically evaluate pay policies, leaders are finally gaining a pulse on how decisions about pay impact fairness in the workplace. It’s no longer acceptable for employers to be in the dark when it comes to whether pay policies are working as designed in today’s culture of workplace transparency.
By using the right technology, companies can finally hold a mirror up to their compensation strategies so both employees and employers can be confident that policies are driving valid differences in pay and incentivizing intended behaviors and outcomes, and are not biased or contributing to inequity in organizations.
As a labor and employment law attorney and data scientist, I’ve seen firsthand how companies mostly operate in the dark when it comes to consistently and fairly applying pay policies.
As hotel experts, we’ve stayed in thousands of luxury hotels around the globe, allowing us to see all the big and little ways hotels make their spaces luxe and opulent. While you probably can’t live in a five-star hotel, you can make some upgrades and changes to give your home the feeling of some of our favorite luxury properties.
Upgrade your mattress:
The centerpiece and most important furnishing in any hotel room is the bed, and the foundation of that is the mattress. If you don’t have a comfortable mattress that finds the perfect balance between firmness and softness, chances are you won’t be getting a restful night’s sleep. Given that mattresses last for several years, they’re worth the investment. Although Westin has their signature Heavenly Beds and Hilton uses Serta mattresses, we’re hard-pressed to find a mattress better than the TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt by Tempur-Pedic. This model has multiple layers with comfort and cooling ability in mind, plus a memoryfoam mattress that adapts to your body shape. It comes in firm or soft, and like all Tempur-Pedic mattresses, it has a free 90-day trial.
Switch out your bedding:
Hotel sheets are renowned for being soft, crisp and durable. Luxury linen brands such as Frette and Sferra are popular choices for many hotel brands, but their high price point puts them out of reach for many buyers. Looking for a good dupe? Since Brooklinen was founded in 2014, it’s been a major supplier of luxury hotel-quality sheets at a fraction of the price of competitors. The chic-looking 100-percent linens keep sleepers warm on cold nights and cool on warm nights. Multiple colors are available, but we love the clean and crisp classic hotel white.
Play music on a portable speaker:
Walk into any luxury hotel room these days, and you’ll undoubtedly see (and likely hear) some type of music player by the bed. Whether to listen to upbeat music while getting ready for a night out on the town, or calming white noise while soaking in the bathtub, portable speakers have become the preferred swap for the previously ubiquitous radio alarm clocks. Undoubtedly, the most common are Bose speakers — as seen at the Dorado Beach A Ritz-Carlton Reserve — as they offer stellar sound and easy connectivity in a small, portable, affordable package. For your house, we recommend the Bose SoundLink Color Bluetooth Speaker, which can be easily carried from room to room, and even synced up with other speakers for parties.
Get cozy with a new throw blanket:
We love things that can serve multiple functions, and a cozy, luxurious throw blanket can do just that. It acts as a cozy wrap when it’s chilly and as an elegant decoration when draped across a chair or edge of the bed. Whether you’re using it while curling up with a book or yourpartner, or displaying it as a statement piece, the Connecticut Home Company’s Luxury Faux Fur with Reversible Sherpa Throw Blanket is the perfect home edition. It’s under $40, large, and has 4.7 stars and more than 2,000 ratings on Amazon, plus there are a dozen colors to choose from. Go full white or faux fur for a glam luxury hotel look at home.
Sleep in a pitch-black room:
Even if you choose to sleep with an eye mask, nothing can create a dark, sleep-inducing environment better than blackout curtains. Most luxury hotels, like the JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa, know the importance of pitchblack sleeping conditions, and ensure not even a crack of light makes it into your hotel room once shades are pulled. If you want to do the same in your home without spending a fortune, the NICETOWN Thermal Insulated Grommet Blackout Curtains for Bedrooms are the way to go. With 15,000 reviews on Amazon, it’s clear these curtains are winners, especially as they are noise-reducing and insulating against summer and winter temperatures.
Light a signature scent:
If you’ve stayed at hotels such as The Miami Beach EDITION or The St. Regis New York, you’ve likely noticed a distinct smell wafting through the common areas. These properties, like many, have developed their own recognizable signature scent that creates a specific mood and atmosphere — not to mention it’s just pleasant for the guests.
While you don’t need to head to a fragrance-maker to create your own signature scent, you can buy candles that emit a pleasant scent that feels true to your home’s ambience. Plus, candles are an excellent decor item, especially Anthropologie’s Capri Blue Colossal Mercury Glass Candle, which has a striking iridescent jar and 250-hour burn time.
Drink from fancy glasses:
The minibars in mid-range hotels likely have a couple cans of soda, domestic beer and plastic bottled water. Yawn. Minibars in luxury hotels pull out all the stops with full-size wine and liquor bottles, locally made granola and candy, and kits for a romantic night, plus gorgeous crystal glasses for a sophisticated touch, like at the stunning Baccarat Hotel & Residences New York.
Follow their lead. No matter if you’re sipping a whiskey old-fashioned or hydrating with tap water, using a crystal glass will have you feeling like you’re drinking in a swish hotel bar. Available on Amazon, the Marquis by Waterford Markham Double Old-Fashioned Glasses is a chance to own famed
Fill your home with fresh flowers:
Enter any luxury hotel, and you’ll see a large centerpiece of professionally arranged flowers, or at least a lovely bouquet on the front desk. While seemingly a simple touch, having fresh flowers displayed in your home creates a touch of splendor, in addition to adding a lovely scent and visual focus. You could head every week or so to the nearest florist or grocery store, but we like to make things as simple as possible, so we’re endorsing BloomsyBox, a flower subscription service. The service includes handpicked flower bouquets delivered from sustainable farms around the globe, with weekly and monthly plans available across a few different cost categories.
Lounge in a comfy robe:
One of our favorite things about luxury hotel rooms is the cozy bathrobe for post-bath, lounging in bed, or just walking around without cumbersome clothes. Making coffee, reading a newspaper, or even doing work can all feel more relaxed and luxe while donning a soft robe. The Marlow Double-Face Fleece Robe by UGG is a favorite for its length, long sleeves and double-face fleece that makes it especially comfy. It has pockets and ties at the waist. Plus, it’s pretty. Upgrade your robe game.