Course Syllabus

HR 64- Human Resource Compensation Administration

Course Description

Fundamentals of compensation administration in California, including the impact of, salaries, hourly wages, benefits, and other rewards, on recruitment and retention of employees. Emphasis is on, determining the market rate for pay, utilizing salary surveys, differentiating between types of salary programs, wage & hour calculations, benefits packages, and determining exempt or non-exempt status according to California and Federal regulations.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Develop comprehensive and legally compliant compensation strategies and administration program suitable for today's diverse employment base in the context of the employer's size, industry, and
• Demonstrate an understanding of exempt and non-exempt status specifications as defined by California and Federal regulations.

Objectives

To do this the student will be able to:

1. Identify and describe California and Federal wage and hour laws applicable to compensation administration in
2. Evaluate and differentiate among the various compensation surveys and use these surveys to compare market rates with the company
3. Describe three different types of compensation administration programs and the advantages and disadvantages of
4. Formulate and implement a compensation administration program with proper internal controls for exempt and non-exempt

Recommended Preparation

Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100

Class Meetings

The class will meet 3 times via Zoom for discussion and to ask questions. 

The meetings are 60min in length and will be held:

October 30, November 7 & 13, 2021

8 am -9 am (or as long as needed).   

Use Techconnect Zoom to log in to the Zoom Classes.

Instructor Contact

Eric Arndt

Email: earndt@santarosa.edu  

Office Hours: by appointment

I respond to emails within 12-24 hours.

Course Web Site

Students will use the Canvas course web site for assignment instructions, submitting assignments, viewing classmate's work, sharing resources, and viewing grades.

Textbook

Instructor assigned reading. 

Required Software

You will need the following software for this course. [If linking to PDF or Word documents, QuickTime, or Flash videos, put in a link to the helper applications in your Syllabus or Getting Started section of your course materials.]

• Adobe Reader
• Open Office

Important Dates

Date Class Begins:	10/18/2021	Date Class Ends:	11/21/2021
Last Day Add w/o add code:	10/19/2021	Last Day Add with add code:	10/26/2021
Last Day Drop for Refund:	10/19/2021	Last Day for P/NP option:	11/21/2021
Last Day Drop w/o W:	10/26/2021	Last Day Drop with W:	11/8/2021

Dropping the Class

If you decide to discontinue this course, it is your responsibility to officially drop it to avoid getting no refund (after 10% of course length), a W symbol (after 20%), or a grade (after 60%). Also, for several consecutive, unexplained absences, the instructor may drop a student.

Pass‐NoPass (P/NP)

You may take this class P/NP. You must decide before the deadline, and add the option online with TLC or file the P/NP form with Admissions and Records. With a grade of C or better, you will get P.

You must file for the P/NP option by the date posted above. Once you decide to go for P/NP, you cannot change back to a letter grade. If you are taking this course as part of a certificate program, you can probably still take the class P/NP. Check with a counselor to be sure.

Instructor Announcements and Q&A Forum

The instructor will post announcements on the “Instructor Announcements” page in Canvas throughout the semester. Canvas notifies students according to their preferred Notification Preferences as soon as the instructor creates an Announcement. A “Q&A Forum” is also on Canvas to ask for assistance from your classmates or of instructor.

Attendance

Students who fail to complete the introductory module by Sunday, October 10/25/2021 will be dropped from the class. It is strongly advised that if you need to miss more than one class/homework deadline in a row that you contact me to avoid being dropped from the class.

Late Policy

All assignments are due at midnight on the due date. Late submissions will receive a 20% penalty. Submissions more than one week late are not accepted without prior arrangement. Late work will not be graded unless the student sends the instructor an email with a URL for late work.

Grading Policy

Visit the “Grades” in Canvas to keep track of your grades. I grade once a week and post grades and comments on the online Canvas grade book.

Evaluation

Grades will be based on online assigned work, participation in discussions exams, quizzes, and other assignments.

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grading:

Writing (20%): Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skills and/or require students to select organize and explain ideas in writing. (e.g. Write a 500-word paper on a topic to be assigned in class).

Problem-solving (20%) Assessment tools, other than quizzes, which demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem-solving skills. (e.g. Analyze an assigned position for exempt/non-exempt status)

Skill Demonstrations (30%): All skill-based and physical demonstrations are used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams. (e.g. analyze salary surveys and compare market wages with company wages; conduct a job analysis on an assigned position and determine its status as exempt or non-exempt).

Quizes (20%) : All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams (e.g. multiple choice quizzes)

Other (10%): Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories. (e.g. Class attendance and participation in discussions; time card and other exercises on wage and hour laws)

Grades will be assigned as follows:

A	90%-100%
B	80%-89%
C	70%-79%
D	60%-69%

Factors considered in grading each assignment include, but are not limited to, quality of work, timely completion, demonstration of understanding of assignments, completeness, spelling, grammar, punctuation, following instructions, organization, clarity, brevity, precision, format, and writing skills.

If taking Pass/No Pass you need at least 70% of the total class points and complete the midterm exam and the final exam to pass the class.

Standards of Conduct

Students who register in SRJC classes are required to abide by the SRJC Student Conduct Standards. Violation of the Standards is the basis for referral to the Vice President of Student Services or dismissal from class or from the College. See the Student Code of Conduct page.

Collaborating on or copying of tests or homework in whole or in part will be considered an act of academic dishonesty and result in a grade of 0 for that test or assignment. I encourage students to share information and ideas, but not their work. See these links on Plagiarism:
SRJC Writing Center Lessons on avoiding plagiarism
SRJC's policy on Academic Integrity

Other Important Policies and Practices

Avoid Plagiarism Like the, er, Plague

Although most students have likely heard about plagiarism during their years of schooling, it still is prevalent-even in higher education.

The video below reviews what plagiarism is and how not to do it.

Plagiarism: How to avoid it

This activity tests your knowledge of plagiarism (not graded): Self-check: Plagiarism

Netiquette or Why Is It Harder to Be Polite Online?

Netiquette refers to using common courtesy in online communication. All members of the class are expected to follow netiquette in all course communications. Use these guidelines:

• Use capital letters sparingly. THEY LOOK LIKE SHOUTING.
• Forward emails only with a writer's permission.
• Be considerate of others' feelings and use language carefully.
• Cite all quotations, references, and sources (otherwise, it is plagiarism).
• Use humor carefully. It is hard to "read" tone; sometimes humor can be misread as criticism or personal attack. Feel free to use emoticons like :) for a smiley face to let others know you are being humorous.
• Use complete sentences and standard English grammar to compose posts. Write in proper paragraphs. Review work before submitting it.
• Text speak, such as "ur" for "your" or "ru" for "are you" etc., is only acceptable when texting.

Special Needs

Students with disabilities who believe they need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Disability Resources (527-4278), as soon as possible to better ensure such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.

This syllabus is intended to give the student guidance in what may be covered during the semester and will be followed as closely as possible.  However, the instructor reserves the right to modify, supplement, and make changes as the course needs arise.

This syllabus is an agreement.  Continued registration in the course means that you agree to the policies and procedures outlined in this syllabus.

 

HR 64: COMPENSATION ADMINISTRATION

TOPICS & ASSIGNMENT SHEET

The following is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.  Advance notice of changes will be provided by the instructor via Canvas Announcements

Suggested Timeline	Planned Topics	Assignments
Week  1	Introduction Syllabus Review 1.    Compensation Administration and the Law 2.    Types of Employees             Employees v.             Independent Contractors             Exempt v. Nonexempt  --------------------------------------	Course Reader: pp. 1-19 Course Slide Deck: 1-19 Discussion: Total Rewards
Week 2	3.    IWC Wage Orders 4.    Wage & Hour Law 5.    Other Compensation  --------------------------------------	Assignment: What Wage Order Fits Me? Quiz 1 Course Reader: pp. 20 - 91 Course Slide Deck: pp. 19 - 33
Week 3	6.    Calculating Pay: Time & Rates 7.    Meal/Rest Breaks 8.    Payment of Wages  --------------------------------------	Quiz 2 Exemption Homework Overtime Homework   Course Reader: pp. 92 - 125 Course Slide Deck: pp. 33 – 54
Week 4	9.    Compensation Systems 10.   Creating a Compensation Plan	Quiz 3 Writing Assignment Survey