Even if it's taking less time, it's taking a greater toll: Compensation in the age of AI

As AI, machine-learning and other technologies become bigger parts of the everyday routine of many workers’ jobs, should the way they are paid be affected?

Further, how should that be determined, and who’s making the decisions? The legal field, where large sums of money are traditionally made through billable hours, has been eyeing the question for some time, as more firms use AI to cut down on time-consuming associate’s work, according to David Cohen, senior director, client service delivery at McCarthy Tétrault. READ MORE

Surprise – workers want higher pay

There’s a gap between companies and their workers, as employers are trying to emphasize perks like work-life balance and health care coverage, while employees are prioritizing compensation, according to a report this week from Franklin Templeton.

Most employers, 82 percent, agreed with a statement that “the workplaces of today face insatiable employees that continue to ask for more,” Franklin found. At the same time, 91 percent of companies surveyed experienced turnover rates of more than 10 percent in 2023.

Even as some employers have thrown money at benefits ranging from health care to pet insurance and financial wellness, they may not communicate those benefits very clearly to employees. And in a lot of cases, those benefits aren’t what workers prioritize. READ MORE

Career Websites Face Emerging Role as Salary Transparency Cops

New York City’s accusations that job search websites like CareerBuilder LLC and Monster Worldwide violated its pay transparency law indicate how broadly regulators nationwide will enforce mandates for salary ranges in job ads.

The search sites, along with Indeed and ZipRecruiter Inc., were among more than 30 employers that faced complaints from the city’s Commission on Human Rights late last year. A commission spokesperson said the complaints haven’t resulted in fines, and the agency is focused on urging employers to comply with the law. READ MORE

For high-earning workers, it's hard to break free from 'golden handcuffs'

Lewis knew that a high-pressured workplace was the price for a six-figure payday. The Berlin-based, entry-level consultant believed the stress was worth it for the fast-track to a €150,000 ($162,170; £128,460) base salary at one of the world's most prestigious firms.

"There has to be a willingness to be chained to the desk. You accept those conditions in return for such a high salary – that's the game. If you're not working 12 hours straight, the response is 'you're being paid this much, so you have to'," he says. "When you earn such a high wage it's a psychological block – you feel you've earned it, and worked really hard to get there. You want to get out, but how much of a salary cut can you take?" READ MORE

Meet a 30-year-old delivery driver who dumped the apps to go into business for himself because of a minimum wage law

Tony Illes was riding high for four years as a full-time delivery driver for several apps—by his count, he made 10,000 deliveries, a good living in the gig economy. Just weeks ago, it all came to a screeching halt when he suddenly found himself waiting six hours for a single UberEats delivery request.

“Demand was dead,” the 30-year-old Illes told Fortune.

Shortly afterward, he launched Tony Delivers, a service where Illes brings hungry Seattleites in his Beacon Hill neighborhood food deliveries on his e-bike or e-scooter. Every order in a 1.5- mile diameter costs $5, no matter what customers order. READ MORE

NCAA head warns that 95% of student athletes face extinction if colleges actually have to pay them as employees

NCAA President Charlie Baker said Friday that action by Congress was needed to protect what he described as the “95 percent” of athletes whose ability to play college sports would be endangered by a court ruling or regulatory decision declaring them as employees of their schools.

Speaking to a small group of reporters near the NCAA’s Washington office, Baker was realistic but still hopeful about the prospect of Congress doing what it didn’t do despite persistent requests from his predecessor, Mark Emmert: granting the NCAA a limited antitrust exemption that would allow it to make rules safeguarding college sports without the constant threat of litigation. READ MORE

The VP in charge of Delta’s employee benefits says that their choice to pay out $1.4 billion to workers is all about talent retention and motivation

Delta made a splash last week when it paid its employees a $1.4 billion bonus.

As the airline industry as a whole continues to bounce back from a pandemic-induced downturn, Delta decided to spread the wealth and share the money with workers through its longtime profit-sharing program, nearly doubling the amount it gave out last year. And 2024’s bonus is nearly 10 times greater than the $108 million the company shared with employees in 2022. READ MORE

Billionaire Mark Cuban says don’t follow your passions—follow the money and build wealth instead

The Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) movement has caught significant flame in recent years, and it’s no surprise as to why. As the cost of living has skyrocketed, wages have hardly kept pace, and the job market has only looked exceedingly grimmer. Indeed, given the growing dissonance between workers and bosses—based on everything from return-to-office mandates and poor team morale to cultural disagreements—those who are able to dig their heels in, up their earning potential, and get out of the grind entirely have never had more reasons to do so. READ MORE

Making $150K is considered 'lower middle class' in these high-cost US cities

The power of a six-figure (or more) salary is seemingly fading depending on where you live, bumping some U.S. earners into a "lower middle class" status.

"In America’s most expensive cities, the bar has definitely been raised to be considered ‘middle class,’" GOBankingRates lead content data researcher Andrew Murray told Fox News Digital. "To escape the lower middle class, you’ll need to earn as much as $150,000, which is substantially higher than what it used to be." READ MORE

Embarking into a New Era of Work with Salary Transparency Laws

Salary transparency laws, also known as pay transparency laws, require organizations to disclose certain information about employee compensation. These laws vary by jurisdiction but typically require employers to share salary ranges for specific job positions or provide employees with access to salary data. The intention behind these laws is to promote transparency and fairness in the workplace, eliminate pay discrimination, and reduce the gender pay gap. READ MORE

How Did a 9-5 Salary for Baby Boomers Compare to What Millennials Make Today?

Millennials are currently the highest-earning generation, making more money than any other generation did at their age.

Economist Kevin Drum looked at inflation-adjusted household income for baby boomers and millennials as of 2021. He found that the average 40-year-old millennial had an income of $49,000, higher than what the average baby boomer earned when they were 40 ($39,000). READ MORE

Judge rules against NCAA, says NIL compensation rules likely violate antitrust law, harm athletes

The NCAA lost another legal battle Friday as a federal judge barred the organization from enforcing its rules prohibiting name, image and likeness compensation for recruits by granting a preliminary injunction demanded by the states of Tennessee and Virginia.

It was another blow to the NCAA’s ability to govern college sports and more than 500,000 athletes. READ MORE

'Every single restaurant will close overnight': Celebrity chef blasts California politician's $50 minimum wage proposal

Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., is championing a proposal to raise the federal minimum wage to $50 per hour as part of her bid for the U.S. Senate. Given the substantial gap between this figure and the current federal minimum wage of $7.25, her initiative is drawing considerable attention.

Among the critics is celebrity chef and restaurant owner Andrew Gruel, who expressed grave concerns about the proposal in an interview on Fox Business. READ MORE