Comp and Coffee

Lulu Seikaly, senior corporate employment counsel specializing in pay equity law, and Vicky Peakman, founder of Fair Pay Partners and pay equity strategist, discuss the 2026 gender pay gap data. They break down controlled vs uncontrolled gaps. They explore where disparities show up across careers and industries. They consider how pay transparency laws and compensation strategy intersect with legal and operational realities.

Brittany Vogel, People Operations lead at LeapFrog Brands who builds HR and comp processes, and Marc Mullis, founder of Payformance Partners and compensation strategist, discuss the fallout from flat, one-size-fits-all raises. They tackle why finance loves simplicity, non-cash rewards and frequent spot incentives, protecting top performers on tight budgets, and the role of transparency and manager training in preserving trust.

Amy Stewart, Payscale research lead who tracks compensation trends, and Stacey Harris, HR systems research veteran, discuss turning pay and HR systems data into strategic, defensible decisions. They cover pay increase trends and “peanut butter” raises. They debate growth versus cost pressures, the role of AI in market pricing, and how validated data and tech choices shape strategic compensation.

Lauren Hein, Head of Total Rewards at Payscale, talks manager enablement and aligning rewards to retention. Brittni Beers-Branco, VP of People, covers compensation operations and scaling HR maturity. Amy Stewart, Manager of Research and Insights, shares data from the Compensation Best Practices Report. They discuss pay confidence, its links to hiring and turnover, AI risks in comp, and making compensation a strategic business investment.

Lulu Cycli, Senior Corporate Employment Counsel at Payscale who advises on pay transparency and equity compliance. She talks about 2025 as a legal turning point for pay transparency. Short takes cover new pay transparency rules, EU and California compliance shifts, documentation and audit needs, and how AI and data integration are reshaping pay practices.

In this engaging discussion, guests Hannah Beaver, Director of Compensation at Trilogy Health Services, and Kim O'Grady, Compensation Supervisor at Designer Brands, tackle the convoluted world of compensation. They reveal how differing perspectives from HR, finance, and legal create misunderstandings around pay. Key insights include simplifying compensation concepts for leaders, the psychological aspects of pay perceptions, and the importance of aligning pay strategies with organizational mission. The conversation ultimately emphasizes crafting a unified narrative to build trust and clarity across teams.

Lulu Seikaly, Senior Corporate Employment Counsel at Payscale, and Vicky Peakman, Director of Fair Pay Partners, dive into the crucial updates on pay transparency laws. They explore the 2025 landscape, highlighting how new U.S. state regulations and the EU Pay Transparency Directive will reshape compliance strategies by 2026. The discussion addresses challenges, like job category determination and the implications of not meeting deadlines. Emphasizing a culture of transparency, they share practical steps companies can take to foster trust and fairness in pay practices.

Peh Keong Teh, Chief Product Officer at Payscale, Mark Feffer, a contributing analyst at 3Sixty Insights, and Olivia Sedler, Senior Product Manager at Payscale, dive into the realities of AI in HR tech. They discuss how practitioners are now demanding measurable results instead of hype and how AI should alleviate mundane tasks while enhancing human strategy. The team also explores AI’s role in improving employee self-service and bridging data gaps, emphasizing the importance of governance and transparency as AI adoption ramps up.

Join Lexi Clarke, Chief People Officer at Payscale, Lauren Hein, Head of Total Rewards, and Lauren Cole, Senior Director of Services, as they dive into the crucial topic of pay conversations. They discuss how unclear communication erodes trust and the importance of empathy in pay discussions. Learn about leveraging non-salary rewards when budgets are tight and the growing demand for pay transparency. The guests also share practical tips for managers to prepare for these sensitive talks, emphasizing the emotional impact of compensation on employees.

Lulu Seikaly, a corporate attorney focused on pay transparency laws, and Elaina Van Kirk, a Principal Consultant specializing in equitable compensation, delve into the complexities of pay transparency. They discuss how misalignment among HR, Legal, and Leadership can erode employee trust. Lulu highlights legal risks tied to compensation confusion, while Elaina emphasizes the need for clear communication to unify stakeholder messages. Together, they envision a future where transparency fosters shared understanding and builds lasting trust within organizations.