Just about 40% of employees and managers in a North American survey said they know how

they can increase their base pay or cash bonuses. The results suggest employers lose much of the value of the pay raises and bonuses they distribute by not communicating effectively. “Many employees and managers simply don’t understand why they get paid what they do,” points out Rob Heneman, professor of management and human resources, Ohio State University, Columbus. “Businesses can’t get a good return of their compensation investment if people don’t understand how their pay is determined.”

The survey of more than 6,000managers and employees in 26 organizations in the U.S. and Canada showed that employees and managers felt their employers did a good job explaining their performance objectives and the way their performance is measured. They were unclear, though, about how performance was related to pay. Surprisingly, employees reported they knew more about stock options at their companies and how they are determined than how base pay is. However, the results showed that base pay knowledge plays a larger role in overall pay satisfaction than do other forms of compensation, such as bonuses. Employees who had higher levels of pay knowledge showed greater overall pay satisfaction, which, in turn, was linked to higher levels of retention(聘用), commitment to the company, and even trust in management. In other words, Heneman emphasizes, ensuring that employees understand their pay is good for a company’s bottom line.

He feels that corporate culture is often a major problem in dealing with the lack of pay knowledge among workers. In many companies, it is considered taboo—or even explicitly forbidden—to discuss matters dealing with salary. In lieu of (代替) disclosing actual pay amounts of employees to others within the company, management can provide more information about pay practices and policies, such as the process used to determine salary, and the average of raises in a particular year. Workers want more than generalities; they want to know how pay policies apply to their particular situation, Heneman points out. That often means managers need to sit down with their employees one-on-one.

21. What does the North American Survey mainly suggest？

A. If the employers make their pay policy known better, the company would get more in return.

B. If the employers make their pay policy known better, they would get pay raises and bonuses.

C. If the employees know more about the pay policy of the company, they would get more.

D. If the employees know more about the pay policy of the company, they would become one in the management.

22. The employers of many companies failed to ______.

A. explain what their performance objectives were

B. explain the way performance was measured

C. explain the way performance was related to pay

D. explain how performance was related to promotion

23. Which of the following is the most important factor in overall pay satisfaction？

A. Stock options.

B. Bonuses.

C. Corporate culture.

D. Base pay.

24. The employees who understand and are satisfied with their pay would ______.

A. be willing to remain in the bottom line

B. be willing to be loyal and dedicated to the company

C. be ensured that their pay is justified

D. be ensured that their employers are worthwhile

25. What can employers do to help their employees know better how pay is determined？

A. They can shatter the taboo by encouraging discussion about salary matters among the employees.

B. They can disclose pay amounts of employees to others within the company.

C. They can talk with individual employee about how pay policies apply to his particular situation.

D. They can tell all employees the total of raises in a particular year.