108: Spill the Beans on Pay Transparency Trends with Lulu Seikaly

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Mar 3, 2025

Lulu Seikaly, a senior corporate attorney and pay transparency expert at Payscale, joins the discussion to shed light on the evolving landscape of pay transparency. She reveals the latest developments in pay legislation across the U.S. and Europe, debunking common misconceptions for organizations. Lulu emphasizes the significance of internal pay equity checks and offers best practices for fostering trust through transparency. As employees demand greater visibility into compensation, she discusses emerging trends that organizations must navigate for a fair future.

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INSIGHT

Pay Transparency Focus

Pay transparency is primarily about recruitment and helping candidates negotiate salaries.
It addresses the issue of pay gaps starting when a candidate is hired.

ANECDOTE

Relatable Analogies for Pay Transparency

Ruth Thomas compared not knowing a job's salary to not knowing a house's price before an open house.
Lulu Seikaly likened it to ignoring spam calls due to unknown caller IDs.

ADVICE

Internal Impact of Pay Transparency

Consider the impact of posted salary ranges on current employees.
Check how internal pay aligns with posted ranges to avoid negative reactions.

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In this episode of "Comp and Coffee," Ruth Thomas is joined by Lulu Seikaly, our senior corporate attorney and pay transparency expert at Payscale, to unravel the complexities of pay transparency trends and legislation. With new laws continually emerging, the duo explores what this shift means for organizations, employees, and the future of compensation practices. This episode is packed with insights on compliance, the growing importance of trust in pay practices, and practical steps companies can take to effectively navigate these changes.

Key Highlights

Overview of the latest pay transparency legislation in the U.S. and Europe, including specific state and country initiatives.
Discussion on the misconceptions and challenges organizations face regarding pay transparency and how to overcome them.
The importance of internal pay equity checks and getting organizational structures in order before posting salary ranges.
Best practices for building trust through transparency and its impact on employee retention and satisfaction.
Upcoming trends and potential legal challenges in the pay transparency landscape, including increased focus on pay communication and equity audits.

Quotes

"The term pay transparency kind of has this notion that you have to show off your salaries that everyone makes within the company. But... they don't require employers to post everyone's salary for the world to see." – Lulu Seikaly
"Once an employee understands why they're being paid, the way they're paid makes those ideas dissipate." – Lulu Seikaly
"If your employees trust you, then they will be more engaged, they are more likely to stay with you, and they are more likely to be productive." – Ruth Thomas

Resources

2025 HR Predictions Guide: https://www.payscale.com/research-and-insights/2024-end-of-year-report/#module-19*
January Legislative Lowdown: https://www.payscale.com/compensation-trends/the-legislative-lowdown-january-2025/*
Webinar: https://www.payscale.com/research-and-insights/how-to-prepare-for-pay-transparency-in-2025-webinar-on-demand/