HR.com Forms 2026 Advisory Board to Steer Pay Equity and Transparency Research

HR.com has announced the formation of its 2026 Advisory Board on Pay Equity and Transparency, bringing together senior HR executives and compensation thought leaders to steer upcoming research and a virtual learning event. The board aims to advance fair and transparent pay practices by providing practical guidance to organizations grappling with evolving regulations and technologies.

The advisory board will support the HR Research Institute in developing insights on organizational maturity, compensation decision-making criteria, and methods for measuring and validating equity outcomes. The group will also identify emerging best practices, expected progress in the near future, and effective approaches to communicating findings through clear, data-driven reporting. These insights will directly inform both the 2026 research survey and a virtual event scheduled for October 14, 2026, designed to equip HR leaders with actionable, real-world strategies.

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.

About HR.com and the HR Research Institute: 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 more than 2 million HR professionals and their organizations make strategic decisions with informed and insightful research findings. The HRRI has published hundreds of high-quality reports across a wide array of HR topics. HR.com’s free membership offers many benefits, including access to over 300 exclusive primary research, state-of-the-industry reports, and infographics. These resources are published based on surveys developed with the assistance of a panel of thought leaders and industry experts on the advisory boards. Visit hr.com/hrresearchinstitute to maximize your HR potential.