Question

In: Operations Management

Some employers pay their workers with a hybrid compensation program which is composed of a flat...

Some employers pay their workers with a hybrid compensation program which is composed of a flat salary plus incentive pay. For example, a pharmaceutical sales associate may be paid a base salary of $2,000 per month plus a 10% commission on their sales. The compensation scheme can be altered by offering more incentive for the workers (e.g., a lower base salary and a higher commission) or more safety and fairness for workers (e.g., a higher base salary and a lower commission). A hybrid pay scheme may overcome some of the drawbacks of incentive pay.

Suppose a firm uses sales teams to market their products. For example, a construction equipment manufacturer may assign three sales agents to a team so each team member can specialize in particular product functions (e.g., mechanical systems, electronic systems, and software systems). What are the potential drawbacks of hybrid pay for firms that employ sales teams? What are the drawbacks of hybrid pay for the members of the sales teams? Can we alter the hybrid scheme to overcome these drawbacks?

Solutions

Expert Solution

The Hybrid pay system has following drawback:

  • Pay may become out of control = If the sales agent do exceedingly well on the ground, it can be beneficial for the firm but on the other hand, the high commission charges may bring down the profit % and they may be paid very high
  • Short term focus = In case of high component of commission, the sales agent prefer to focus on current goal of meeting the target and delivering number. It may result in some unhealthy practice which may be negative for the business
  • It can lead to motivation issue beyond a point as sales person do not feel connected with the firm. This may lower their morale and motivation to work. In case company doesn't spend on marketing, it may be very challenging for sales agent to sell

Yes, some drawbacks can be overcome by:

  • Having a cap on maximum amount that can be earned by sales agent
  • The company should support the sales agent during down phase of economy as sales may be low. This will help them to have higher morale
  • Training session should be organized to help agent have wider understanding and focus of business

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