The challenge

Com-Tec is a privately held company located in Appleton, Wisconsin, that designs custom security and building-automation systems for the detention market. Wipfli first assisted Com-Tec in October of 1999 in reconstructing an existing base compensation plan that had become obsolete as the foundation for making all salary decisions. The plan needed to be revisited and updated.

The strategy

Wipfli ensured that job descriptions accurately reflected current roles and responsibilities, as they served as the basis for internal and external equity evaluation.

• Examined the relative value of each position within the organization
• Conducted a comparative analysis of market salary data to determine external pay equity, using high-quality, published wage-survey data as a basis for analysis
• Integrated the internal and external equity analysis reports to determine the suggested salary ranges for positions within Com-Tec 

After finalizing the salary ranges, a comparative ratio analysis was conducted on every position to determine whether individuals filling the roles were adequately compensated. Recommendations for market and individual adjustments were made and financial impact discussed. 

The results

A workable program was created for Com-Tec to assist the company in the administration of its compensation practices by taking into consideration both internal and external equity issues. Com-Tec was provided with a detailed report, various spreadsheets, compensation manual, and a disk containing all of the work enabling them to make annual updates to the materials.