Visit Township’s Website
The Logic Behind Transparent Compensation
Research shows that certain demographics are more likely to receive raises than others and some demographics suffer from ongoing bias that leads to a lower salary through the span of a career. Township makes a considerable effort to compensate all of its employees fairly. One of the most powerful tools a company can offer to ensure fair pay is by offering a transparent compensation structure.
Transparent Compensation at Township
Township offers transparency in the following ways:
What? | Why? |
Pay changes are considered on a set schedule only. Pay is evaluated each year during Q1 and Q3, with pay increases taking effect on 4/1 and 10/1. | This ensures that the responsibility doesn’t fall on the employee to ask for a raise, as some people are comfortable asking for raises frequently, while others aren’t comfortable at all. Raises on the same rhythm make it more likely that teammates receive similar increases over time. |
Compensation is set based on skill level, not tenure, years of experience, or education. | Township respects the wide range of backgrounds that may lead to a career with us. Some paths take longer than others, and all paths take a unique shape. Employee pay ranges are set using pay bands, meaning employees of equal levels are all receiving pay within a 15% pay range. Township does not make exceptions to these bands, allowing employees to be sure that no one on their team is receiving a secret exception to established pay bands. |
Compensation increases with growth, and growth is a major focus at Township. | Township makes every effort to ensure that its employees experience continuous growth. It’s the highest responsibility of our managers, and we’ve outlined growth opportunities in a way that allows employees to take ownership and chart their path in |
Management and individual contributors are compensated the same, even though the roles and responsibilities are quite different. | Traditional wisdom suggests that companies should promote their highest performers into management roles, regardless of their interest in or ability to be a manager. Township equalizes management and ICs in an effort to remove incentive from choosing one over the other. Both paths have a clear path set for them within Township, and contribute to the overall team success in important and unique ways. |
Philosophy
We value life work harmony for all at Township, which has been a guiding principle for designing our employment terms, including compensation. We have long given up on trying to compete with the salary offerings found in Big Tech, and in turn have designed a compensation structure that will afford our employees the opportunity to work a healthy and predictable set of hours most weeks. This formula also allows us to keep the business afloat long-term while still keeping pay competitive, coming in at above the US average (around the 60th percentile) for each role.
Additionally, Township offers a high level of compensation transparency. While individual salary numbers are not made available, all pay band data for every role at Township is made public.
The goals of Township’s compensation program are:
- To make salary decisions based on contributions, performance, and equity and budget considerations.
- To encourage and reward excellent performance with merit increases whenever possible.
- To reward significant growth when an employee has earned a level increase.
- To motivate employees by clarifying the link between performance and compensation.
Pay Bands
Township employees are evaluated for two salary increases per year during Q1 and Q3, with salary changes taking effect on 4/1 and 10/1. Salary bands are established per department, and each pay band has three “milestones,” Starting, Base, and Max.
- Township does not offer a standard raise amount or percentage year-to-year. Increases are informed by growth, performance, and budget.
- Salary may not fall outside of the min-max salary band for each level. There are no exceptions made.
- New hires must be employed by Township for longer than six months in order to be eligible to participate in a compensation review.
- Each career framework track has between 9 and 10 competencies and 6 levels.
- Department directors have an additional discretionary quarterly bonus structure.
- Automatic increases are not provided when structure is readjusted to an evolving market rate.
Pay Increase Guidelines
Employees are eligible for pay increases twice per year during Q1 and Q3 (and taking effect on 4/1 and 10/1). Pay increases can fall under two categories—merit increases and level increases—both of which are closely tied to an employee’s and .
Merit Increases
Merit increases occur when an employee is consistently performing exceptionally within their current level. Each pay band has three “milestones” to help pinpoint the range of your salary, and merit increases can occur anywhere between those milestones. The chart below describes the milestones of a single specific pay band, and what kind of performance is required to be in that range.
/w=1080,quality=90,fit=scale-down)
Range | Description | Career Framework Competencies | |
Starting | Represents 5% below Base pay up to Base pay | For employees who are new to the level and are gaining experience and skills to become more proficient in the position | Beginning to establish a track record of performance across most competencies |
Base | Represents 60% of the market rate for the position | A fully experienced employee might be paid at this rate | Consistent exceptional performance in 100% of competencies |
Max | Represents Base pay up to 10% above the Base pay | For employees who are performing above and beyond the expectations of their level | Consistent exceptional performance in 100% of competencies |
Level Increases
Level increases occur when an employee is promoted to the next level of their career track, wherein their salary will increase to the minimum of the new level’s pay band.
And don’t forget your level increase will come with a job title change! You can find that information here.
Documentation
Each performance review cycle, you will receive a “Bi-Annual Total Compensation Report” that outlines your most up to date total compensation. It will look like this:
Previous Period | Current Period | |
Quarters | ||
Level | ||
Job Title | ||
Cash Compensation | ||
Salary | ||
Performance bonus (directors) | ||
Retirement benefits | ||
Total | ||
Other Compensation | ||
Employer-paid insurance premiums | ||
Employer-paid HSA contribution | ||
Life First Work budget | ||
Education budget | ||
Total | ||
Total Compensation | ||
Total Compensation | ||
Paid time off (vacation) | ||
Paid time off (holiday) |