Buffer.

com
Situational Analysis
Company Established
01 Joel identified the social media posts scheduling
problem to come to solution with Buffer

Setting Values
02 Post raising funds, Buffer went on to establish
values for the firm in order to avoid mistakes done
by Zappos

The Transparency Factor

03 Company gets keen on one of its values for being
“Transparent by default”

Public Transparency
04 CEO wanted to make the salaries of all the
employees public.
 Problem Statement

“ Should Buffer go publicly transparent on salary?

“
Disadvantages

01 Poaching
As salary will be public, becomes easy for competitor to target
our talent pool

02 Difference in culture across countries

It might not be appreciated in some countries

03 Competitor’s Perspective
Easy for competitor to gauge company growth basis
employee increments going forward

04
Advantages

01 Value Based Company

Company adheres to its values and hence brings out a
positive image for the firm

02 Employee Attraction
Talent outside Buffer might get attracted towards company

03 Giving Back to startup world

As per company values this will help other startups by
providing them initial salaries offered

04
Recommendations

Selectively Transparent
Company can develop process on sharing this data
with startups only
1. Registration for request for this information
2. Sharing information post verification as a
company CXO
Limitations

01 Performance Based Pay

Case does not share information on if the company follows
performance based pay policy

02 Current Industry trend on salaries

Current industry trend on salaries not available, so impacts of
disclosing in public cannot be gauged

03

04
Thank You