outsolve insights

If you haven’t yet heard, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Payroll Audit Independent Determination program (PAID) is officially back, with some changes and updates. For HR professionals, especially those working on compensation, compliance, and employee trust, this is a development worth paying attention to.  

If your compensation strategy is mostly “gut feeling” plus whatever you did last year… it’s time to rethink your approach. 

Compensation is one of the most sensitive and complex aspects of managing people. For many companies, standardizing pay across roles, teams, and locations can quickly become overwhelming. Without a solid foundation in place, pay decisions often become inconsistent, reactive, or even unintentionally biased. 

As the fourth quarter rolls around and HR professionals begin prepping for performance reviews, compensation planning, and end of year reporting, be sure to save a spot on your planning and strategic checklist for a pay equity check-up. 

How do you attract and keep top performers in a job market where candidates have endless options, expectations are high, and pay transparency is the new normal? HR practitioners are asking themselves these questions every day. 

As an HR leader, you already know that developing an effective compensation strategy is more than just setting salaries. It's about building a system that motivates your people, syncs with company goals, and helps attract and retain top talent.  

When it comes to employment practices and conditions, fairness truly is a business imperative. As HR professionals, we know that compensation can make or break employee engagement, retention, and even your employer brand.  

Let’s be honest, talking about pay isn’t always easy. In today’s job market, avoiding the conversation around compensation can cost your company more than a few awkward moments. You could end up facing hefty fines, costly legal battles, and a damaged reputation. Fair, transparent, and competitive pay continues to be a critical part of successful HR strategy, especially when it comes to attracting and retaining top talent. 

If you've spent any time worrying whether your pay practices are truly competitive, or if your compensation philopophy is helping or hurting retention, then you're not alone. Today's fiercely tight labor market puts the pressure on HR to make sure that pay is not only fair but also data-informed and future-proof. 

Think of your compensation strategy as the blueprint for pay. It defines how your organization sets, manages, and explains compensation. This includes base pay, bonuses, benefits, raises, and the reasoning behind each. A strong strategy ensures pay is competitive, consistent, and aligns with business goals and employee expectations.