In this episode of Comp & Coffee, host Ruth Thomas is joined by Payscale's thought leaders Sarah Hillenmeyer, Senior Director of Data Science, and Lexi Clark, Chief People Officer, to explore HR predictions for 2025. The discussion dives into the evolving employer-employee power dynamics, the rapid adoption of AI in HR, and the implications of wage growth trends as we transition into the new year. This episode promises insightful perspectives on the future of work, perfect for HR professionals navigating the year-end hustle. Key Highlights No major surprises in 2024, but the ongoing debate over remote versus in-office work and its compensation implications is highlighted. Unexpected rapid adoption of AI in HR, particularly in recruitment and hiring processes. Continued focus on fair and transparent pay amidst evolving employer-employee dynamics. AI governance is predicted to become crucial with potential state-level regulations emerging in 2025. Wage growth may dip below 4%, with sector-specific variations still influencing compensation planning. Quotes "We've seen more enthusiasm and adoption of AI across HR-related use cases than I expected." – Sarah Hillenmeyer "If you're working on your year-end process, apply a fair pay lens." – Ruth Thomas "Employer-employee friction... the cat's out of the bag and it's not going back in." – Lexi Clark

In this episode of Comp & Coffee, hosts Ruth Thomas and Amy Stewart dive into Payscale's 2024 Year-End Report, highlighting the state of the job market as we approach 2025. Amy Stewart, Payscale's Principal Content Strategist, shares her insights on the year’s labor market trends, hot jobs, and the significance of wage growth. The episode also explores the challenges and opportunities in recruiting and retaining top talent in an evolving economic landscape. Tune in for vital takeaways to inform your compensation strategies for the coming year. Key Highlights: Analysis of 2024 labor market trends and the return to normalcy post-pandemic. Discussion on the impacts of inflation and interest rates on the economy. Examination of the top jobs lists including fastest wage growth, quit rates, and recruitment challenges. Insights on pay transparency and its influence on organizational performance. Overview of Payscale's pivotal research reports and predictions for 2025. Quotes: "The labor market is starting to return to a state of normal." – Amy Stewart "Customer service team leader is seeing a 20% wage growth year over year." – Amy Stewart "The perception of fair pay impacts whether employees stay or leave." – Amy Stewart

Tina Yu, a Senior Product Marketing Manager at PayScale, and Olivia Crowley, a Senior Product Manager, dive into exciting Q4 advancements in compensation technology. They discuss how AI is revolutionizing compensation processes, allowing professionals to focus on strategic decisions. The guests highlight the importance of dynamic data and the enhanced survey management tools, sharing insights on transparency and data accuracy. Their conversation reveals how these innovations not only streamline tasks but also empower compensation teams to meet evolving market demands.

Marc Mullis, Chief Excitement Officer at Payformance Partners, and Elena Van Kirk, Principal Consultant at Exude Human Capital, discuss their experiences from Compference24. They highlight the importance of balancing innovative compensation strategies with tactical practices. The conversation touches on how Gen Z's expectations are reshaping workplace cultures, and the vital role managers play in salary growth. Additionally, they explore the shift towards skills-based pay systems and the critical need for pay transparency in today’s work environment.

In this episode, Katie Harmon, Director of Channels at Payscale, and Sarah Hillenmeyer, Senior Director of Data Science at Payscale, share insights from the recent HR Tech conference in Las Vegas. They discuss the transformative role of AI in HR, moving beyond just ideas to practical applications. Skills-based talent management is highlighted as a means to boost diversity and fair compensation. The dynamic atmosphere of the conference is brought to life with stories of innovation and engagement, shedding light on the future of HR practices.

In this special centenary episode of Comp and Coffee, host Ruth Thomas celebrates 100 insightful episodes of discussions on compensation. Joined by Heather Kruger, Senior Director of Corporate Marketing, and Zach Jamieson, HR Manager at Payscale, this episode reflects on past episodes' themes and their evolution in today's workplace. From the historical journey of pay structures to remote work dynamics, this episode offers a comprehensive reflection and future outlook on compensation management. Key Highlights: The origins and evolution of the Comp and Coffee podcast. Reflections on episode 25's discussion on salary structures and the impact of pay transparency legislation. Insights on the journey towards pay transparency and equitable compensation practices. The transformation of remote work and its implication on organizational policies and employee engagement. Revisiting episode 75's debate on quiet quitting and its relation to employee engagement and workplace culture. A look at Payscale's upcoming annual virtual conference, Compference24. Quotes: "Great compensation is not just about structures—it's about fostering simple, honest conversations over a cup of coffee." – Heather Kruger "Our culture isn't built by the walls of our office." – Paul Wolfe, as quoted by Ruth Thomas "It's really about knowing when enough is enough and when you're maybe pushing your employee just a little bit too much." – Zach Jamieson

In this episode of Comp & Coffee, host Ruth Thomas delves into the insights from Payscale’s newly released 2024 Salary Budget Survey Report. Joined by Amy Stewart, Principal of Research and Insights at Payscale, and Minde Stone, Senior Director of Rewards, HR Operations, and Talent Acquisition, the discussion covers critical findings from the survey, the macroeconomic factors influencing salary budgets, and practical tips for compensation professionals as they approach the budgeting season. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to compensation management, this episode offers actionable advice for planning your salary budget for 2025. Key Highlights: Overview of the 2024 Salary Budget Survey and its importance for budget planning. Decline in salary budgets from the peak of the Great Resignation. Discussion on macroeconomic factors impacting salary budgets. Differences in salary budgeting trends across various industries. Practical tips for compensation professionals during the budgeting season. Importance of stakeholder engagement in the budgeting process.  

Jennifer Ferris, a Principal Solutions Consultant at Payscale, and Liz Sheffield, Manager of Content Marketing, share insights on impactful summer reads. They tackle the balancing act of niceness and effectiveness in leadership, revealing personal stories that resonate with many women in the workplace. The discussion shifts to the importance of inclusive leadership and collaboration, emphasizing co-elevation as a strategy for modern leaders. Lastly, they explore the critical need for pay equity and its implications for individuals and communities.

Brooke Grimes, Senior Director of Product Marketing, and Brittany Innes, Senior Director of Product Management, delve into Payscale's groundbreaking innovations in compensation management. They discuss the rising importance of pay transparency regulations and how new tools like Job Family Management are reshaping strategies. The duo also shares insights on enhancing user experiences and participant engagement in salary surveys. Additionally, they tease an exciting upcoming webinar that promises to showcase these advancements and improve client interactions.

Join Ruth Thomas, Chief Evangelist at Payscale, and team members as they discuss the importance of participating in third-party salary surveys, managing multiple data sources, and the impact of AI in compensation management. They explore collaborations with survey providers, the value of survey data in the labor market, job posting data's role in compensation analysis, and the evolving compensation landscape with the introduction of P-scale as a data-driven tool.