By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
A comparison ratio (compa-ratio) compares a salary to the midpoint of the salary range for a specific position at other businesses. A compa-ratio of 100%, would be considered at market value.
Just before the school year started last fall, all regular
staff at Barton Community College received a 7% pay increase. Barton then had a
95% compa-ratio. Following the job hiring woes from the COVID-19 pandemic
aftermath, Barton expects their compa-ratio to slip into the 80s.
Barton Vice President of Administration Mark Dean said keeping starting salaries
competitive is a must to attract and retain employees.
"I think we would have been able to save some of those that are leaving if we had higher salary," said Dean. "Those individuals that are leaving, they're taking training and knowledge. Somebody that walks in off the street...how long is it going to be until they are up to speed?"
Last week, Barton revealed the college has 65 open positions, some of which
have been vacant for more than three years.
Barton Board of Trustees member John Moshier said the new normal might be a
decreased workforce and encouraged the college to research ways to adjust.
"This workforce crisis was predicted to occur 10 years ago," said Moshier. "That's when the big grocery chains started putting in the self-checkout lanes. At McDonald's, you can order from a computer...you don't even talk to a person. There's more to it than throwing money at it. We also need to focus on things we can do to perform human tasks more efficiently."
Dean is expected to present three options for wage increases for employees at
this month’s Board of Trustees study session.