Dev Imperium

So in this week’s UWeek (a weekly paper for UW staff that rarely has something useful), has an article claiming that my compensation package is competitive with the market. I like my job and have no plans to find a new one — largely because I am comfortable, the job is convenient, and I an sufficiently compensated. But I am extremely skeptical that my compensation package is very competitive.

Milliman observed that while private sector employers usually offer incentive compensation in the form of bonuses, stock options or both, few northwest employers actually come close to matching the UW benefits package. “The University provides a number of significant attractions beyond direct compensation,” the report notes. “These include a highly desirable location, the opportunity to work at a premier institution of higher education, a stimulating work environment, job security, and rich cultural experiences, just to name a few.”

So to summarize the key benefits offered by my job are:
1) “in a highly desirable location” — I don’t care how desirable it is, but it is close to my house so it is convenient.
2) “at a premier institution of higher education” — bfd.
3) “stimulating work environment” — this is a quality of your tasks more than anything, If I did the same thing elsewhere it would be just as stimulating.
4) “job security” — very true.
5) “rich cultural experiences” — bfd.

Honestly I’d rather have more money than a “rich cultural experience”. And of course the numbers are skewed a bit by the other public sector organizations included in the study since the benefits are largely the same and when you give weight to some of the fluff above we’re better than them.