http://www.watsonwyatt.com Latest Watson Wyatt Compensation Articles and News en-us Copyright 2012 Watson Wyatt Worldwide http://backend.userland.com/rss091 2/7/2012 1:53:36 AM 20 Most mature companies across all industries want more business from their existing customers. To that end, many sales executives embark upon a mission to find the secret to successful cross-selling. Unfortunately, many start the journey by exploring their sales compensation plans, believing that insufficient motivation prevents their sales forces from expanding customer share. They often juice up their compensation programs, hoping that will provide the right incentive for cross-selling. [GLOBAL]http://www.watsonwyatt.com/search/parser.asp?ID=22811Employers could inadvertently create pensions tax relief problems for employees if they bring forward bonuses into the current tax year, warns Watson Wyatt. [EUROPE]http://www.watsonwyatt.com/search/parser.asp?ID=22763In an effort to tie compensation more closely to long-term performance and appropriate competitive levels, Special Master for TARP Executive Compensation Kenneth R. Feinberg has directed companies that received exceptional Troubled Asset Relief Program assistance to cut compensation for top executives by an average of 50 percent. While the pay cuts apply to only seven firms, the levels and structures could become a template for compensation at other financial institutions that participate in TARP. Feinberg also clarified that these firms are subject to the same corporate governance provisions that apply to other TARP recipients, including say-on-pay votes, clawbacks, compensation consultant disclosures, risk reviews, perquisite disclosures, prohibition on tax gross-ups and chief executive officer/chief financial officer certifications. [UNITED STATES]http://www.watsonwyatt.com/search/parser.asp?ID=22691Watson Wyatt recently completed its third annual analysis of stock option valuation assumptions and results under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 123(R). From 2007 to 2008, the percentage of companies disclosing option fair values decreased from 73 percent to 72 percent. The median percentage increase in stock compensation expense from 2007 to 2008 was 2.4 percent. [UNITED STATES]http://www.watsonwyatt.com/search/parser.asp?ID=22736On October 22, 2009, the European Court of Justice pronounced in support of the overall parental leave framework by ruling in favor of an employee who claimed that compensation for dismissal should be based on full salary, rather than the reduced pay being received while the employee was on parental leave. [EUROPE]http://www.watsonwyatt.com/search/parser.asp?ID=22809Workmen's compensation has been increased effective November 6, 2009. As a result, insurance companies have announced that they may raise employer contributions. [ARGENTINA]http://www.watsonwyatt.com/search/parser.asp?ID=22818Senior executives are sharing the pain of the recession felt by shareholders and other employees, with typically only finance directors receiving pay increases, according to Watson Wyatt's 2009 Executive Reward Survey. [EUROPE]http://www.watsonwyatt.com/search/parser.asp?ID=22723Chief executive officers at the nation’s largest companies saw the value of their company stock ownership plunge last year as the U.S. equities market declined, according to Watson Wyatt’s 2009/2010 Report on Executive Pay. [UNITED STATES]http://www.watsonwyatt.com/search/parser.asp?ID=22814As Canadian companies prepare for the economic recovery, many expect to reverse hiring and salary freezes in the coming months, according to Watson Wyatt, a leading global consulting firm. While companies cautiously anticipate improving business results, many firms remain concerned about the impact of the recession on their ability to attract and retain workers. [CANADA - ENGLISH]http://www.watsonwyatt.com/search/parser.asp?ID=22699Les entreprises canadiennes se préparent à la reprise économique et bon nombre d’entre elles prévoient annuler le gel des embauches ou des salaires au cours des mois qui viennent, selon Watson Wyatt, chef de file mondial en matière de services conseils. Tandis que des entreprises anticipent avec prudence l’amélioration de leurs résultats, un grand nombre restent préoccupées par l’incidence de la récession sur leur capacité d’attirer et de fidéliser la main-d’œuvre. [CANADA - FRENCH]http://www.watsonwyatt.com/search/parser.asp?ID=22702WASHINGTON, D.C., November 12, 2009 — Chief executive officers at the nation’s largest companies saw the value of their company stock ownership plunge last year as the U.S. equities market declined, according to an annual study by Watson Wyatt, a leading global consulting firm. [UNITED STATES]http://www.watsonwyatt.com/search/parser.asp?ID=22682Watson Wyatt has published an analysis estimating the volume of end-of-service benefit (ESB) obligations for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states. According to various scenarios analyzed, GCC employers could face an ESB liability ranging from USD 14.9 to USD 15.7 billion, depending on their employee turnover rate and service profiles. This represents over 20 percent of the wage bill in the region. [MIDDLE EAST]http://www.watsonwyatt.com/search/parser.asp?ID=22645Approximately half of the companies that froze salaries and hiring in the past year now plan to unfreeze them in the next six months, according to the latest update to an ongoing series of surveys by Watson Wyatt on the effect of the economy on HR programs. [UNITED STATES]http://www.watsonwyatt.com/search/parser.asp?ID=22626The Federal Reserve has issued proposed regulations that would set "clear expectations" for banking organizations concerning their incentive compensation arrangements and related risk management and governance processes. [UNITED STATES]http://www.watsonwyatt.com/search/parser.asp?ID=22648Approximately half of the companies that froze salaries and hiring in the past year now plan to unfreeze them in the next six months, according to the latest update to an ongoing series of surveys by Watson Wyatt, a leading global consulting firm. Nevertheless, employers remain concerned about their ability, both currently and in the long run, to attract and retain critical-skill employees. [UNITED STATES]http://www.watsonwyatt.com/search/parser.asp?ID=22602To standardize the criteria of tax collection and ensure a fair taxation system, the State Administration on Tax clarified the regime on individual income tax in September 2009 by releasing a series of regulations. [CHINA]http://www.watsonwyatt.com/search/parser.asp?ID=22623Effective October 1, 2009, employers’ total social security contributions are required to be paid gradually, within three fiscal years from the company’s incorporation. [URUGUAY]http://www.watsonwyatt.com/search/parser.asp?ID=22649Effective September 19, 2009, male workers are entitled to four consecutive paid days off when their wife or partner gives birth. [PERU]http://www.watsonwyatt.com/search/parser.asp?ID=22650The new Social Security Contribution Code, which was published on September 16, 2009, will bring about significant changes to the determination of earnings that are subject to social security contributions. The new taxable base will include several types of allowances and expenses, such as travel allowances and representation costs (if predetermined). [PORTUGAL]http://www.watsonwyatt.com/search/parser.asp?ID=22625WASHINGTON, D.C., October 6, 2009 — Despite the impending economic recovery, most U.S. companies are not planning to restore executive pay cuts or freezes made during the economic crisis in the next six months, according to a new survey by Watson Wyatt, a leading global consulting firm. As they prepare for continuing increased public scrutiny of executive pay, many are avoiding further short-term changes and focusing instead on longer-term shifts toward better pay-for-performance and assessing their compensation programs within the new context of risk management. [UNITED STATES]http://www.watsonwyatt.com/search/parser.asp?ID=22449