Survey Sample Indicates Nearly Half of All Human Resources Personnel Receive Bonuses

ROCHELLE PARK, N.J., (September 4, 2007) – Watson Wyatt Data Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Watson Wyatt Worldwide, today announced the publication of its 2007/2008 Survey Report on Human Resources Personnel Compensation, now in its 13th edition.

On average, salaries and total cash compensation for human resources personnel rose 3.7 percent and 4.7 percent respectively, within organizations responding both to this and last year’s (2006) survey. This compares to the 3.9 percent increase in both salaries and total cash compensation experienced in 2006 vs. 2005.A total of 26 individual positions (within the overall sample) received salary and/or total compensation increases that exceeded the overall salary/total compensation increase by 25 percent or more.  A total of eight positions received salary increases of 5.0 percent or more, as listed below:

• Compensation and Benefits Administrator

• Compensation Supervisor• Employee Benefits Supervisor

• Immigration Specialist

• Top Diversity Executive

• Top Division/Subsidiary Human Resources Executive (without Labor Relations)

• Top Human Resources Executive (with Labor Relations)

• Top Human Resources Executive (without Labor Relations) 

Moderate differences existed among the five geographic regions regarding salary increases. The West Coast Region (at 3.9 percent) showed the highest salary increase. The North Central Region experienced the lowest average salary increase at 3.5 percent. Within the industry sectors, the largest salary increase occurred in the Health Care Sector, where employees averaged a 4.1 percent increase. Salary increases in all other industry sectors are 3.5 percent or greater. Non-Durable Goods Manufacturing Sector employees experienced the largest average total pay increase (5.2 percent).This report is based on responses from 1,895 organizations encompassing 4,663 locations reporting data on 88,365 incumbents. A total of 201 geographic areas, including 85 metropolitan areas and 135 industry classifications, are reported on in this year’s edition.Compensation data is organized by position and separated into three categories: All Organizations, For-Profit and Not-For-Profit. Within the For-Profit and Not-For-Profit categories, data is presented in a variety of geographic groupings, and in a variety of industry classifications ranging from All Organizations to individual industries.

The report also covers a full range of human resources personnel, including employment, employee relations, occupational health and safety, security, training and development, information systems, labor relations/legal, compensation and benefits, executives, division/subsidiary/plant management and international. The 2007/2008 Survey Report on Human Resources Personnel Compensation is available online, on CD or in a printed book format.

About Watson Wyatt Data Services
Watson Wyatt Data Services (WWDS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Watson Wyatt Worldwide, is a leading provider of compensation, benefits, and employment practices information to the global employer community.  From offices around the world, we solicit, analyze, and publish an extensive library of printed, interactive and online survey reports. Our compensation databases are recognized worldwide as the most reliable source of current data for compensation planning. 

Global scope, local knowledge
Covering more than 80 countries across six continents, our data centers in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, and Latin America annually compile reports on the remuneration, benefits, and employment practices of local and multinational companies.  Our “in-country” experts apply their local knowledge of the varied employment markets, practices, and customs to deliver a complete compensation picture that can be used to create sound, market-based pay programs for entire organizations. Our international databases contain compensation information covering millions of employees based on the annual survey participation of organizations ranging from emerging growth companies to many of the world’s largest conglomerates.

In addition to compensation surveys, WWDS also publishes references that help HR practitioners attract, retain, and reward exceptional employees. These guides cover a wide variety of subject areas, including variable pay, performance management, and personnel policies on a local, regional, and global basis. For more information, visit our Web site at WWDS.com.

For more information, contact:MaryBeth IannacconeWatson Wyatt Data ServicesTel: (201) 843-1177, extension 3480E-mail: Marybeth.iannaccone@watsonwyatt.com