HR.com has announced the formation of its 2026 Advisory Board on Pay Equity and Transparency, bringing together a group of senior HR executives and compensation thought leaders to guide upcoming research and a virtual learning event focused on advancing fair and transparent pay practices. The initiative comes amid evolving regulations and technologies that are reshaping how organizations approach compensation equity.
The advisory board will support the HR Research Institute in developing insights and practical guidance for organizations. Their work will include examining organizational maturity, compensation decision-making criteria, and methods for measuring and validating equity outcomes. The board will also identify emerging best practices, expected progress in the near future, and effective approaches to communicating findings through clear, data-driven reporting.
Findings from the board will directly inform both the 2026 research survey and a virtual event titled "Future of Pay Equity and Transparency 2026," scheduled for October 14, 2026. The event is designed to equip HR leaders with actionable, real-world strategies for managing pay equity and transparency.
The newly formed advisory board features distinguished experts including Thomas J. Carnahan, PhD, Senior Manager of People Insights at Berkshire; Joanna Colosimo, Vice President of Workforce Analytics & Compliance Strategy at DCI Consulting Group, Inc.; Stefan Gaertner, PhD, Senior Director of Strategy at Syndio; Gail Greenfield, PhD, EVP of Pay Equity and Total Rewards Strategy and Solutions at Trusaic; Fred Hilling, President of Sander Consulting Services; Brian Levine, PhD, Partner and Pay Equity Consulting Leader at Merit Analytics Group; Patrick McNeil, PhD, Principal Business Consultant at Affirmity Workforce Analytics; and Maria Fechter Papasevastos, Partner in Labor & Employment at Seyfarth Shaw LLP.
"Pay equity and transparency are essential to building trust and strengthening the employee experience," said Debbie McGrath, CEO of HR.com. "This group will ultimately help organizations strengthen pay strategies, improve decision-making, and advance more consistent, data-driven practices that support fair outcomes for employees."
The HR Research Institute releases annual "State of the Industry" reports in various HR topic areas, including last year's research report on the same topic, which can be found at hr.com/researchinstitute. This and other free research reports and infographics are available for download at the same link.
The implications of this announcement are significant for HR professionals and organizations. As pay equity regulations become more stringent and employees demand greater transparency, companies need reliable data and best practices to navigate these changes. The advisory board's work will help organizations avoid legal pitfalls, improve employee trust, and create more equitable workplaces. For the broader industry, the research and virtual event will set benchmarks and provide actionable strategies that can be adopted across sectors, potentially transforming how compensation decisions are made and communicated.
