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. The board will guide upcoming research and a virtual learning event focused on advancing fair and transparent pay practices, helping organizations navigate evolving regulations and technologies.
The advisory board will support the HR Research Institute in developing insights and practical guidance on pay equity and transparency. This includes 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 designed to equip HR leaders with actionable, real-world strategies. The HR.com Future of Pay Equity and Transparency 2026 Virtual Event is scheduled for October 14, 2026, and registration is available for free.
The newly formed 2026 Future of Pay Equity and Transparency Advisory Board features distinguished experts including Thomas J. Carnahan, PhD, Sr. Manager People Insights at Berkshire; Joanna Colosimo, VP of Workforce Analytics & Compliance Strategy at DCI Consulting Group, Inc.; Stefan Gaertner, PhD, Sr. 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, HR.com's Future of Pay Equity and Transparency 2025, covering the same topic. This and other free research reports and infographics can be downloaded at hr.com/researchinstitute.
For business and technology leaders, this announcement signals that pay equity and transparency are becoming critical areas of focus. Organizations must prepare for stricter regulations and growing employee expectations. The advisory board’s work will provide data-driven frameworks and best practices to help companies mitigate risks, improve compensation strategies, and foster trust. The insights could influence how companies approach pay decisions, technology adoption for equity analysis, and communication with stakeholders.
HR.com is the #1 source for HR research, read by more HR professionals than any other. The HR Research Institute (HRRI), powered by HR.com, identifies key trends and best practices to help over 2 million HR professionals and their organizations make strategic decisions with informed research findings. The HRRI has published hundreds of high-quality reports across a wide array of HR topics.
