Comp and Coffee – Details, episodes & analysis

Compensation isn’t just an HR function—it’s a core business strategy. In this episode of Comp and Coffee, we look into the pay crystal ball with Rebecca Toman of Pearl Meyer, Ruth Thomas, Chief Compensation Strategist at Payscale, and Sara Hillenmeyer, Payscale’s Director of Data Science. Together, they explore how trusted data, AI, and a forward-thinking approach to comp strategy can help organizations not just keep up—but lead. If you care about performance, retention, equity, or executive pay, this episode is your blueprint for aligning comp strategy with long-term business success. 

What happens when your pay strategy sparks more questions than confidence—and your best people start walking? In this episode, we bring in the experts to tackle the hard truths behind tough pay conversations and how to rebuild trust before it’s too late. Episode resources: https://www.payscale.com/featured-content/cbpr Email coffee@payscale.com for listener questions and suggestions

Grab your favorite mug—we’re asking what’s ✨brewing✨ in comp strategies for the year ahead. In this episode of Comp and Coffee, host Ruth Thomas kicks off 2025 with guest Sarika Lamont, Vice President of People and Culture at Vidyard. The discussion revolves around the emerging trends and critical priorities in HR and compensation, focusing on the intersection of equity, AI, and employee empowerment. Sarika shares insights on fostering pay equity independently of DE&I trends and emphasizes the importance of sustainable pay practices. Tune in for a dynamic conversation about navigating HR challenges and strategies in the new year. Key Highlights: The influence of political and economic changes on HR priorities in 2025. The ongoing debate and strategies around remote work versus return to office. The role of AI in shaping HR and compensation processes and policies. A deep dive into the importance of pay transparency and equity amid shifting DE&I focuses. Innovative approaches to integrating performance and pay within organizations. Emerging trends in personalized rewards and skills-based pay practices. Quotes: "Compensation is an area of strategic focus for HR teams and leaders in 2025." – Sarika Lamont "Pay equity should happen systemically all the time, driven through inclusive processes." – Sarika Lamont "Performance is about growth; feedback is how action happens." – Sarika Lamont "The power of choice in total rewards is critical for fulfilling diverse employee needs." – Sarika Lamont Resources: 2025 HR Predictions Guide: https://www.payscale.com/research-and-insights/2024-end-of-year-report/#module-19 I Hate it Here Podcast Episode Compensation 101 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/54HavsXulnai0ORYK79D58?si=Y8THgieHSo-Sq_yE9vIkpA&nd=1&dlsi=6c587930609e460c

We talk a lot about ways to map to business needs on this podcast, but today we thought we'd take it beyond just talking.   In today's podcast we cover which books have most influenced members of the Comp + Coffee and Payfactors teams. And we cover a wide range of topics, not just business-y books!   If you find this interested and want to get in on a Comp + Coffee book club, drop us an email at coffee@payfactors.com.

In this episode we recap the first annual CompCon, a gathering of compensation revolutionaries. We discuss: Why there’s an appetite for something different, both from a conference standpoint and compensation standpoint All the new compensation ideas circulating around How often fair pay came up at the conference, and what it means for compensation management How compensation pros can improve communication And much more, including what’s on tap for CompCon 2019. Want to stay in the know? Just enter your email address at https://compcon.com/

In this episode we discussed the results of our recently released 2018-2019 salary budget survey report, we talk about the purpose of these surveys, and spend a little time on what the future of these surveys might look like. Download the free 2018-2019 Salary Budget Survey Report at:https://info.payfactors.com/salary-budget-survey-2018

Jason Averbook, CEO of LeapGen and CompCon keynote joins us to discuss: Why now is a time in HR that's unlike any that have come before Why HR should go away as a department And what the future of HR...or the people team...might look like   Come see Jason speak at CompCon in Boston on: Why is data and foundation so important? Why is employee experience so important, and what does HR need to drive that? How do you think about the difference between automation and digitization? What skillsets does HR need going forward? http://www.compcon.com

On this #AgedandSage episode, we pick up a new format that will appear from time to time. On #AgedandSage we'll speak with comp professionals about what's aged, that is what's something that used to work that no longer works for them. And then what's sage, or what's something new that's working well.  On this episode we talk with Romaine Lewis of Navigant Consulting. 

As we gear up for CompCon (http://www.compcon.com) and the equal pay topics we'll be covering there, we welcome Megan to the podcast. Megan shares her very recent equal pay saga. 

In this episode we talk about the traditional structure of incentives and rewards, the differences between them, and how to personalize them.