Over The Duration Of The Semester, You Will Individually Com ✓ Solved

Over the duration of the semester, you will individually com

Over the duration of the semester, you will individually complete a semester-long project to redesign the compensation and benefits package of an aged job role within an organization. You are an independent compensation and benefits analyst contracted to redesign an active role whose package is out of date so the organization can recruit new employees. Fully describe the organization (you may choose Amazon) and the context in which it operates. Select one specific aged role to redesign (selected: Benefits Specialist). Fully describe the role and how it fits into the organization. Perform internet market research (examples: BLS, O*NET) to determine the range and variations of compensation and benefits for the role across the current marketplace, at minimum covering: fixed compensation; variable compensation; non-monetary rewards; mandated benefits; voluntary benefits; and benefits specifically relevant to the role. Record and document all data from each source and construct min/max ranges for each category. Report compiled data relevant to the role; tables are recommended and may have missing values. Construct a detailed compensation and benefits package for the chosen role that includes recommended ranges for each category and considers the context of the organization. Provide an executive management summary of research steps, sources, data, and reasoning behind recommendations. Reflect on how the project clarified course material, lessons learned from market research, and application to real work scenarios. Produce a written research proposal outlining the chosen organization, job role, the compensation and benefits package to be redesigned, and planned research actions. APA format is not required. The company chosen is Amazon and the job role is Benefits Specialist.

Paper For Above Instructions

Executive Summary

This report proposes a redesigned compensation and benefits package for a Benefits Specialist role at Amazon. Research draws on Bureau of Labor Statistics, O*NET, company career pages, and industry compensation surveys to develop min/max ranges across fixed pay, variable pay, non-monetary rewards, mandated and voluntary benefits, and role-specific rewards. Recommended targets strike a balance between Amazon's competitive market position and cost-effective internal alignment, aimed at enabling improved recruitment and retention.

Organizational Context: Amazon

Amazon is a global e-commerce and cloud computing enterprise with diverse operating units, a high-growth culture, and aggressive talent competition in HR and benefits functions (Amazon Jobs, 2024). A Benefits Specialist at Amazon supports benefits program administration, vendor relationships, enrollment, compliance, and employee communications. The role typically sits in HR/People Experience and interfaces with compensation, payroll, and business leaders.

Role Description: Benefits Specialist

The Benefits Specialist is responsible for administration of health and welfare programs, retirement plan support, leave management, benefits data accuracy, and employee counseling. This role requires strong regulatory knowledge, vendor management skills, and a capacity to translate benefits policy into employee-facing guidance (O*NET, 2024). At Amazon, expectations include scale competency, rapid process improvement, and cross-functional coordination.

Market Research Summary and Data Sources

Primary sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) occupational and wage data, ONET role profiles, employer and salary platforms (Glassdoor, PayScale), industry publications and total rewards surveys (WorldatWork, Mercer), Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) health benefits data, Amazon careers benefits page, and regulatory guidance (U.S. Department of Labor). Data were extracted to identify reported salaries, bonus practices, common voluntary benefits, and mandated benefit baselines (BLS, 2024; ONET, 2024; Glassdoor, 2024).

Compiled Market Ranges (Min / Max) and Sources

Recommended Compensation & Benefits Package (Detailed)

Fixed pay: For Amazon, recommend a market-aligned base salary band of $75,000–$110,000 for Benefits Specialist positions, with lower-tier hiring for early-career hires at $60,000 and senior specialist roles up to $120,000. This band reflects national wage data and Amazon’s competitive pay philosophy (BLS, 2024; Glassdoor, 2024).

Variable pay: Introduce an annual performance bonus of 0–10% for typical roles and target RSU awards or retention equity for mid-to-senior specialists with an annualized value of $5,000–$25,000 depending on level, recognizing Amazon’s equity compensation practices (Amazon Jobs, 2024; Mercer).

Mandated benefits: Ensure full compliance with federal and state requirements—Social Security, Medicare withholding, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, and FMLA leave provisions (U.S. Department of Labor).

Voluntary benefits: Offer medical, dental, vision, mental health EAP, basic life and AD&D, 401(k) with company match (recommended 3–6% match), HSA/FSA options, commuter benefits, dependent care FSAs, and voluntary supplemental plans (KFF; SHRM).

Non-monetary rewards: Flexible work arrangements, professional development stipends ($1,000–$3,000 annually), clear career pathways, internal mobility support, and recognition programs. Provide administrative tools and training allowing Benefits Specialists to manage complex vendor ecosystems efficiently (WorldatWork; SHRM).

Role-specific investments: Vendor-certification sponsorship, annual conference allowance ($1,000–$3,000), and access to analytics tools to modernize benefits reporting and decision-making (Mercer).

Implementation Considerations

Phased rollout: (1) Adjust base-bands and update job descriptions; (2) introduce variable pay frameworks and equity for retention where appropriate; (3) augment voluntary benefits and professional development; (4) monitor cost and uptake for 12 months and refine. Use internal equity checks to avoid compression and ensure parity with comparable HR roles.

Reflection and Learning

This project clarified how compensation and benefits integrate with organizational strategy and market positioning. Market research demonstrated variability across data sources and emphasized triangulating multiple publicly available datasets to construct defensible ranges (BLS, O*NET, Glassdoor). I learned the importance of distinguishing mandated from discretionary benefits, quantifying non-monetary rewards, and crafting packages that reflect employer brand and budget constraints. In practice, the approach is applicable to compensation benchmarking, policy redesign, and talent acquisition strategy.

Conclusion

The recommended package positions Amazon to recruit Benefits Specialists by aligning pay with market medians while preserving flexibility for seniority-based differentiation and equity-based retention. The combination of competitive base pay, meaningful equity/bonus opportunities, comprehensive voluntary benefits, and role-specific support will modernize an aged package and support talent attraction and retention.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/oes/ (accessed 2024).
• O*NET OnLine. "Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists." https://www.onetonline.org/ (2024).
• Glassdoor. "Benefits Specialist Salaries and Benefits — Amazon and Market Comparisons." https://www.glassdoor.com/ (2024).
• PayScale. "Benefits Specialist Salary Data." https://www.payscale.com/ (2024).
• SHRM. "Employee Benefits Trends and Benchmarking." https://www.shrm.org/ (2023–2024).
• WorldatWork. "Total Rewards and Benefits Trends." https://www.worldatwork.org/ (2023).
• Mercer. "US Compensation Planning and Total Rewards Surveys." https://www.mercer.com/ (2023).
• Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). "Employer Health Benefits Survey." https://www.kff.org/ (2023).
• U.S. Department of Labor. "Wage and Hour Division; Benefits and Leave Requirements." https://www.dol.gov/ (accessed 2024).
• Amazon Jobs. "Benefits and Perks — Amazon." https://www.amazon.jobs/en/benefits (2024).