ForConstructionPros.com

Last month we looked at three "considerations" about how and why workers are paid: They wouldn't work for you if they weren't paid, they'll work for whomever pays them the most, and how they get paid is important. The gist of last month's article was to lay out some of the reasons you might consider setting up a flexible compensation process that can be adjusted for each employee.

This month we'll look at how such a flexible process could work and why it might be an advantage to your company.

First, you're right in thinking that using a flexible compensation process will require extra attention and extra work. Being flexible with your pay methods, providing a different compensation system for each employee, will initially require a little more flexibility and paperwork for you and your bookkeeper. However, tailoring more of how you pay your employees may help you to use money in a more motivational manner.

It would be nice if we could simply say that everyone in the company is going to be paid by the hourly rate ... period! And while many contractors continue to pay their employees all off of the same method, why not consider matching how you pay to the needs and desires of your employees?

Let me briefly share another method of payment that is gaining some attention in the construction industry. It is one that pavement maintenance contractors should seriously consider.