公司有一種簡單的方法改善財務(wù)業(yè)績:在公司的各個層面招聘最優(yōu)秀的員工,進行人力資源投資,并努力留住員工。
這聽起來很簡單。但超過51%的羅素1000指數(shù)(Russell 1000)里的公司為員工支付的工資僅能維持生計。為什么呢?因為為了給股東更多回報,公司面臨削減成本的壓力,而人力成本是大多數(shù)公司最大的“成本”。可惜的是,這種做法從中長期來看,實際上可能減少股東回報。
我們研究發(fā)現(xiàn),美國公司并沒有使用有助于決策的指標衡量員工,這意味著我們沒有恰當評估人力資本在公司財務(wù)績效中的角色。無論是我們的會計方法還是報告指標,都無法做到這一點?,F(xiàn)行財務(wù)會計準則將對員工的投資評估為勞動力成本(盡管這些投資可能帶來更高的生產(chǎn)率和保留率)。美國公司的財務(wù)報表里不會詳細列明這些成本(只有約15%的公司會披露相關(guān)信息),盡管與員工有關(guān)的支出通常占公司運營成本的一半以上。
此外,當前的環(huán)境、社會與治理(ESG)報告指標并沒有體現(xiàn)人力資本的衡量指標,例如領(lǐng)取維生工資的員工比例、人員流動成本或者效益價值等。雖然標準制定者鼓勵使用相關(guān)指標,比如可持續(xù)發(fā)展會計準則委員會(Sustainable Standards Accounting Board),但公司通常并不會報告這些指標。我們審查目前的“S”(社會)數(shù)據(jù)發(fā)現(xiàn),與工作相關(guān)的報告內(nèi)容少之又少(高管薪酬除外)。然而,投資者、監(jiān)管者和管理者卻依靠這些不完整的數(shù)據(jù)做出決策,這些決策會對員工、社會和公司利潤產(chǎn)生嚴重影響。
亞馬遜(Amazon)就是一個很好的例子。據(jù)媒體曝光的內(nèi)部文件顯示,在公司全部10個級別的員工當中,遺憾離職率(亞馬遜不想讓其離開但離職的員工)在69.5%至81.3%之間,給亞馬遜造成了80億美元損失,約占總年度利潤的25%。
亞馬遜沒有證實也并未否認這些文件中的說法或數(shù)字。該公司表示,其正在努力成為最佳雇主。但顯然,亞馬遜員工不滿意的程度較高,這對財務(wù)狀況產(chǎn)生了嚴重影響。但ESG評級機構(gòu)[路孚特(Refinitiv)對亞馬遜“S”方面的評級為A級]以及LinkedIn(將亞馬遜列為前三大適宜工作的公司之一)和美國機會指數(shù)(American Opportunity Index,將亞馬遜列為提供職業(yè)發(fā)展機會的前50家公司之一)卻給亞馬遜較高的評價。過去四年,路孚特為什么對亞馬遜的社會指標給出A級評級?亞馬遜在人力資源政策披露、性別收入差距和多樣化指標方面表現(xiàn)出色,但其他方面(例如維生工資、福利、包容性、職業(yè)發(fā)展等)未要求或未報告。在過去四年,路孚特確實給亞馬遜打出了D-級ESG爭議評分,原因似乎是第三方舉報的與員工有關(guān)的問題,但這個評分并未納入前文所述的A級社會指標評分。值得注意的是,盡管投資者[據(jù)國際可持續(xù)發(fā)展準則理事會(ISSB)表示]認為員工流失率非常重要,但亞馬遜并未公布該項指標。有趣的是,亞馬遜最近宣布按小時計薪的員工工資上漲總計10億美元。
更好的信息披露和報告雖然有效,但并不能提高公司的績效。公司披露首席執(zhí)行官/中位數(shù)員工薪酬倍數(shù),卻并沒有改變首席執(zhí)行官薪酬上漲的趨勢。在報告、會計和企業(yè)管理實踐中,必須將人力資本指標與金融指標掛鉤,才能發(fā)揮作用。如果非自愿離職率超過100%(零售和快餐業(yè)的離職率下限),會給公司造成多大損失?帶有不滿情緒的非正式員工更低的工作效率和更高盜竊率,會對公司的利潤產(chǎn)生多大影響?一家公司的職場聲譽不佳,會對客戶忠誠度和公司產(chǎn)品銷售產(chǎn)生多大影響?一家公司以最好的方式對待員工,會對其估值產(chǎn)生多大的積極影響?
2021年,快餐業(yè)的離職率達到144%,在所有行業(yè)里最高。達美樂(Domino’s)在向美國證券交易委員會(SEC)提交的10K報告中將人手不足列為主要風(fēng)險,原因是員工離職率提高,但它并未披露實際離職率或特許經(jīng)營業(yè)務(wù)的離職率。店內(nèi)員工和送餐員的平均時薪為6美元至10美元。
由于缺乏實際數(shù)據(jù),這里采用的是整體數(shù)據(jù),應(yīng)該具有指導(dǎo)意義。但顯然,這對于公司的財務(wù)狀況至關(guān)重要,而且公司和股東沒有跟蹤或者報告這些數(shù)據(jù),這會產(chǎn)生問題??的螤柎髮W(xué)(Cornell University)估計,餐飲業(yè)的員工離職率人均造成的損失約為5,864美元。達美樂在2005年確定每一名小時工的成本為2,500美元,每一名經(jīng)理的成本為20,000美元。達美樂的特許經(jīng)營店共雇傭了350,000名員工。如果離職率為144%,達美樂每年就必須招聘約525,000人,人均成本為2,500美元至6,000美元,每年總成本約為10億美元至30億美元,而2021年達美樂的總收入約為45億美元。
基于這項研究,我們?yōu)楣绢I(lǐng)導(dǎo)者和投資者提供了一些建議。對于員工保留的投入,應(yīng)該與在招聘方面的投入相當甚至更高,這應(yīng)該作為一條基本原則。公司應(yīng)該優(yōu)先考慮強大的員工培訓(xùn)、支持下屬的管理者、合理的薪酬和福利、工作生活平衡、公司使命以及公平等問題。關(guān)鍵是要從整體的角度出發(fā),評估員工投資的回報,并向投資者和利益相關(guān)者宣傳更完善的人力資本管理給公司帶來的財務(wù)上的回報。
投資者應(yīng)該了解現(xiàn)有職業(yè)報告與會計準則的缺點,并要求公司領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者借鑒人力資本管理的最佳實踐,至少公開披露遺憾和非遺憾離職率,以及領(lǐng)取維生工資及以上的員工比例等。(財富中文網(wǎng))
本文作者烏爾里克·阿特茲(Ulrich Atz)是紐約大學(xué)斯特恩可持續(xù)商業(yè)研究中心(NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business)的研究員。滕西·惠蘭(Tensie Whelan)是一名臨床教授及紐約大學(xué)斯特恩可持續(xù)商業(yè)研究中心的創(chuàng)始主任。
Fortune.com上發(fā)表的評論文章中表達的觀點,僅代表作者本人的觀點,不代表《財富》雜志的觀點和立場。
譯者:劉進龍
審校:汪皓
公司有一種簡單的方法改善財務(wù)業(yè)績:在公司的各個層面招聘最優(yōu)秀的員工,進行人力資源投資,并努力留住員工。
這聽起來很簡單。但超過51%的羅素1000指數(shù)(Russell 1000)里的公司為員工支付的工資僅能維持生計。為什么呢?因為為了給股東更多回報,公司面臨削減成本的壓力,而人力成本是大多數(shù)公司最大的“成本”??上У氖牵@種做法從中長期來看,實際上可能減少股東回報。
我們研究發(fā)現(xiàn),美國公司并沒有使用有助于決策的指標衡量員工,這意味著我們沒有恰當評估人力資本在公司財務(wù)績效中的角色。無論是我們的會計方法還是報告指標,都無法做到這一點?,F(xiàn)行財務(wù)會計準則將對員工的投資評估為勞動力成本(盡管這些投資可能帶來更高的生產(chǎn)率和保留率)。美國公司的財務(wù)報表里不會詳細列明這些成本(只有約15%的公司會披露相關(guān)信息),盡管與員工有關(guān)的支出通常占公司運營成本的一半以上。
此外,當前的環(huán)境、社會與治理(ESG)報告指標并沒有體現(xiàn)人力資本的衡量指標,例如領(lǐng)取維生工資的員工比例、人員流動成本或者效益價值等。雖然標準制定者鼓勵使用相關(guān)指標,比如可持續(xù)發(fā)展會計準則委員會(Sustainable Standards Accounting Board),但公司通常并不會報告這些指標。我們審查目前的“S”(社會)數(shù)據(jù)發(fā)現(xiàn),與工作相關(guān)的報告內(nèi)容少之又少(高管薪酬除外)。然而,投資者、監(jiān)管者和管理者卻依靠這些不完整的數(shù)據(jù)做出決策,這些決策會對員工、社會和公司利潤產(chǎn)生嚴重影響。
亞馬遜(Amazon)就是一個很好的例子。據(jù)媒體曝光的內(nèi)部文件顯示,在公司全部10個級別的員工當中,遺憾離職率(亞馬遜不想讓其離開但離職的員工)在69.5%至81.3%之間,給亞馬遜造成了80億美元損失,約占總年度利潤的25%。
亞馬遜沒有證實也并未否認這些文件中的說法或數(shù)字。該公司表示,其正在努力成為最佳雇主。但顯然,亞馬遜員工不滿意的程度較高,這對財務(wù)狀況產(chǎn)生了嚴重影響。但ESG評級機構(gòu)[路孚特(Refinitiv)對亞馬遜“S”方面的評級為A級]以及LinkedIn(將亞馬遜列為前三大適宜工作的公司之一)和美國機會指數(shù)(American Opportunity Index,將亞馬遜列為提供職業(yè)發(fā)展機會的前50家公司之一)卻給亞馬遜較高的評價。過去四年,路孚特為什么對亞馬遜的社會指標給出A級評級?亞馬遜在人力資源政策披露、性別收入差距和多樣化指標方面表現(xiàn)出色,但其他方面(例如維生工資、福利、包容性、職業(yè)發(fā)展等)未要求或未報告。在過去四年,路孚特確實給亞馬遜打出了D-級ESG爭議評分,原因似乎是第三方舉報的與員工有關(guān)的問題,但這個評分并未納入前文所述的A級社會指標評分。值得注意的是,盡管投資者[據(jù)國際可持續(xù)發(fā)展準則理事會(ISSB)表示]認為員工流失率非常重要,但亞馬遜并未公布該項指標。有趣的是,亞馬遜最近宣布按小時計薪的員工工資上漲總計10億美元。
更好的信息披露和報告雖然有效,但并不能提高公司的績效。公司披露首席執(zhí)行官/中位數(shù)員工薪酬倍數(shù),卻并沒有改變首席執(zhí)行官薪酬上漲的趨勢。在報告、會計和企業(yè)管理實踐中,必須將人力資本指標與金融指標掛鉤,才能發(fā)揮作用。如果非自愿離職率超過100%(零售和快餐業(yè)的離職率下限),會給公司造成多大損失?帶有不滿情緒的非正式員工更低的工作效率和更高盜竊率,會對公司的利潤產(chǎn)生多大影響?一家公司的職場聲譽不佳,會對客戶忠誠度和公司產(chǎn)品銷售產(chǎn)生多大影響?一家公司以最好的方式對待員工,會對其估值產(chǎn)生多大的積極影響?
2021年,快餐業(yè)的離職率達到144%,在所有行業(yè)里最高。達美樂(Domino’s)在向美國證券交易委員會(SEC)提交的10K報告中將人手不足列為主要風(fēng)險,原因是員工離職率提高,但它并未披露實際離職率或特許經(jīng)營業(yè)務(wù)的離職率。店內(nèi)員工和送餐員的平均時薪為6美元至10美元。
由于缺乏實際數(shù)據(jù),這里采用的是整體數(shù)據(jù),應(yīng)該具有指導(dǎo)意義。但顯然,這對于公司的財務(wù)狀況至關(guān)重要,而且公司和股東沒有跟蹤或者報告這些數(shù)據(jù),這會產(chǎn)生問題??的螤柎髮W(xué)(Cornell University)估計,餐飲業(yè)的員工離職率人均造成的損失約為5,864美元。達美樂在2005年確定每一名小時工的成本為2,500美元,每一名經(jīng)理的成本為20,000美元。達美樂的特許經(jīng)營店共雇傭了350,000名員工。如果離職率為144%,達美樂每年就必須招聘約525,000人,人均成本為2,500美元至6,000美元,每年總成本約為10億美元至30億美元,而2021年達美樂的總收入約為45億美元。
基于這項研究,我們?yōu)楣绢I(lǐng)導(dǎo)者和投資者提供了一些建議。對于員工保留的投入,應(yīng)該與在招聘方面的投入相當甚至更高,這應(yīng)該作為一條基本原則。公司應(yīng)該優(yōu)先考慮強大的員工培訓(xùn)、支持下屬的管理者、合理的薪酬和福利、工作生活平衡、公司使命以及公平等問題。關(guān)鍵是要從整體的角度出發(fā),評估員工投資的回報,并向投資者和利益相關(guān)者宣傳更完善的人力資本管理給公司帶來的財務(wù)上的回報。
投資者應(yīng)該了解現(xiàn)有職業(yè)報告與會計準則的缺點,并要求公司領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者借鑒人力資本管理的最佳實踐,至少公開披露遺憾和非遺憾離職率,以及領(lǐng)取維生工資及以上的員工比例等。(財富中文網(wǎng))
本文作者烏爾里克·阿特茲(Ulrich Atz)是紐約大學(xué)斯特恩可持續(xù)商業(yè)研究中心(NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business)的研究員。滕西·惠蘭(Tensie Whelan)是一名臨床教授及紐約大學(xué)斯特恩可持續(xù)商業(yè)研究中心的創(chuàng)始主任。
Fortune.com上發(fā)表的評論文章中表達的觀點,僅代表作者本人的觀點,不代表《財富》雜志的觀點和立場。
譯者:劉進龍
審校:汪皓
Companies have an easy way to boost their financial performance: Hire the best employees at all levels of the company, invest in them, and retain them.
It sounds easy. But more than 51% of the Russell 1000 are not paying their employees a living wage. Why not? Because companies are pressured to reduce costs in order to return more money to shareholders and labor is the biggest “cost” for most companies. Unfortunately, this approach may actually depress returns to shareholders in the medium and long term.
Our research has found that we are not using decision-useful metrics when it comes to corporate employees in the U.S., which means we are not properly assessing human capital’s role in corporate financial performance. Neither our accounting methods nor our reporting metrics are up to the task. Current financial accounting assesses investments in employees as labor costs (despite those investments potentially leading to higher productivity and retention). Those costs are not detailed on financial statements in the U.S. (and only about 15% of firms disclose them), even though employee-related spending is responsible for typically more than half of a company’s operating costs.
In addition, current ESG reporting metrics do not capture what is needed to measure human capital, such as the share of employees making a living wage, cost of turnover, or value of benefits. Even when relevant metrics are encouraged by standard setters such as the Sustainable Standards Accounting Board, they are generally not reported. In our review of current “S” data, we find very limited jobs-related reporting (except for executive compensation). Yet, investors, regulators, and the managers themselves rely on that incomplete data to make decisions that have a significant impact on employees, society, and the bottom line.
Amazon is a case in point. Leaked internal documents reportedly found regretted attrition (people leaving whom Amazon did not want to leave) of 69.5% to a high of 81.3% across all 10 levels of employees, with a cost to Amazon of $8 billion, or about 25% of its total annual profit.
Amazon declined to confirm or deny any of the specific claims or figures made in the documents and said it was doing its best to be the employer of choice. But clearly, there is significant employee dissatisfaction with Amazon, with a material financial impact. Yet, Amazon is highly ranked by ESG rating providers (Refinitiv gives Amazon an A for the “S”) as well as by LinkedIn (listed as one of the top three companies to work for) and the American Opportunity Index (listed in the top 50 for career growth). Why did Refinitiv give Amazon an A in social metrics for the last four years? HR policy disclosures, gender pay gap, and diversity metrics are outstanding, and the rest (e.g. living wage, benefits, inclusion, career development) is not requested or reported. Refinitiv did give Amazon a D- for the last four years on its separate ESG controversies score–seemingly driven by third-party reports on employee-related issues, which is not integrated into the A score for social metrics as above. Notably, turnover was not reported even though investors (according to the ISSB) might find it material. Interestingly, Amazon recently announced $1 billion in salary increases for hourly workers.
Better disclosure and reporting alone, while useful, will not necessarily drive better performance. Companies are disclosing CEO/median worker pay multiples and that disclosure has not changed the upward trajectory of CEO pay. To be helpful, human capital metrics must tie back to financial metrics in reporting, accounting, and corporate management practice. How much does an involuntary turnover rate of more than 100% (the lower end of turnover in retail and fast food) cost a company? How much do lower productivity and higher theft from dissatisfied contingent workers affect the bottom line? How much does a company’s poor workplace reputation affect customer loyalty and purchasing? How much does a company’s best-in-class treatment of its workers positively affect its valuation?
The quick-service restaurant industry has the highest turnover rate of any industry–144% in 2021. Domino’s lists labor shortages as a major risk in its 10K filing?with the SEC, citing increased turnover, but does not disclose their actual turnover rate or the turnover amongst the franchise operations. In-store workers and delivery workers make $6-10 on average.
Because the actual data is not available, we are working with gross numbers here and they should be seen as directional. But clearly, this is financially material and problematic that it is not tracked or reported for the company and its shareholders. Cornell University has estimated that employee turnover in the restaurant industry costs approximately $5,864 per person. Domino’s pegged the cost at $2,500 per hourly worker and 20,000 per manager back in 2005. The Domino’s franchise system employs 350,000 in total. If they have turnover of 144%, they would have to hire approximately 525,000 people annually at a cost of $2,500-6,000 each for a total of approximately $1-3 billion annually against total revenue in 2021 of approximately $4.5 billion.
Based on this research, we have a few suggestions for corporate leaders and investors. As a fundamental principle, we should invest in retention as much or more than recruitment. Robust training, supportive managers, fair wages and benefits, work-life balance, corporate purpose, and equity should be prioritized. Taking a more holistic approach to assess the returns on employee investments and educating investors and other stakeholders about the benefits of better human capital management for a company’s financial returns will be critical.
Investors should understand the shortcomings of current job reporting and accounting and request that corporate leaders follow best practices in human capital management and publicly disclose regretted and unregretted turnover, as well as the percentage of workers who are paid a living wage and above, at a minimum.
Ulrich Atz is a research fellow at the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business. Tensie Whelan is a clinical professor and founding director of the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business.
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