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AI in Comp from the Practitioner Lens

Sean Luitjens and Paul Reiman are joined by Josh Lemon, a Total Rewards leader at Resideo, to discuss how AI is being adopted in the Total Rewards space from a practitioner's lens.

When the Job Benchmark Doesn’t Fit: What’s the Source of Friction?

The instinct, when a benchmark doesn’t feel right, is to pull more data. The better move is to ask why it doesn’t fit in the first place.

Rewards From the CPO Seat - Roasting Paul Edition

Sean Luitjens and Paul Reiman are joined by Jesper Helt, Head of People for Europe and India at Samsara, to explore what CHROs actually need from their rewards partners and where that relationship tends to succeed or fall short.

CompTech Consolidation: What's Occurring? What Does it Mean for You?

The CompTech market is consolidating fast. Here's what's driving it and what it means for buyers navigating their options.

The Story of Levels.fyi and Creating a Great Data Source

The founder of Levels.fyi share how they built one of the most-referenced comp data sources in tech from the ground up.

Pay Equity Best Practices from the Market with Nancy Romanyshyn

Nancy Romanyshyn shares what leading organizations are doing to make pay equity a durable, ongoing practice rather than a one-time fix.

Pay Equity with Tom Heys

Sean Luitjens and Paul Reiman are joined by Tom Heys, a lawyer specializing in the EU Pay Transparency Directive, for a practitioner-focused deep dive into what the EUPTD actually means in practice, not just on paper.

Webinar Replay: Comp Cycle Showdown: Debating the Design Decisions that Define Your Program

Paul Reiman and Kathryn Gombos recently went head-to-head to tackle both sides of a debate on key annual cycle decisions.

Pay Transparency Has Changed. Technology is Catching Up

Discover how evolving regulations and rising expectations are transforming pay transparency from a periodic task into a continuous operation, and how modern technology is stepping in to meet these new demands.

The EU Pay Transparency Directive: The Reporting Isn't the Hard Part

Complying with the EU Pay Transparency Directive goes far deeper than reports. The real work is in the comp foundation underneath.

Discussions Around AI in Comp

A candid conversation about how AI is showing up in compensation work and what practitioners should actually pay attention to.

Global TR Leader for Campari

Campari's global Total Rewards leader shares the challenges and lessons of managing comp across a complex international organization.

Whats Up with W@W and This Years Conference

A casual but informed conversation covering what's happening at WorldatWork and what comp professionals can expect from this year's conference.

Pay Equity and Transparency with Anitta Lettink

Anitta Lettink breaks down the intersection of pay equity and transparency and what organizations need to get right.

Webinar Replay: Pay Transparency - Planning For Now and Looking Ahead

Paul Reiman and Artila Metaliaj recently discussed the history of pay transparency and offered insights into the challenges companies are facing as they prepare for the EUPTD.

Unpack the WTW and Bettercomp Partnership: What is Really Signals

An analysis of the WTW and Bettercomp partnership and what it signals about the growing trend toward specialization and integration in the CompTech landscape.

Why Traditional Job Architectures Fall Apart for the Hourly Workforce

Standard job architecture frameworks weren't built with hourly workers in mind, and the gaps show when you try to apply them.

Nobody Cares About How Many Grades You Have

The number of grades in your compensation structure is invisible to everyone except comp professionals. What employees and leaders actually care about is whether the structure is fair, clear, and easy to use.

History and Future of Compa With Charlie Franklin

Charlie Franklin traces the origin of Compa and shares where he sees comp technology heading next.

LATAM comp and Ben

A focused conversation on the unique dynamics of compensation and benefits in the Latin American market.

The New Year Predictions Show With Briscoe

A lighthearted but informed look at what the comp and rewards world might expect in the year ahead.

Tackling Global Pay Equity - a Euro View

A European perspective on the growing pressure to address pay equity across borders, cultures, and regulatory environments.

From Charts to Clarity: Why Payscale Compass is a Meaningful Step Forward

A review of Payscale Compass and how it advances compensation analytics from raw data to actionable insight.

Holiday Hang Episode

A casual end-of-year conversation reflecting on the state of comp and what's on practitioners' minds heading into the new year.

Payroll and Rewards

A discussion on the often-overlooked relationship between payroll and total rewards and why closer alignment matters.

Working to Global Pay Equity

A practical conversation on the steps organizations are taking to close pay gaps and build more equitable global comp programs.

Five Tips for Communicating Compensation in a Tight Budget Year

When budgets are lean, clear and honest, comp communication becomes more critical than ever. Here are five ways to do it well.

Nobody Cares About Your Average Compa- Ratio

Average compa-ratios make compensation look tidy on paper while masking the real story. What actually matters is the distribution, the outliers, and how individual employees experience their pay.

Alternative Data Sources: Pros and Cons

A balanced look at non-traditional comp data sources and what they offer, where they fall short, and when to use them.

Rewards and TA Partnership

A conversation on how Total Rewards and Talent Acquisition can work better together to attract and retain top talent.

You're a Legend. What Have You Seen?

A veteran comp professional shares career lessons and candid observations about what has changed and what hasn't in the field.

Building a Successful Comp Program in a Sales Driven Org

Sales driven organizations have unique comp pressures and this episode breaks down how to build a program that serves both the business and the workforce.

ADP Acquires Pequity: Proof of the Pattern and a Test of What Comes Next

ADP's acquisition of Pequity highlights the rapid consolidation in the compensation tech space, aiming to enhance strategic compensation planning and decision-making capabilities.

Intelligent Pay Gets a New Name: Syndi

Syndio rebrands Intelligent Pay to Syndi, aiming to revolutionize compensation with adaptive decision intelligence and contextual pay guidance. Read how Syndi positions itself as the future of pay decision-making.

Structure, Definition, Clarity: The Business Case for Job Architecture

Clear job architecture isn't just an HR nicety. It delivers real business value through better structure and decision-making.

Nobody Cares When You Say Compensation Is "An Art and a Science" (and that's not true anyway)

"Compensation is an art and a science" is a comfortable dodge that lets comp pros avoid explaining their reasoning. The real discipline is knowing how to blend statistics, psychology, economics, finance, and organizational behavior.

Nobody Cares About Cost of Living vs Cost of Labor

The difference between the cost of labor and the cost of living, and why honest communication about pay matters more than jargon.

Sales Compensation is a Team Sport: Define Team Roles to Maximize Impact

Maximize your sales compensation impact through clear team roles and collaboration. Learn how structured stewardship drives better plans, stronger partnerships, and greater business growth.

Should the Merit Increase Be Dead?

A spirited debate on whether the traditional merit increase still has a place in modern compensation, or if it's past its prime.

Comp Management Best Practices and the Story of BetterComp

The team behind Bettercomp shares the comp management best practices that shaped their product and philosophy.

Navigating the Challenge of Global Teams and Practices

A practical discussion on how comp and rewards teams manage consistency and fairness across geographically dispersed workforces.

The World of Global Mobility

An exploration of global mobility's role in total rewards and the complexity it adds to comp strategy.

The Art of Market Pricing

Market pricing is part process, part judgment. This conversation digs into how to do it well beyond just matching titles.

Extending Compensation's Reach: Introducing the "Offer Guidance" Category in CompTech

An introduction to Offer Guidance, a new CompTech category using AI to extend compensation's influence into real-time offer decisions for greater pay equity.

Payscale Acquires Datapeople: Compensation Meets Talent Acquisition

Payscale's acquisition of Datapeople aims to streamline compensation and talent acquisition workflows, enhancing job management, pay transparency, and market benchmarking accuracy.

Keys to Creating a Great Comp Program

A high-level conversation covering the foundational principles and practical moves behind building a comp program that holds up.

HR Tech Review

A review and discussion of the latest developments and trends shaping the HR technology landscape.

Kicking Off the New Season of Totally Rewarding Chats

The season premier sets the stage for the conversations, themes, and guests ahead on Totally Rewarding Chats.

A Framework for Fair and Consistent Pay Decisions

Pay decisions made without a clear framework lead to inequity. Here's a structured approach to keeping them fair and consistent.

Compa Frontline: Needed Innovation for Location-Sensitive Roles

Discover how Compa Frontline provides real-time compensation insights for location-sensitive roles, addressing dynamic labor market needs with hyper-localized data.

Why More Consolidation is Coming to the Cycle Management Category

Discover why the compensation and cycle management tech sector is set for more consolidation and what it means for HR teams.

BetterComp Raising New Capital

BetterComp secures new funding, indicating strong momentum and investor confidence, likely aimed at market expansion and strategic growth within the CompTech landscape.

Introducing the Novo Insights CompTech Category Assessments: Your Shortcut to Smarter CompTech Decisions

Discover our Novo Insights CompTech Category Assessment reports to streamline your tech decisions with in-depth vendor analysis and practical planning advice. Ideal for compensation professionals.

Benchmark Gaps: Staying Market-Driven When Comp Data Is Missing

When survey data comes up short, you need a strategy to stay competitive. Here's how to navigate the gaps in market pricing.

The Five Goals of a Strong Compensation Structure

A well-designed pay structure should do more than organize salaries. Here are the five goals it needs to accomplish.

How to Measure the Success of Your Annual Compensation Cycle

A practical guide to defining and tracking the right metrics to know if your annual comp cycle is actually working.

Pay Transparency: A Means to an End

Discover how strategic pay transparency can build trust and drive business performance without sacrificing employee comfort or creating unintended consequences.

Understanding Pay Mix vs. Pay at Risk in Sales Compensation

Learn the key differences between pay mix and pay at risk in sales compensation to optimize motivation and performance in your sales team.

Navigating the Architecture and Benchmarking Challenges of Hybrid Jobs

Hybrid roles that blend functions don't fit neatly into standard frameworks. Here's how to benchmark and architect them effectively.

Architect the Comp Team by Considering Size, Structure, Roles

An article exploring the key drivers of compensation team size and how organizations can structure and resource their compensation functions to maximize strategic impact.

Traditional Job Architecture Career Streams Collide with Modern Work

As work evolves, rigid career stream models are increasingly out of step with how organizations and roles actually function.

Asking for More: Tips for Getting More Heads and Dollars

Tips for compensation leaders on securing additional resources by framing needs strategically, showcasing ROI, and exploring alternatives to headcount for enhanced team effectiveness.

Pave Partners with Greenhouse to Provide Offer-Based Insights

Discover how Pave's new Offer Insights product, in partnership with Greenhouse, revolutionizes offer-based compensation market intelligence. Explore the impact on compensation management and market trends.

Compa Expands From Offer Intelligence to Real-Time Benchmarks

Compa expands into real-time benchmarks with Compa Benchmarks and Compa Stock Intelligence, revolutionizing compensation market intelligence for enterprise technology companies. Discover the future of compensation data.

Benchmarking Your Benchmarks: A Guide to Evaluating Compensation Market Data

A guide to evaluating compensation market data, focusing on metrics, samples, methods, tools, and value. Learn how to choose the best benchmarks for your organization.

4 Reasons Performance Ratings Aren't Vital to the Compensation Cycle [Members Only]

Performance ratings aren't the cornerstone of comp decisions that many think. Here's why your cycle can thrive without them.

Creating Global Compensation Alignment With a New Compensation Structure

Learn how Novo Insights helped a software company create a harmonized compensation framework to address market challenges and ensure pay equity.

The Big Challenge With Small Compensation Teams

Discover how small compensation teams can optimize their efficiency and impact with strategic planning and tailored strategies. Learn key insights and recommendations to enhance your compensation function.

CompTool Launches Capabilities to Make Survey Management Easier (and maybe even free)

CompTool's new survey marketplace lets compensation teams browse, buy, and integrate market pricing data in one place, with free benchmarking capabilities that make it a cost-effective starting point for organizations building out their market pricing practice.

The Ship Has Sailed: Compensation Benchmarking Leaves the Safe Harbor

An article clarifying why real-time compensation benchmarking data isn't illegal, despite falling outside traditional Safe Harbor guidelines.

Creating a Job and Compensation Structure to Align Global Talent

Job architecture and compensation structure become imperative to navigate global organizations and ensure consistent compensation competitiveness.

How Long Does It Take a Rep to Ramp?

Understanding the new hire ramp-up period is crucial for optimizing sales performance. Learn how to evaluate the duration, persistence of under-performance, and predictive metrics in this data-driven approach.

Who Pays At The 25th Percentile?

An article explaining why most companies pay some employees at the 25th percentile, whether by design or as a natural result of salary structures, and why below-median pay can be a legitimate strategy.

Six Types of Market Data

Not all compensation market data is created equal. This piece breaks down six distinct data types from traditional surveys to self-reported sources, helping comp teams understand the tradeoffs and build a smarter portfolio approach to benchmarking.

Understanding the CompTech Domain

Compensation Technology Domain: Linking tech choices to key processes, and categorizing key software providers and vendors into relevant categories

Don't Be Left Behind: Embrace AI and Expand Your Impact

A guide for HR and compensation professionals on embracing AI by becoming AI-literate, identifying automation-resistant work, and investing in uniquely human skills like communication, data storytelling, and behavioral science.

The Secret Sauce: Compensation Strategies to Fuel Retention in High Turnover Service Industries

A compensation recipe to help combat turnover and keep your workforce engaged.

Pave Expands Market Management Offering

Pave's move to support third party survey data is a practical acknowledgment that comp professionals still trust traditional surveys, and it positions Pave as a more complete platform while adding another competitor to an already crowded market management space.

Why Don't People Use My Dashboard?

Building a great people analytics dashboard means nothing if nobody uses it. This piece breaks down the five most common reasons dashboard utilization falls flat and what to do instead.

Make This Deal Work: Integration Strategies That Maximize Deal Value

Most M&A deals fail to deliver their promised value, and weak people integration is a core reason. This piece gives HR teams a practical framework for tying their integration strategy directly to the deal thesis.

Is Your Compensation Team Understaffed?

Research on how compensation functions are staffed, timed to a moment when pay transparency is putting comp teams under more pressure than ever.

Challenge the Robot: Critical Questions to Ask Your AI Tech Provider

Arms HR leaders with five essential questions to vet AI-powered people tech vendors covering data sourcing, privacy, model transparency, and bias. It's a practical checklist for making smarter, more ethical decisions when adopting AI in HR.

Enable People Analytics with Thoughtful People Data Management

An overview of why a thoughtful people data management strategy is essential for enabling effective people analytics as HR technology continues to expand and fragment.

Pay Transparency is Here: How to Make it Work

A guide to embracing pay transparency by refining compensation philosophies, modernizing pay structures, and advancing fair pay practices.

Measure the Success of Your Annual Compensation Cycle

A guide to evaluating compensation cycle success through five key metrics: budget adherence, performance differentiation, market alignment, promotion meaningfulness, and pay equity.

The Compensation Business Review

An article introducing the Compensation Business Review (CBR) as a structured, recurring process that helps compensation teams shift from reactive to proactive by delivering ongoing insights and owning the pay agenda with business leaders.

Machine Learning For Non-Data People

A beginner-friendly overview of machine learning, covering its types, real-world uses, risks, and data requirements.

How the Compensation Function Needs to Change

The compensation profession is overdue for a reset. This piece makes the case for five meaningful shifts comp teams need to make to keep pace with a world shaped by pay transparency, flexible work, and rising employee expectations.

How To Measure Quality of Hire

Efficiency metrics like time to fill and cost per hire matter, but without measuring hire quality they incentivize the wrong outcomes. Two simple metrics fix this: whether new hires perform and whether they stay.

Around the Web: November 2022

A monthly roundup of resources the Novo Insights team found worth sharing, covering pay transparency updates, remote work research, people analytics, and tools for communicating data and models more effectively.

Make a Bigger Impact With the Information You Have

A review outlining a four-stage framework for turning HR data into business impact by addressing common gaps in information, insight, ideas, and implementation.

People Metrics That Matter

A practical framework for identifying the HR metrics that actually matter, organized across nine categories with clear guidance on what to measure, how often to review it, and how to connect it to real business outcomes.

Key Metrics: Time to Fill

Measuring time to fill is more nuanced than most organizations realize, and this piece breaks down the full exit to fill cycle into seven distinct time periods to give comp and TA teams a clearer, more actionable view of recruitment performance.

Around the Web: October 2022

A monthly roundup of resources worth reading, covering pay transparency legislation, workforce productivity research, compensation benchmarking debates, and people analytics tools and metrics.

Pay for Performance: The Big Picture

A case for evaluating pay-for-performance systems over a multi-year lens rather than point-in-time decisions, introducing the concept of Comparable Employee Pay Progression to better assess whether compensation truly rewards top talent over time.

Key Metric: Comparable Employee Pay Progression

Merit budgets only tell part of the pay increase story. This piece introduces Comparable Employee Pay Progression, a metric that captures the full rate of compensation growth employees experience over time including promotions, adjustments, and off-cycle increases.

Do You Need To Pay More?

A four-part framework for assessing compensation competitiveness beyond anecdotal benchmarks.

The MAIN Idea: Framing Investments in Reducing Attrition

A framework for connecting comp and rewards investments to attrition reduction in a way that resonates with business leaders.

Attrition is Expensive - But How Expensive Is It?

Generic attrition cost benchmarks rarely hold up to CFO scrutiny. This piece breaks down the true cost of employee attrition across five distinct components so organizations can build a defensible, customized calculation for their own workforce.

Wages and Inflation: Chicken and Egg

As inflation rates are high and labor markets are tight, it's a bit difficult to keep straight what is a cause and what is an effect.