GreatWork Blog

Building better workplaces through compliance, culture, connection

Are you an Oregon or Washington employer looking to attract and retain top talent? In today's competitive job market, offering a strong benefits package is crucial. But how do you know if your benefits are keeping pace with industry standards?

Here's where our 2024 Northwest Employee Benefits Survey comes in!

Congratulations on your promotion to supervisor! Leading a team can be incredibly rewarding, but it also presents unique challenges, especially when you're now managing former colleagues or even friends.  At Cascade Employers Association, we understand that transition can be daunting. That's why we created a dynamic blended learning experience designed to empower you to excel in your new supervisory role.

“We can’t afford to give you a pay increase this year.”

“Your work performance hasn’t met expectations, so you aren’t receiving a salary increase this year.”

These are hard messages, both to deliver and receive. Many times, we keep constructive feedback, “bad news,” and other information to ourselves because we are concerned about navigating the potential reaction(s) others may have about what we share.

We ask ourselves questions like “will I make things worse?” or “what if it negatively affects our relationship?” Discomfort and challenging emotions can rise in the acute moment when the interaction occurs. In the long-term, it may be just the message they needed.

Salaried, hourly, non-exempt, exempt, salaried non-exempt, exempt hourly, goodness gracious!

These are common terms in the world of compensation, but what do they mean?

These phrases are used to explain the frequency and form of payment for work performed. Different combinations of exempt, non-exempt, salaried, and hourly can be partnered together based on the nature of the job’s duties. All in all, it can be very confusing!

Sometimes summer school isn’t such a bad thing.  We’re so excited that Cascade’s new Summer Training Catalog is here! While it may not feel like a vacation, taking the time to invest in your personal and professional development just might leave you feeling refreshed!

Shape the future of work by participating in Cascade’s second quarterly HR Trends Survey of 2024. This vital survey gathers insights on critical workplace issues impacting the workplace.

Perspective taking, the capacity to see the world from another person's viewpoint, has emerged as a crucial skill in creating inclusive and thriving work environments. This ability to see the world from another's viewpoint has far-reaching implications for success within diverse professional settings.

Equal Pay Day is the date in the year that symbolizes how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned in the previous year. Equal Pay Day was originated by the National Committee on Pay Equity in 1996 as a public awareness event to illustrate the gap between men's and women's wages. This year, Equal Pay Day in the United States was on March 12, 2024, two days earlier than last year.

In the realm of professional development, the terms "coaching" and "mentoring" are frequently used interchangeably. While both practices involve supporting individuals in their personal and professional growth journeys, they differ significantly in several key aspects. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for leaders and individuals seeking to optimize their workplace experiences.

Wondering where Cascade’s Regional Pay Survey is? It’s been upgraded and replaced. We started this transition last fall and now is the time to participate in our new online compensation platform, Payscale Peer.

On February 27th, the Oregon State Legislature passed Senate Bill 1515A, which makes changes to Paid Leave Oregon (PLO) and the Oregon Family Leave Act (OFLA). Governor Kotek is expected to sign the bill into law soon.

Since PLO went into effect, there has been a lot of overlap between PLO and OFLA, which has resulted in Oregon employees being able to stack leaves, amongst many other challenges and frustrations for employers. SB 1515A seeks to simplify and minimize such overlap by making several changes, including eliminating many provisions under OFLA.

While great strides have been made in the advancement of women, challenges remain. A 2023 Women in the Workplace report from McKinsey and LeanIn shows that representation of women has increased at the C-suite and senior executive levels from 17 to 28% since 2015. Unfortunately, however, progress is lagging at the manager and director levels. Without increased representation of women at lower levels of leadership, the pipeline will not support continued growth at the top.

Recently, there have been several articles published proclaiming that DEI training is not effective and doesn’t make a difference in the workplace. Some articles even state that diversity training can backfire, eliciting defensiveness from the very people who might benefit most. And even when the training is beneficial, the effects may not last after the training ends. Unfortunately, these articles only tell part of the story. I agree that DEI training can be very ineffective if It’s not done in the proper context. 

Cascade is excited to have successfully launched our new compensation platform Payscale Peer last fall and we are happy to announce our spring participation period is about to begin. If you’ve previously participated in Cascade’s Regional Pay survey, now is the time to register and submit your data for Payscale Peer as this replaces our Regional Pay Survey in 2024.

Total rewards, at a high level, divide into two categories:  1) direct compensation (i.e., salary), and 2) indirect compensation (i.e., benefits, schedule, training, development, etc.). These two pieces work together to provide rewards to employees for performing work on behalf of the organization, and ideally motivate them to continue working toward the organization's goals.

In the dynamic landscape of leadership, conflicts are inevitable. Whether it's differences in opinions, conflicting goals, or personal clashes, leaders must possess the skills to navigate disagreements with grace and finesse. Successful conflict resolution not only strengthens team cohesion but also fosters an environment of trust and productivity. In this article, we explore key strategies that leaders can employ to address conflicts effectively and maintain a harmonious work environment.

Even though it has been many years, I remember very clearly how I felt when I accepted my first promotion to become a manager.  I felt like I was on top of the world!  I could face any challenge, solve any problem, overcome any obstacle, conquer any foe; well, you get the picture.  I rode that sense of accomplishment and invincibility for a bit with nothing but high hopes, grand ideas, and the lion's share of practical experience as an individual contributor on my side. 

Elevate your leadership in this highly anticipated blended learning opportunity which combines synchronous and asynchronous learning. This series is designed specifically for emerging leaders who are navigating the exciting transition from being a peer and stepping into a supervisory role. Registration is now open!

2023 was another rollercoaster ride of challenges and triumphs for employers, and we want to hear how your journey with us has positively impacted you and your organization. During the month of January, 2024, we invite you to share your Google Business review of Cascade.