Compensation
- Gradient’s goal is to pay at or above the market rate for each employee
- Each employee has a different market rate, determined by their skillset, region, and experience
- Compensation is never considered on a relative basis (what others at Gradient are making)
- Where possible, we try to link a substantial portion of compensation to performance in ways that can be measured objectively
- We review compensation every year
For employees that are eligible, merit-based raises are determined by:
- Manager recommendation
- Performance Evaluation
- Competitive salary for position based on market value
You will be informed of your eligibility for a merit-based raise during your mid-year or year-end performance evaluation review meeting. Merit-based raises typically take effect at the beginning of H2 (for mid-year raises) or after the first of the new year (for year-end raises), unless otherwise specified by leadership.
Employees who are in their first year of employment do not qualify for merit-based raises.
Availability of the bonus pool will be determined by Gradient leadership on a yearly basis. For more information on how bonuses, if available, are allocated, please see the Bonus Allocation section of the Performance Evaluation Process page.
Gradient’s growth model is built around the relationships we cultivate with our clients. We believe our strongest opportunities come from developing trusted research partnerships, staying connected with our network, and actively identifying ways we can help our clients. Employees who contribute to developing and closing client opportunities may therefore be eligible to earn commission in addition to their regular compensation.
The commission percentage is determined by how the opportunity originated and the level of cultivation required. The applicable commission classification and rate are subject to final review and approval by Gradient leadership. When an opportunity could reasonably fall into more than one category, leadership will determine the appropriate classification based on how the opportunity originated and was developed, the nature of the account and its relationship to other Gradient accounts, and the existing relationships between Gradient, the employee, and relevant client contacts.
| Deal Type | Account Type | Commission | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organic | Existing | 1% | An opportunity from an existing account that comes directly to the employee without active cultivation. A contact from the account approaches Gradient with a defined need, opportunity, or request for a proposal. | A client contacts the employee managing the account out of the blue and asks Gradient to submit a proposal for a new research project. |
| Cultivation | Existing | 5% | An opportunity from an existing account that the employee actively develops. This includes identifying or uncovering a client need through ongoing relationship management, developing that need into a qualified opportunity, and moving it through proposal and close. | During a regular client check-in, the employee identifies a potential research need. They continue working with the client to define and qualify the need until it develops into a proposal and ultimately a project. |
| Inbound / Referral | New | 7.5%* | The first deal with a new account when the lead originates through Gradient-supported activity, such as inbound marketing, a referral from an existing relationship, a conference, or another company-sponsored growth effort. | Inbound: A prospective client contacts Gradient after learning about us through a Gradient marketing effort. An employee takes ownership of the lead, identifies and develops the research opportunity, and converts it into a project Referral: An existing client or contact introduces Gradient to someone at a company we have not worked with before. An employee develops the new relationship and opportunity and converts it into a project. |
| New | New | 10%** | The first deal with a new account that is independently sourced and developed by the employee, without originating from a Gradient-sponsored growth effort or existing Gradient relationship. | An employee independently connects with a prospective client, develops the relationship, identifies a research need, and converts it into a project. |
*For Inbound / Referral opportunities, the applicable commission rate applies to the first deal with that account. Subsequent opportunities with the account are classified as either Organic or Cultivation based on how the specific opportunity was generated. **For New opportunities, the applicable commission rate applies to the first deal with that account. Subsequent opportunities with the account within the next 12 months will be paid at a 5% commission rate regardless of whether they would otherwise be classified as Organic or Cultivation. After the 12-month window, subsequent opportunities with the account are classified as either Organic or Cultivation based on how the specific opportunity was generated.
When categorizing a deal, consider:
- Have we worked with this account before? If yes, the opportunity is classified as Organic or Cultivation.
- Was active effort required to uncover and develop the opportunity? If yes, an existing-account opportunity is Cultivation rather than Organic.
- If the account is new, where did the relationship originate? Gradient-supported or referral-based introductions are Inbound / Referral; relationships independently sourced by the employee are New.
The deal type should be agreed upon based on the origin and development of the opportunity rather than simply who ultimately manages or delivers the project.
Commission is paid once Gradient receives the first client payment for the project or wave.
For projects consisting of multiple waves, commission is paid incrementally as each wave begins, based on the applicable value of that wave.