Understanding Compensation and Benefits: A Comprehensive Guide

About Compensation and benefits

Clarity and confidence for pay and benefits decisions

Compensation and benefits is a practitioner-focused media resource for leaders shaping total rewards. We translate complex market signals, benchmarking data, and policy shifts into practical guidance you can use.

Our mission is to help organizations build programs that retain talent, support performance, and withstand scrutiny, while improving cost efficiency and governance.

From job architecture to benefits design and incentive plans, we prioritize ROI, compliance, and outcomes you can measure.

What you can expect

Evidence-based insights tied to compensation strategies and governance
Actionable frameworks for benefits programs and vendor evaluation
Coverage of incentives and rewards that align performance and pay
Clear updates on legal and compliance requirements
Trends and innovations to modernize total rewards with confidence

Explore Compensation Strategies

Current trends

Open enrollment communication that changes decisions, not just checks the box

Flexible Benefits

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09/09/2026

Open enrollment communication that changes decisions, not just checks the box

Improve open enrollment communications by reducing default inertia, segmenting messages by life stage, making health plan costs clear, and tracking decision quality metrics so employees choose better fit benefits plans.

Health costs cross 18,500 dollars per employee: designing 2027 plans when half of employers are shifting cost

Health Insurance

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05/09/2026

Health costs cross 18,500 dollars per employee: designing 2027 plans when half of employers are shifting cost

Cost-shifting is a strategy, not a spreadsheet: what raising deductibles really says to your workforce

Compensation Policies

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04/09/2026

Cost-shifting is a strategy, not a spreadsheet: what raising deductibles really says to your workforce

Job architecture before job titles: the leveling framework that survives reorgs and pay transparency

Salary Structures

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04/09/2026

Job architecture before job titles: the leveling framework that survives reorgs and pay transparency

Mandatory Roth catch-up arrives for high earners: the 2026 rule your payroll cannot ignore

Retirement Plans

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04/09/2026

Mandatory Roth catch-up arrives for high earners: the 2026 rule your payroll cannot ignore

Spotlight

$IRS sets 2027 ACA affordability at 10.22%: what the highest-ever rate does to your OE math$

Benefits Compliance

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17/08/2026

IRS sets 2027 ACA affordability at 10.22%: what the highest-ever rate does to your OE math

Understand the ACA affordability threshold for 2027, how the new 10.22% ceiling and $135.92 FPL safe harbor cap affect employee contributions, and what benefits managers should do for open enrollment and ACA compliance.

The 90-day OE countdown: vendor decisions and plan design changes to lock in before September

Flexible Benefits

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11/08/2026

The 90-day OE countdown: vendor decisions and plan design changes to lock in before September

Learn how to run a 90-day open enrollment preparation timeline, from July strategy and vendor RFPs to flexible benefits, mental health parity documentation and final operational readiness checks.

Pay Equity

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13/08/2026

Your pay equity audit found nothing. That should worry you.

Why a pay equity audit that finds no gaps can signal flawed methodology, hidden disparities and governance risks, and how to stress test your approach.

Merit budgets flatten again for 2027: planning around a 3.5% number that hides a wider spread

Performance-Based Pay

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19/08/2026

Merit budgets flatten again for 2027: planning around a 3.5% number that hides a wider spread

How to plan a merit increase budget around a flat 3.5% salary pool, fund top performers, carve out hot skills, and defend modest pay increases to finance and employees.

Wellbeing benefits beyond the EAP: measuring what employees actually use and what moves the needle

Wellness Programs

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08/08/2026

Wellbeing benefits beyond the EAP: measuring what employees actually use and what moves the needle

How to measure employee wellbeing benefits beyond EAP usage, link wellbeing to ROI, and decide which wellness programs to scale or sunset.

The pay conversation nobody trains for: how managers turn comp decisions into retention moments

Salary Structures

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01/08/2026

The pay conversation nobody trains for: how managers turn comp decisions into retention moments

Learn how to turn every manager compensation conversation into a strategic retention tool by explaining pay ranges, pay equity and salary decisions with clarity and confidence.

New York forces its smallest employers into retirement savings: what the Secure Choice deadline means at 10 employees

Retirement Plans

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28/07/2026

New York forces its smallest employers into retirement savings: what the Secure Choice deadline means at 10 employees

Learn how the New York Secure Choice retirement mandate now applies to employers with 10–14 employees, key compliance dates, penalties under New York General Business Law §1303, and how to choose between the state auto-IRA program and private retirement plans.

Stay-or-pay agreements after the Connecticut ban: restructuring training repayment without the legal risk

Employee Contracts

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06/08/2026

Stay-or-pay agreements after the Connecticut ban: restructuring training repayment without the legal risk

Connecticut’s ban on stay-or-pay agreements reshapes training repayment, clawbacks and employment contracts. Learn how to redesign cost recovery without legal or retention risk.

The SEC just offered 81% of public companies an exit from full pay disclosure. Should your comp team take it?

Reporting Requirements

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21/07/2026

The SEC just offered 81% of public companies an exit from full pay disclosure. Should your comp team take it?

How the SEC’s March 18, 2024 executive compensation disclosure reform and the two-billion-dollar float threshold could shrink peer data, reshape benchmarking and raise the stakes for voluntary disclosure by non-accelerated filers.

The quiet shift from base to variable: why fixed pay is losing the retention argument

Performance-Based Pay

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23/07/2026

The quiet shift from base to variable: why fixed pay is losing the retention argument

Mercer and WorldatWork data show base salary increases are flat and variable pay now carries most of the differentiation load. Learn how to design credible incentive compensation, manage risk for frontline workers, and turn pay for performance into a real retention lever.

The fertility benefit landscape: what employers are covering and what the data says about ROI

Health Insurance

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08/07/2026

The fertility benefit landscape: what employers are covering and what the data says about ROI

Board-level guide to employer fertility benefits ROI: how large organisations design inclusive fertility coverage, model costs and offsets, manage governance and privacy, and build a defensible business case that improves retention and maternal health outcomes.

Holiday and overtime pay compliance: the FLSA rules that trip up managers every summer

Labor Laws

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01/07/2026

Holiday and overtime pay compliance: the FLSA rules that trip up managers every summer

Learn how the FLSA treats holiday work, overtime, fluctuating workweeks and state law overlays, with concrete examples and a quick checklist for summer payroll compliance.

Pay Equity

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03/07/2026

Board-ready pay equity narratives: how to present the numbers when they are not perfect

Learn how to build a credible pay equity board presentation that treats compensation as a governed risk, includes a concrete remediation budget, and aligns with evolving pay transparency, ESG, and regulatory expectations.

ERISA fiduciary duties for 401(k) plan sponsors: the checklist that prevents lawsuits

Benefits Compliance

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10/07/2026

ERISA fiduciary duties for 401(k) plan sponsors: the checklist that prevents lawsuits

Practical guide to ERISA fiduciary duties for 401(k) plan sponsors, with checklists for fee benchmarking, investment menu governance, self-correction programs, and litigation risk management.

ESPP participation is tanking: how to reverse the enrollment slide

Stock Options

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29/06/2026

ESPP participation is tanking: how to reverse the enrollment slide

Learn why ESPP participation often declines, how to explain employee stock purchase plan benefits in plain language, and which design, tax and communication strategies can sustainably increase enrolment without adding cost.

Voluntary benefits adoption rates: which perks employees actually value by generation

Flexible Benefits

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06/07/2026

Voluntary benefits adoption rates: which perks employees actually value by generation

Learn how voluntary benefits employee adoption varies by generation, which offerings outperform expectations, and how HR leaders can use data, communication and cost-neutral perks to improve retention and financial wellbeing.

Designing a benefits package for a remote-first workforce

Remote Work Benefits

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26/06/2026

Designing a benefits package for a remote-first workforce

Learn how to design remote employee benefits that balance core health coverage, flexible stipends, multi-state compliance and equity, with concrete numbers, templates and real-world examples.

Setting intern and new grad pay for summer 2026: the benchmarks that matter

Market Benchmarking

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22/06/2026

Setting intern and new grad pay for summer 2026: the benchmarks that matter

Learn how to approach intern pay benchmarking for 2026 using hard market data, NACE and Robert Half references, city-level benchmarks, and clear hourly-to-salary conversion formulas that align internships with your broader compensation strategy.

The counteroffer playbook: when to match, when to let go, and what data to use

Market Benchmarking

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19/06/2026

The counteroffer playbook: when to match, when to let go, and what data to use

Learn how to use counteroffers as a disciplined retention tool, with a practical decision framework, clear thresholds, and guidance on when to match offers, when to let employees go, and how to protect internal pay equity.

Recognition Programs

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18/06/2026

Recognition programs are not a substitute for compensation: a contrarian take on non-cash rewards

Why recognition programs cannot replace competitive pay, and how to position non-cash rewards as a complement to solid compensation in a credible total rewards strategy.

Understanding Costco's Dental Coverage Options

How the Toyota employee discount works and what you should know

Flexible Benefits

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03/12/2025

How the Toyota employee discount works and what you should know

Understanding the Johnson & Johnson Pension Plan

Retirement Plans

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30/08/2025

Understanding the Johnson & Johnson Pension Plan

Understanding the Voluntary Separation Scheme: An In-Depth Guide

Compensation Policies

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02/05/2025

Understanding the Voluntary Separation Scheme: An In-Depth Guide

Understanding the Benefits of a Transit FSA

Flexible Benefits

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12/06/2025

Understanding the Benefits of a Transit FSA

Adding Your Newborn to Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance: A Step-by-Step Guide

Health Insurance

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12/06/2025

Adding Your Newborn to Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance: A Step-by-Step Guide

Understanding the Frequency and Duration of Intermittent FMLA

Paid Time Off

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27/06/2025

Understanding the Frequency and Duration of Intermittent FMLA

Understanding Domestic Partnerships in Illinois

Benefits Compliance

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07/08/2025

Understanding Domestic Partnerships in Illinois

Understanding Eligible Expenses for SF MRA

Wellness Programs

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12/06/2025

Understanding Eligible Expenses for SF MRA

Understanding the Costs of UPS Retirement Health Insurance

Retirement Plans

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12/06/2025

Understanding the Costs of UPS Retirement Health Insurance

Understanding the Intersection of FSAs and COBRA

Health Insurance

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07/09/2025

Understanding the Intersection of FSAs and COBRA

Understanding Paternity Leave in Massachusetts

Paid Time Off

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01/07/2025

Understanding Paternity Leave in Massachusetts

Understanding Deutsche Bank's Pension Scheme

Retirement Plans

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09/05/2025

Understanding Deutsche Bank's Pension Scheme

Understanding Capital Accumulation Plans: A Guide for Employees

Retirement Plans

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12/06/2025

Understanding Capital Accumulation Plans: A Guide for Employees

Understanding taft hartley trusts: what they mean for your compensation and benefits

Compensation Policies

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21/12/2025

Understanding taft hartley trusts: what they mean for your compensation and benefits

Understanding VEBA HRA: A Guide to Employee Benefits

Flexible Benefits

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22/06/2025

Understanding VEBA HRA: A Guide to Employee Benefits

Compensation Strategies

How Rippling’s HR software market share is reshaping compensation benchmarking

Market Benchmarking

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04/08/2026

How Rippling’s HR software market share is reshaping compensation benchmarking

Learn how Rippling’s projected HR software market share in 2026 will influence compensation benchmarking, pricing power, and data quality for mid-market and global employers.

by Charlotte Bernier-Wells

Real-time salary benchmarking without survey data: how live job postings are replacing annual surveys

Market Benchmarking

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24/06/2026

Real-time salary benchmarking without survey data: how live job postings are replacing annual surveys

Learn how to combine real-time salary benchmarking from job postings with traditional salary surveys to design competitive salary bands, improve pay equity and strengthen compensation governance.

Employee Benefits Programs

Paid Time Off

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07/08/2026

Strategic leave management for modern paid time off programs

Learn how strategic leave management turns paid time off into a core workforce benefit, improves compliance with FMLA and state leave laws, and strengthens compensation, culture, and financial planning.

by Jean-Paul Dubois-Maier

Paid Time Off

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07/08/2026

Strategic leave management for modern paid time off programs

Learn how modern leave management turns paid time off into a strategic advantage, from PTO policy design and FMLA compliance to integrated software, real-time tracking and employee experience.

by Jackson Gonzalez

Incentives and Rewards

What perks really mean in modern compensation and benefits

Non-Monetary Rewards

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10/08/2026

What perks really mean in modern compensation and benefits

Non-Monetary Rewards

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10/08/2026

What perks really mean at work and how non monetary rewards transform employee experience

How strategic office party themes turn recognition into a powerful reward

Recognition Programs

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01/08/2026

How strategic office party themes turn recognition into a powerful reward

Non-Monetary Rewards

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25/07/2026

Smart, fun ways to boost morale at work through non monetary rewards

Legal and Compliance

How employee benefits liability coverage protects your company and your people

Benefits Compliance

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10/08/2026

How employee benefits liability coverage protects your company and your people

Learn how employee benefits liability (EBL) insurance protects employers from administrative errors in benefit plans, how it differs from general and fiduciary liability, and how to design compliant benefits programs that reduce EBL risk.

by Jackson Gonzalez

Multi-state pay data reporting: a compliance playbook for the 2026 filing cycle

Reporting Requirements

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12/06/2026

Multi-state pay data reporting: a compliance playbook for the 2026 filing cycle

Practical playbook for multi-state pay data reporting compliance, focusing on California’s 2026 filing cycle, new data fields, penalties, SOC job categories and HRIS strategy.

Trends and Innovations

How modern payroll software transforms compensation in the hospitality industry

Technology in Compensation

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19/08/2026

How modern payroll software transforms compensation in the hospitality industry

Discover how modern payroll software for hospitality helps hotels, restaurants, and multi-location groups manage complex pay, compliance, and real-time workforce costs while integrating time tracking, scheduling, and accounting tools.

by Vincent Lefebvre

How customer training software reshapes compensation, benefits, and performance incentives

Technology in Compensation

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13/08/2026

How customer training software reshapes compensation, benefits, and performance incentives

Explore how customer training software and modern LMS platforms like Docebo and Absorb LMS reshape compensation, bonuses, and benefits by linking customer education metrics to pay and total rewards strategies.

by Quincy Larson