Compensation and benefits media

11/05/2026

Mid-year comp reforecast: the questions to ask before June

Learn why a mid-year compensation reforecast belongs in May, not July, and how to use May compensation planning to manage retention risk, pay equity, reserves and finance alignment with practical templates.

Pay Equity

13/05/2026

Pay equity remediation without triggering new litigation

Five-year equity vesting is back: designing retention grants under the new proxy regime

Stock Options

08/05/2026

Five-year equity vesting is back: designing retention grants under the new proxy regime

Why 83% of employers still spread merit equally, and why it is a retention trap

Performance-Based Pay

07/05/2026

Why 83% of employers still spread merit equally, and why it is a retention trap

GLP-1 drugs on your plan: coverage rules that contain cost without revolt

Health Insurance

Location-agnostic pay: the hidden cost of killing your geo-differentials

07/05/2026

GLP-1 drugs on your plan: coverage rules that contain cost without revolt

Spotlight

Salary Structures

07/05/2026

Location-agnostic pay: the hidden cost of killing your geo-differentials

Learn how geographic pay differentials, flat national pay and tiered metro models affect total compensation cost, internal equity and relocation policy, with concrete examples, math and sample geo-factor guidance for total rewards leaders.

by Quincy Larson

ISS and Glass Lewis extend pay-for-performance to 5 years: what changes for grant design

Performance-Based Pay

29/04/2026

ISS and Glass Lewis extend pay-for-performance to 5 years: what changes for grant design

Learn how ISS and Glass Lewis have shifted to a five-year pay-for-performance lens, what it means for executive compensation design, and how boards can stress test grants, improve disclosure, and manage Say-on-Pay risk.

Pay equity audits that hold up in court: a defensible methodology

Learn how to run a defensible pay equity analysis that legal counsel supports, from scoping and regression controls to remediation budgeting and disclosure choices.

401(k) plan fees benchmarking: what counts as reasonable in 2026

Learn how to benchmark 401(k) plan fees under ERISA, avoid fee litigation and document a prudent fiduciary process using credible market data, clear governance routines and transparent participant communication.

Total rewards transparency: when showing the whole pie backfires

Compensation Policies

03/05/2026

Total rewards transparency: when showing the whole pie backfires

Why most total rewards transparency efforts backfire, how the 120% trust cliff works, and how to design compensation policies and benefits that employees actually believe.

Massachusetts starts fining non-compliant job postings: the first real pay transparency stress test

Learn how Massachusetts pay transparency enforcement works in practice, from Notices to Cure and two-day response windows to escalating fines, coverage thresholds, and practical audit steps for compensation teams.

Pay transparency laws by state: the 2026 compliance map

Learn how pay transparency laws by state affect job postings, remote roles and internal promotions, with key statutes, thresholds, penalties and practical compliance examples for compensation leaders.

Retention without sign-on bonuses: what actually sticks

Practical employee retention strategies for HR and managers, from recognition design to stay interviews, counter offers, career paths and flexible work policies.

US health benefit costs set to jump 6.5% in 2026: the deductible game is running out

Employer health benefit costs are projected to rise 6.5% in 2026, pushing average spending per worker above $18,500. Learn how income-based contributions, network design, GLP-1 management and ACA coordination can control trend while protecting affordability and equity.

by Vincent Lefebvre

Proxy season 2026: what ISS and Glass Lewis will actually punish this year

Compensation Policies

21/04/2026

Proxy season 2026: what ISS and Glass Lewis will actually punish this year

Say-on-Pay 2026 guide for compensation committees: how ISS 2025 Americas policies and Glass Lewis 2025 pay-for-performance scorecards affect executive pay design, grant structures, and proxy disclosure.

by Laura Patel

Mercer pegs 2026 US merit at 3.2%. The real story is the 83% spreading it flat.

Performance-Based Pay

20/04/2026

Mercer pegs 2026 US merit at 3.2%. The real story is the 83% spreading it flat.

Learn how to use your merit increase budget 2026 as a strategic tool for retention, pay equity and performance, with data from Mercer and WorldatWork and practical salary budget governance examples.

Pay transparency laws do not fix pay: structure beats disclosure

Learn why a pay transparency strategy is not the same as a compensation strategy, how salary range disclosure exposes job architecture, and how HR leaders can use transparency laws to build defensible, equitable pay structures.

ACA affordability threshold 2026: the 9.96% rule and the three safe harbors

Learn how the ACA affordability threshold of 9.86% for 2026 really affects employer health plan contributions, how the three IRS safe harbors work, and how to avoid costly Section 4980H penalties and IRS Letter 226J challenges.

by Quincy Larson

Crafting a welcoming letter to a new employee that elevates compensation and benefits

13/04/2026

Crafting a welcoming letter to a new employee that elevates compensation and benefits

Learn how to craft a welcoming letter to a new employee that clarifies compensation, benefits, and culture while strengthening onboarding, trust, and retention.

by Rebecca O'Donnell

How smart eNPS questions transform employee engagement and advocacy

by Charlotte Bernier-Wells

11/04/2026

How smart eNPS questions transform employee engagement and advocacy

Learn how well designed eNPS questions, scales, and surveys reveal employee engagement, guide compensation and benefits decisions, and strengthen workplace advocacy.

The best platforms for building integrations with HRIS tools for modern compensation teams

11/04/2026

The best platforms for building integrations with HRIS tools for modern compensation teams

Learn how the best platforms for building integrations with HRIS tools support accurate payroll, global workforce management, and strategic compensation decisions.

by Olivia Martinez

How smart sales representative incentives transform performance and pay

How smart sales representative incentives transform performance and pay

Learn how smart sales representative incentives align goals, rewards, and performance to motivate sales teams, protect ethics, and support long term growth.

by Madeleine Beaumont

Engaging virtual christmas party ideas for remote teams seeking connection

Engaging virtual christmas party ideas for remote teams seeking connection

Learn how strategic virtual Christmas party ideas can strengthen remote team engagement, support fair rewards, and enhance your overall compensation and benefits strategy.

by Rebecca O'Donnell

How thoughtful welcome letters to new employees elevate compensation and benefits strategies

How thoughtful welcome letters to new employees elevate compensation and benefits strategies

Learn how thoughtful welcome letters to new employees clarify compensation, benefits, and onboarding, building trust, engagement, and a strong company culture.

by Vincent Lefebvre

How compensation and benefits strategies elevate workforce efficiency

Compensation Policies