HR.com has announced the launch of its 2026 Advisory Board on Pay Equity and Transparency, convening a group of senior HR executives and compensation thought leaders to help steer upcoming research and a virtual learning event focused on advancing fair and transparent pay practices. The board will support the HR Research Institute in developing insights and practical guidance for organizations navigating evolving regulations and technologies.
The advisory board includes distinguished experts such as Thomas J. Carnahan, PhD, Sr. Manager People Insights at Berkshire; Joanna Colosimo, VP, Workforce Analytics & Compliance Strategy at DCI Consulting Group, Inc.; Stefan Gaertner, PhD, Sr. Director, 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, Labor & Employment at Seyfarth Shaw LLP.
According to Debbie McGrath, CEO of HR.com, “Pay equity and transparency are essential to building trust and strengthening the employee experience. 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 board will guide research on pay equity and transparency, including examining organizational maturity, compensation decision-making criteria, and methods for measuring and validating equity outcomes. It will also identify emerging best practices, expected progress in the near future, and effective approaches to communicating findings through clear, data-driven reporting. Findings will directly inform both the 2026 research survey and a virtual event designed to equip HR leaders with actionable, real-world strategies. The Future of Pay Equity and Transparency 2026 Virtual Event is scheduled for October 14, 2026.
The HR Research Institute releases annual “State of the Industry” reports in a variety of 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.
This initiative is timely as organizations face increasing pressure to address pay disparities and comply with transparency regulations. The advisory board’s work is expected to provide critical guidance for HR professionals looking to strengthen their compensation strategies and build trust with employees through fair pay practices.
