outRageous HR: What Happens Inside a Pay Equity Audit (And Why Most Companies Wait Too Long)

Not long ago, many companies viewed pay equity audits as a defensive measure to avoid legal penalties or prepare for a rare regulatory inspection. Managing compensation was about matching market rates, and teams could often get by with basic annual adjustments.

Not anymore. Especially given the rise in pay transparency laws. What was once a secretive topic dictated by your previous salary history, has turned into open conversations centered on pay transparency leaving many employers wondering...are my pay practices equitable?

In this episode of outRageous HR: Inside Pay Equity Audits: What Most Companies Get Wrong, Neil Dickinson, VP of Compensation Services, Sarah Jane Hannan, Compensation Analyst, and host Catherine Boudreaux tackle the anxieties surrounding pay equity data, why a true audit leaves no race or gender excluded, and how the right analysis actually protects your merit-based compensation structure.

In this episode, the trio covers:

• The why behind conducting pay equity analysis and how often to analyze pay
• The fear most companies have before running a pay equity analysis—and why most are better off than they think
• How to structure a safe pay equity audit
• The power of regression-based analysis
• The difference between fair pay and equal pay and what companies realistically should strive for
• Pay equity best practices HR should live by

How OutSolve Can Help

If your team is hesitant to dig into your compensation data or overwhelmed by the growing patchwork of state pay transparency laws, OutSolve provides the clear, consultant-led guidance you need to structure a safe pay equity audit.

We assist you in building a comprehensive analysis where no race or gender is excluded, ensuring true organizational transparency. Our consultants help prepare your team to have the necessary conversations with leadership and construct clear remediation plans—even if budget realities mean you need a documented, phased strategy to address gaps over time.

Ready to take the fear out of your compensation data and build an airtight strategy? Listen to the full episode now.