As a leader in scientific and engineering research for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and
managed by the University of California (UC), we at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
(LBNL) recognize that people are our primary resource and our principal asset for distinguishing us
from other scientific and engineering research institutions. As such, we have an objective of
recruiting, retaining, and motivating world-class scientists and engineers (S&Es) and support staff to
facilitate the research that is done at the Laboratory.
LBNL is physically located in the San Francisco Bay Area which has a very competitive labor market
with a high cost-of-living and high wages. In addition, the labor market from which we compete for
scientific, engineering, administrative, and non-exempt support employees consists of both the private
sector, public sector (e.g., other DOE national research laboratories), and academic institutions (both
domestic and international). Therefore, our total rewards package is designed to be competitive with
the external labor market.
The primary elements of the total rewards package consist of base pay, awards programs,
comprehensive benefits and retirement programs, work/life programs, and other intangibles (e.g.,
ability to do independent rather than directed research, affiliation with UC, and the Laboratory’s
reputation). As a public institution, we are limited by the funding we receive from DOE and other
sources such as research grants.
To remain competitive with the external market, our approach to the total rewards elements listed
above consists of:
• Base pay: We want to pay at the market average. We are more aggressive with pay when needed to meet the market conditions and to attract the employees needed for critical and strategic needs. We also want to reward performance with our merit pay program while at the same time being sensitive to internal equity considerations.
• Awards: We want to reward performance that recognizes unique accomplishments with methods other than base pay increases.
• Benefits: Our benefits programs are designed by UC, also with a goal of being competitive with the external labor market. Our benefits programs contain such elements as health and welfare benefits, retirement programs, and paid time off.
• Work/life programs: Our work/life programs are designed to meet the various non-work related needs of our employees.
• Intangibles: We want to provide a work environment that recognizes the uniqueness of the Laboratory and understands the needs of employees. These include such approaches as having a collaborative environment needed to conduct science, having the ability to perform non-directed scientific research, and maintaining the close affiliation with the UC system, particularly UC Berkeley.
Our total rewards philosophy and approach will continue to be influenced by our contract with DOE, requirements and policies of UC, and external labor market factors.
The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory will not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identify, pregnancy, physical or mental
disability, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), or genetic information (including family medical history).
