Choosing the right pay delivery system can make the difference between success and failure. That choice is not as easy as it once was. MBL approaches compensation design from a total compensation perspective. We understand the importance of looking beyond base pay and into employee benefits, incentive pay and other alternative reward strategies. We know how critical it is to communicate pay programs in a way that leverages the effectiveness of those programs. Pay delivery systems will touch every part of the organization from the culture, productivity and morale to the fundamentals of profitability.

Despite the growth of new compensation strategies, base pay programs remain the foundation that we must build on. For many companies, base wages represents the largest budget item. Controlling that expense while maintaining a competitive wage structure is easier said than done. We have extensive experience in designing creative solutions to age-old problems. MBL will conduct a market analysis and compare positions internally for equity. We design salary structures that enable clients to implement base wage controls. MBL will also design a pay delivery mechanism that fits the organization.

One key to a strong compensation program is the availability of solid market data. MBL maintains a library of local, regional and national salary surveys in a wide range of industries. If the data we need is not available in the published surveys, MBL will design custom salary surveys to target specific jobs, industries or locations. MBL has been very successful, as an objective third party, in getting cooperation from competitors in sharing sensitive salary data.

Never before has incentive pay played such a crucial role in business success. Controlling fixed costs through a sound base pay strategy is only half of the solution. Most organizations are looking for ways to tie pay to performance, placing more pay "at risk." There are few off-the-shelf solutions to compensation. It is critical that an incentive plan be linked to your business objectives. MBL has designed incentive plans in a wide range of industries including technology, manufacturing, service and retail. Our expertise includes commission, short and long-term bonus and profit share plans.

Even the best compensation programs will fail in the absence of a well-planned communication program. Compensation plans are designed to reward and motivate employees. It is imperative that every manager and supervisor understands not only the mechanics of the program but the philosophical foundations if they are to administer the program day to day. The employees involved in the program need to know how the new plan will affect them directly. Some of the best-designed programs succumb to the skepticism of employees who don't understand the changes and expect the worst. MBL will design a training and communication program that increases the likelihood that a program will be successful.