Are You Paid What You're Worth? (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Most people think that the surest way to increase their compensation is to complain about it..." (more)
Key Phrases: variable compensation plans, target bonus, total cash compensation, Broad Bands, Wall Street Journal, Social Security (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In this age of downsizing, paycuts, and shrinking health-care contributions, employees on all rungs of the corporate ladder are increasingly baffled by company pay structures, benefits packages, and bonus plans. What might look like a nice raise on the surface often translates into a virtual pay cut when all the components are figured in. And what's more, until now, employers have had a monopoly on the knowledge of how these systems actually work, leaving employees virtually defenseless.

Now, in Are You Paid What You're Worth?, long-time corporate insider and compensation consultant Michael O'Malley exposes the inner workings of compensation systems and provides a specific formula that allows anyone--from the cubicle-dweller up to the CEO--to determine his or her own competitive worth. Packed with practical tips and strategies, and spiced with real-life examples from big-name companies, Are You Paid What You're Worth? arms you with the information, confidence, and strategies you need to:

Compute the overall market worth of your job

Increase your base salary, or negotiate a salary at a new job

Improve your chances of receiving bonuses and other cash/non-cash awards

Know the pros and cons of different equity plans, and what to look for in company benefits

Increase the total compensation package you receive from your employer

From the Inside Flap

In this age of downsizing, paycuts, and shrinking health-care contributions, employees on all rungs of the corporate ladder are increasingly baffled by company pay structures, benefits packages, and bonus plans.  What might look like a nice raise on the surface often translates into a virtual pay cut when all the components are figured in.  And what's more, until now, employers have had a monopoly on the knowledge of how these systems actually work, leaving employees virtually defenseless.

Now, in Are You Paid What You're Worth?, long-time corporate insider and compensation consultant Michael O'Malley exposes the inner workings of compensation systems and provides a specific formula that allows anyone--from the cubicle-dweller up to the CEO--to determine his or her own competitive worth.  Packed with practical tips and strategies, and spiced with real-life examples from big-name companies, Are You Paid What You're Worth? arms you with the information, confidence, and strategies you need to:

Compute the overall market worth of your job
Increase your base salary, or negotiate a salary at a new job
Improve your chances of receiving bonuses and other cash/non-cash awards
Know the pros and cons of different equity plans, and what to look for in company benefits
Increase the total compensation package you receive from your employer

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Broadway; 1st edition (May 18, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767901312
• ISBN-13: 978-0767901314
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,534,297 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Does not teach Salary Negotiation or Strategy, February 21, 2001

By A Customer

In general, this book provides information of how salary schedules and bonuses are determined. In addition, it describes a rather complicated, subjective process of how to determine what your salary should be, but later states that you cannot walk into your bosses office with this information and ask for a raise. There is some information, albeit very brief, of how to prepare for a job performance review and how to ask for a signing bonus with a potential future company, but most of it is common sense.

If you wish to learn how companies set up salary schedules and the like, read this book. However, if like me, you'd rather learn how to negotiate a better salary and benefits with your current or a future company, I'd recommend reading 'Get More Money on Your Next Job..' by Lee Miller.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You'll be armed with information, December 8, 1999

By	"vic123" (Providence, RI) - See all my reviews

Salary negotiation usually makes people nervous, but with this book even the most nervous person can feel educated and confident. O'Malley lays bare the mysterious inner-workings of salary grades and pay ranges. And he throws in the occasional anecdote to give concepts some life. The book's cover statement - "The Book Your Company Doesn't Want You to Read" - is not an idle boast.

13 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb survey of compensation practices;empowering must-read, January 18, 2000

By	Vikram Chiruvolu (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This is a brilliant distillation of the quagmire of complexity surrounding all forms of pay-for-work. And it is a very pragmatic book, based upon decades of field-work of an obviously gifted psychologist. It will empower you in a number of ways: (a) you will get paid what you're worth; (b) you will learn where you are on the continuum of workers economy-wide; (c) the astute reader will come away with concrete ideas about where he needs to grow himself to move to the next level professionally; (d) hiring managers and HR professionals will learn to use compensation as a tool for corporate continuity and growth (e) executives and management consultants will likely be provoked to reconceptualize and restructure compensation strategies toward proactively achieving enterprise-wide buyin toward the shared mission of the firm.