Nearly half of US workers in Paychex survey have raised pay equity concerns

Dive Brief:

Nearly half of employees said they have expressed concerns that their current pay did not line up with that of other employees in similar roles, a new Paychex survey of more than 700 full-time employees revealed. More than 90% of workers in each age group said they think it's important for an organization to be socially responsible, and just as workers want their employers to show responsibility outward, the survey showed they also expect the same responsibility within the organizations.
About a third of respondents said the most difficult part of making annual benefit elections is keeping track of changes within the plan. Slightly fewer (28%) said the challenge lies within evaluating the providers and plan options. More than half of respondents said they feel confident in how much they have saved for retirement, but a quarter of those added that this confidence depends on Social Security.
Almost three-quarters of employees polled said they expect employers to provide technology that allows them to accomplish routine HR tasks such as updating addresses, filling out tax forms and reporting hours. Slightly more people (85%) said such technologies should provide a "simple, intuitive user experience."

Dive Insight:

The findings from Paychex's survey fall in line with other recent research. A recent MetLife poll revealed 70% of respondents said they think their companies should address societal problems — a seven-point increase from 2017. For those organizations that excel at sharing their corporate social responsibility efforts with consumers and candidates alike, their work can serve as a boon to their business and recruiting efforts, another survey showed.

Respondents to LinkedIn's Global Talent Trends 2019 report ranked pay transparency as one of the four trends driving change in the workplace this year. The HR industry has seen quite a bit of activity surrounding this topic recently. Workers vocal about pay disparities, which often fall along gender and race lines, have prompted leaders to be more transparent about compensation practices. To maintain the employee confidence over pay, employers might want to review their practices, perform audits and flag and correct any unfair disparities as necessary.

As for benefits, research seems to encourage employers to take a proactive role. Automatic enrollment in retirement benefits has proved itself a useful tool for employers and employees alike. One study found employees spend 30 minutes or less reading open enrollment materials; early and frequent communication about benefits from employers can help employees make informed decisions.

And finally, the respondents' desire for useable, useful tech not only confirms the research that has found employees, dragged down by busy work, are requesting tools that will free them up, but also accompanies surveys that have revealed companies lacking up-to-date technology have a harder time competing for talent.