Book excerpt: Most organizations fail to pay their employees properly-not because they don't want to, but because they don't approach compensation with a plan. The compensation landscape is changing rapidly. If you don't pay your employees what they're worth, not only will your competitors leave you behind, but you'll also leave yourself open to legal, social, and political backlash. As an HR professional or manager, how do you navigate the confusing world of compensation? Pay Matters is your go-to guide for demystifying the art and science of compensation. Step-by-step, David Weaver explains how to perform a detailed market analysis that reveals exactly how much each position in your organization should be paid. You'll also learn how to develop a pay philosophy specifically tailored to your organization and strike the elusive balance between profit and labor costs. With precisely calibrated base salaries, rewards programs, and enticing incentives, you'll be able to keep your best employees. Don't leave salaries open to the caprices of your organization's senior leaders. Approach them confidently with a proven methodology. After all, pay matters.