Compensation and benefits media

Running a pay equity audit when DEI is under a microscope: legal risk on both sides

How CHROs can run pay equity audits that withstand legal scrutiny on both DEI and reverse-discrimination fronts, with defensible factors, privilege and governance.

Market pricing without the guesswork: a repeatable process for defensible pay ranges

Market Benchmarking

Market pricing without the guesswork: a repeatable process for defensible pay ranges

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

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

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

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

The match nobody captures: fixing 401(k) participation with design, not nagging

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

Spotlight

Where the health budget actually leaks: taking control of specialty and GLP-1 pharmacy spend

The match nobody captures: fixing 401(k) participation with design, not nagging

How to turn your 401(k) match into real compensation, using auto features, smarter match formulas and fiduciary guardrails to lift participation without more nagging.

The benefit that keeps people from raiding their 401(k): building an emergency savings program that works

Where the health budget actually leaks: taking control of specialty and GLP-1 pharmacy spend

How employers can regain control of specialty and GLP-1 pharmacy spend, from PBM contracts to GLP-1 coverage rules, audits and governance for sustainable costs.

Wellness Programs

Building a 2027 sales comp plan that rewards results, not luck or sandbagging

The benefit that keeps people from raiding their 401(k): building an emergency savings program that works

How an emergency savings employer program protects 401(k) balances, cuts financial stress and strengthens retention through smart design, auto enrollment and SECURE 2.0.

Performance-Based Pay

Building a 2027 sales comp plan that rewards results, not luck or sandbagging

Practical guide for total rewards leaders to build a 2027 sales comp plan that aligns quotas, pay mix and governance with real revenue, not luck or sandbagging.

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

Salary Structures

04/09/2026

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

Why strong job architecture matters more than titles for fair pay, clean leveling, and structures that survive reorganizations and pay transparency pressures.

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

04/09/2026

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

Mandatory Roth catch-up rules now force high earners’ 401(k) catch-ups into Roth. Learn who is affected, payroll and plan changes, and how to communicate it.

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

Benefits Compliance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How an HR ticketing system elevates compensation and benefits service

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.

Technology in Compensation

by Jean-Paul Dubois-Maier

How an HR ticketing system elevates compensation and benefits service

Discover how HR ticketing systems improve compensation and benefits operations, from accurate pay and leave management to better employee experience, compliance, and data driven strategy.

Gusto vs QuickBooks for payroll and benefits technology: which platform really serves employees best

Technology in Compensation

by Jean-Paul Dubois-Maier

Gusto vs QuickBooks for payroll and benefits technology: which platform really serves employees best

Compare Gusto vs QuickBooks for small-business payroll and benefits. See how each platform handles automation, tax filing, direct deposit, pricing, and integrations for compensation teams.

How an employer of record in Germany reshapes compliant hiring and benefits

Labor Laws

How corporate learning and development reshapes compensation, benefits, and the future of work

How an employer of record in Germany reshapes compliant hiring and benefits

Learn how employer of record (EOR) arrangements work in Germany, including employee leasing rules, payroll and social security costs, benefits design, and compliance with German labor law.

by Madeleine Beaumont

Future of Work

How corporate learning and development reshapes compensation, benefits, and the future of work

Explore how corporate learning and development links to compensation, skill-based pay, and internal mobility ROI, and how HR and rewards leaders can design data-driven L&D strategies that boost performance, retention, and total rewards value.

by Quincy Larson

Understanding Costco's Dental Coverage Options

How the Toyota employee discount works and what you should know

03/12/2025

How the Toyota employee discount works and what you should know

Understanding the Johnson & Johnson Pension Plan

30/08/2025

Understanding the Johnson & Johnson Pension Plan

Understanding the Voluntary Separation Scheme: An In-Depth Guide

02/05/2025

Understanding the Voluntary Separation Scheme: An In-Depth Guide

Understanding the Benefits of a Transit FSA

Understanding the Benefits of a Transit FSA

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

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

Understanding the Frequency and Duration of Intermittent FMLA

27/06/2025

Understanding the Frequency and Duration of Intermittent FMLA

Understanding Domestic Partnerships in Illinois

Benefits Compliance

07/08/2025

Understanding Domestic Partnerships in Illinois

Understanding Eligible Expenses for SF MRA

Wellness Programs

Understanding Eligible Expenses for SF MRA

Understanding the Costs of UPS Retirement Health Insurance

Understanding the Costs of UPS Retirement Health Insurance

Understanding the Intersection of FSAs and COBRA

07/09/2025

Understanding the Intersection of FSAs and COBRA

Understanding Paternity Leave in Massachusetts

01/07/2025

Understanding Paternity Leave in Massachusetts

Understanding Deutsche Bank's Pension Scheme

09/05/2025

Understanding Deutsche Bank's Pension Scheme

Understanding Capital Accumulation Plans: A Guide for Employees

Understanding Capital Accumulation Plans: A Guide for Employees

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

21/12/2025

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

Understanding VEBA HRA: A Guide to Employee Benefits

Appraisee comments examples that elevate performance appraisal and rewards

22/06/2025

Understanding VEBA HRA: A Guide to Employee Benefits

Compensation Strategies

Appraisee comments examples that elevate performance appraisal and rewards

Learn how to write strong appraisee comments that link your performance to pay, bonuses, and benefits, with practical examples, structure tips, and research-backed guidance.

by Madeleine Beaumont

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

Market Benchmarking

by Charlotte Bernier-Wells

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.

Employee Benefits Programs

by Jean-Paul Dubois-Maier

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.

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

Recognition Programs

How to craft a powerful speech for recognition in modern reward programs

Recognition Programs

Strategic team shout out examples that elevate recognition and rewards at work

Recognition Programs

How structured employee recognition forms elevate rewards and engagement

What perks really mean in modern compensation and benefits

Non-Monetary Rewards

How an employer of record in the Netherlands reshapes compensation, benefits, and legal risk

10/08/2026

What perks really mean in modern compensation and benefits

Legal and Compliance

Labor Laws

How strategic HR services help startups build future ready compensation and benefits

How an employer of record in the Netherlands reshapes compensation, benefits, and legal risk

Discover how using an employer of record in the Netherlands affects compensation, benefits, payroll, and compliance, with concrete figures on Dutch minimum wage, holiday allowance, and employer social security costs.

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

Trends and Innovations

Future of Work

Strategic hcm system selection for modern compensation and benefits teams

How strategic HR services help startups build future ready compensation and benefits

Learn how HR services for startups can design scalable compensation, benefits, and compliance from day one, with data-backed insights on technology, outsourcing, and the future of work.

by Vincent Lefebvre

Technology in Compensation