Double Job Titles?

Q: Does anyone have "double job titles" for their scientist that do both bench and management work? For example, let's say that a Principal Scientist (scientific track) job level is equivalent to an Associate Director (management track)and the scientist performs the work of both lab and management duties equally, do you provide title such as Associate Director/Principal Scientist.
Any feedback is greatly appreciated!

A: Thanks for responding to my question regarding dual titles for scientist/managers. Here are the results. Let me know if you have any questions. For the record, we did not go forward on this (it was proposed by one member of our sr. team).

Company Dual Position
A Yes
B Yes
C No
D Yes
E No
F No
G No

Comments:

Company A: We have only two employees with dual titles - Associate Director / Project Leader and a Research Scientist / Project Leader. That's it. Don't know if that helped, but I have seen dual titles used in other companies.

Company B: We have two positions like that (one at the AD level and one at the Senior Dir level), not sure if it creates more clarity or more confusion.

Company C: Company C does not have dual titles. Management titles do primarily office work but only some lab work due to the fact that they have a team under them; Principal Scientists can do management work but are generally not in charge of the overall group. If it's 50/50, it may depend on the individual's skill sets, equity within the company, and what track the company wants them to be on, as to which track to go. Sometimes a pay increase without title change is all that is needed.

Company D: We have a duel ladder that starts one level below associate director - see below and let me know if you have any questions.
Lead Scientist, Group Leader
Principal Scientist, Associate Director Head of, Director Research Fellow, Senior Director

Company E: The title should depending on the percentage of time the person is doing the primary job. If they are doing mainly management (which would mean that they have a good size team), then most likely they are spending much of their time managing the work load, performance management, meeting planning and implementing and possibly sitting on advisory groups or working on projects. If they spend more time in the lab and only have a couple people they are managing then it would be the Principle Scientist.

Company F: If the individual performs both roles they usually go by the title Associate Director (it's known within the company that this title inherently includes actual scientific work). Principle Scientist is used if they do not have managerial responsibilities but contribute to the organization at the Associate Director level (as an individual contributor).

Company G :If the scientist is predominantly responsible for the science and only has one or 2 associates or lower level scientists reporting to him/her then we leave the individual on the technical track. If it is equivalent to Associate Director then we call them Associate Research Fellow. But they are one or the other not both. The distinction is the level of "management" that that employee is being asked to perform.

Payroll company recommendations?

Q: Can anyone recommend a Payroll company (other than Paychex or ADP) for a start up company with 10 people? I have used Paychex for years and want to consider other vendors that have a good track record in serving small companies. I would appreciate any thoughts you have on this.

Merit Increase Survey for Fall 2009

We are determining our merit budget for the 2009 performance year and it would be helpful to understand what other companies are forecasting or have budgeted. In particular, we would like to understand the driving factors that influenced the merit percentage. If you would please respond to this email by 8/7/09 with:
- # of Employees
- Merit % budgeted for the 2009 performance year
- Top 3 drivers that influenced your merit budget determination

Results:
Company Merit % Budget (2009)
A 0%
B 0%
C 2.50%
D 3%
E 3%
F 3.50%
G 4%
H 4%
J 4%

AVERAGE (DILUTED): 2.67%
AVERAGE (UNDILUTED): 3.43%

INFLUENCING DRIVERS
The #1 driver cited was achievement of company objectives.
Company budget was #2.
Only 2 companies considered the national economy to be an influencing driver.
External equity, the state of the local economy and the state of the San Diego Life Sciences industry completed the list of drivers.