Research and Surveys

Strategic Fact-Based Knowledge for the HR Professional

WorldatWork’s research and surveys provide the human resources community with critical knowledge and insights to guide HR strategy in today’s modern work environments. Our data empowers HR professionals with information for fact-based decision making in our core areas of benefits, compensation, executive compensation, sales compensation, work-life and total rewards. WorldatWork members receive exclusive access to participate in our valued Salary Budget Survey.

WorldatWork Research

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Recent Surveys

Compensation Function of the Future

This survey examines how the compensation function is evolving to meet the demands of the business environment of tomorrow. Technology is changing, which means work is changing. New jobs are emerging, the skills needed to succeed in existing jobs are changing, new work arrangements and gig work are taking hold, and it’s more urgent than ever to attract and retain top talent.

Reward Fairness

Management faces numerous challenges in determining how to reward employees. They must balance market competitiveness, internal equity, organizational performance and individual performance considerations. Notably, issues of “fairness” underlie each of these areas. No matter how sophisticated the design, reward programs, policies and practices that are not perceived as fair will not successfully attract, retain and engage employees.

WorldatWork Salary Budget Survey

Now Available: Results from the ‘WorldatWork 2018-2019 Salary Budget Survey’

Participate Now! The WorldatWork 2019-2020 Salary Budget Survey is open for participation from March 25 – April 30.
Note* Participation is exclusive to WorldatWork members. If you would like to participate in the survey please visit worldatwork.org/membership to become a member.

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Preview Questionnaires:
U.S Questionnaire
Canadian Questionnaire
International Questionnaire

WorldatWork’s annual salary budget survey is the longest-running survey of its kind, delivering data and information that covers 19 countries. For more than 40 years, compensation professionals have relied on the salary budget survey in making key decisions about their compensation spend. Results available now.

Total Rewards Inventory Programs and Practices

WorldatWork, with underwriting support from Korn Ferry, gathered data about the use of total rewards programs in U.S. companies. This survey focused on the prevalence of a variety of total rewards programs and practices in today’s workplace.

Incentive Pay Practices

Long and short-term incentive plans affect all types of organizations from publicly traded to private to non-profit and government. It's a tool used to to both attract and retain top talent. The following survey data incorporates feedback from various business types to show trends in how each handles their incentive pay practices.

Salary Structure Policies and Practices

A report by WorldatWork and Deloitte Consulting LLP

This report summarizes the results of a September/October 2018 survey of WorldatWork members and nonmembers to gather information about current trends in salary structure policies and practices. The focus of this research is to better understand the types of salary structures as well as the designs and common practices in administration used by employers today. The survey was co-developed and cosponsored by WorldatWork and Deloitte Consulting LLP.