If you have been looking for a new job recently, especially online, you are sure to have run across the phrase, compensation DOE. The employer will use this in lieu of stating a set salary figure. Actually this could be a great thing for both you and the employer. When an employer offers DOE, they are essentially saying they want to hire someone and pay them according to their years of experience in that field, their background and familiarity with the operations desired and their educational level.
There will be times that you see a stated salary range with the DOE attached. This means that an employer will pay no less than the lowest number and no more than the largest number. You can negotiate your salary anywhere in-between.
The Doe (depending on experience) attached will be the determining factor as to whether you are offered a salary that leans more toward the high or low end of the designated range. Even though a salary has a DOE attached this does not give any employer leeway to pay less than the stated government regulated minimum wage.
Compensation DOE Success!
While most people balk at applying for positions that are advertised “DOE”, especially those with very little experience it is worth noting that sometimes employers will hire a qualified candidate that is light on experience but excel in other areas. Many will hire a less experienced person at a lower salary and this is a plus. This will give you a chance to grow and gain the necessary experience.
The designation “DOE” is actually quite new in the workforce. Now that things like payroll have gone digital it is easier to keep peace in the workplace even though different employees are paid varying wages. In the days of paper files and manual accounting it was hard to keep what people were making a secret and this was a great source of contention in the work place. It is quite possible today for two employees to be doing the same job and be paid vastly different salaries. The “DOE” applies mainly to the cash salary, but there are a few other things that can also fall under that heading.
If a company offers stock options, long ago this was only given to those people in the company who had reached an executive level. Today it is –possible to be awarded stock options at any level and thus some companies have made them a “DOE” item. The more experienced you are at time of hire the more stock options you are entitled to. It is also a great incentive for those already in the company, the more experience they gain the higher the stock options get.
Another area that you might see the term “Depending On Experience” in the work environment is in the company’s pension plan. You have to be extremely careful with this one, as an employer, the tax incentives that are offered could be suddenly be taken away if the discrepancy in terms is too great.
If you are currently seeking employment, do not let the designation “DOE” put you off. Apply anyway, experienced may not be what the employer is interested in ultimately. If you have the experience the chance to land a great job at a decent salary is a bonus. If you do not have tons of experience your eagerness and other factors could land you the job of your dreams. The door is wide open for either of these scenarios.
Depending on Experience or DOE can be confusing, there are many who think it is some form of deferred compensation but this too is an entirely different. This is used for any type of income that is to be actualized in the future, pensions, stock and 401k plans to name a few. Because the employee does not receive it right away the company can claim a tax break on the amount that they put into these accounts. This will be discussed when you interview for the “DOE” job and could be used as part of an overall salary package.
The Other DOE Meaning
When it comes to cases involving filing for worker’s compensation the term “DOE” takes on a different meaning. In this case it is applied to expert testimony required in insurance cases. The more experience your expert witness has the greater your chances of winning your case. When and it comes to expert testimony the judge and the jury will be looking at their credentials. Where they are licensed to practice in their field is not as important as other things.
Education, knowledge, training and years of practical experience are what is looked at to judge a witnesses competency for testimonial purposes. This is true in almost all states for all cases except where medical malpractice is concerned, this being an entirely separate issue from diagnosing a disease or ailment. When it comes to hiring attorneys this is something that you must look at. Hiring an attorney with an eye toward “DOE” could mean the difference between winning a case and losing a case, and a large insurance payout or not.
An experienced attorney will know what to look for when presenting an expert witness and they also know that jury’s will take the word of a well respect and seasoned expert. Remember the other party will also present experts. It really boils down to whose expert has the most experience and the most clout.
Knowing the different uses of the term DOE is a beginning. In either case applying for a job or searching for a good attorney and expert witness experience can work in your favor. However, inexperience should never dissuade you from putting your bid in for a job. Who you are and how you perform in an interview could change their minds.