Pay decisions do not live in isolation. They shape hiring speed, retention, employee trust, and ultimately business performance. 

According to Payscale’s 2026 Compensation Best Practices Report, 63% of organizations believe their compensation policies drive positive business outcomes. That confidence shows up in measurable ways, including lower voluntary turnover, faster time to fill, and stronger employee sentiment. 

In this episode of Comp and Coffee, Ruth Thomas brings together leaders from across Payscale’s people, research, and total rewards teams to unpack what “pay confidence” really means, how organizations are building it in a constrained market, and why compensation is increasingly being treated as core business infrastructure rather than an HR function of last resort. 

This conversation moves beyond theory to explore how confident pay decisions are made today, how they are being tested by flat increases, AI, and misinformation, and how leaders can connect pay strategy directly to outcomes executives care about. 

Speakers:  

Ruth Thomas – Chief Compensation Strategist, Payscale   

Amy Stewart – Manager, Research and Insights, Payscale  

Brittni Beers-Branco – VP of People, Payscale 

Lauren Hein – Head of Total Rewards, Payscale  

Episode Resources:

2026 Compensation Best Practices Report:   https://www.payscale.com/featured-content/cbpr?utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin&utm_campaign=cnt_awr_2026-cbpr-podcast_wv_fls&utm_content=2026-cbpr-podcast_rpt_pst

Your insights matter and shape the future of work. Participate in the 2027 Compensation Best Practices Survey:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/cbprsignup

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