Article

Workforce strategy: Tax considerations for a sustainable, effective plan

Understand tax costs to maximize returns on your workforce investments

May 15, 2023
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Labor and workforce Business tax Employee benefits Compensation & benefits

Whether it’s remote work, fringe benefits, or equity pay, the tax costs of compensation and benefit offerings do not have to stand between your organization and a successful, sustainable workforce strategy. In fact, understanding the tax implications can help you align your compensation philosophy with your business objectives and what your workers value.

The tax planning and compliance considerations are often complex, so we have curated these insights to help foster your understanding. Because when your organization thoughtfully considers its options for compensating, incentivizing, recruiting, and retaining employees, you commit to cultivating a workforce that differentiates your organization in the marketplace and positions it for long-term success.

Which of the following actions is your organization planning or considering over the next 12 months due to staffing challenges?

62%

Increasing compensation levels

44%

Enhancing employee benefits

*RSM US Middle Market Business Index survey, October 2022

Compensation philosophy

Maximizing the return on your investments in workforce

A compensation philosophy amounts to a set of practical principles designed to maximize employee performance in roles that drive overall business performance. An organization that defines its business goals and key drivers can home in on the roles required to achieve its objectives, and then on the compensation and benefit offerings necessary to attract and retain talented employees for those roles.

Being a CFO in some industries is more difficult than others. Maybe you have international operations. So, how much does your CFO contribute to your bottom line? Now think about the range of applicants. Do you need somebody really good, or just above average? And how much are you willing to pay?
Mark Ritter, senior director, RSM US LLP

Remote work and hybrid work

Flexibility enabled by tax planning and compliance

Hybrid and remote work are increasingly part of the middle market environment

As workers convey their preferences for the flexibility allowed by remote and hybrid work, employers that understand the compliance costs of such arrangements can assess their value to the business’s overall workforce strategy. A sustainable plan for remote or hybrid work should comply with state and local laws. This involves tracking employees’ locations, understanding reciprocal agreements between states where applicable, and meeting reporting and withholding requirements for every jurisdiction in which they take on tax obligations.

Effective compensation and benefits offerings depend on company culture, current owners and what your employees value. You can be super creative, but you don’t want to cause too much tax or make these too complicated for employees to understand. Tax shouldn’t drive them, but it is part of the equation.
Anne Bushman, partner and leader of the Washington National Tax compensation and benefits group, RSM US LLP

Equity pay and incentive structures

Driving performance of key employees

Equity-based incentives can effectively support organizational performance when they are designed for executives and key employees who truly drive the business. Some inherent complexities, though, such as the value of stock in private companies, can create a lack of transparency that undermines the incentivizing force.

What do middle market employees want?

22% vs. 12%

equity/share ownership

36% vs. 24%

incentive compensation arrangements

*Source: RSM/Big Village survey, Fall 2022

Fringe benefits

Tax-efficient support of creativity in compensating workers

What are organizations offering to attract or retain employees?

Cash may be king, but it’s not the only way to compensate an employee or make them feel valued. Fringe benefits are an opportunity for a company to be creative, respond to workers’ preferences and differentiate itself in the labor market. Regardless of whether the benefits involve relatively high dollar amounts, such as 401(k) contributions or health insurance, or are less expensive, like transportation subsidies or education assistance, delivering them tax-efficiently can improve the return on the company’s investment.

See related insights

On-demand webcast

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RSM's HR advisors share tips for effectively defining what HR transformation means for your unique business as well as critical questions to ask before getting started:

  • Approach transformation as a process, not a one-time event.
  • Use technology to reduce time-consuming administrative tasks.
  • Free up HR professionals for work that directly supports business objectives.

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To navigate an increasingly complex talent environment, middle market companies need to stay ahead of the trends affecting labor and workforce.