The State of Pay: 7 Compensation Trends Redefining the Workplace
Compensation strategy is outpacing infrastructure in 2026.
With pay transparency laws now covering 40% of the US workforce, pressure is mounting to demonstrate fairness and empower managers to make defensible pay decisions. Yet, many organizations are struggling with outdated systems that simply can't support modern compensation demands.
We surveyed 178 US compensation, HR, and finance leaders to identify the trends reshaping compensation strategy. Download our free report to learn about how:
- Cross-functional buy-in is the new standard: 93% say compensation software decisions now involve the C-suite, IT, and finance, linking pay directly to broader business outcomes.
- Spreadsheets are failing: 34% cite manual, spreadsheet-heavy systems as a top pain point that limits their strategy.
- AI readiness depends on governance: 56% see strong potential for AI automation, but 52% require strict data privacy safeguards before adopting it.
Inside, you'll also get expert insights from beqom leadership, including:
- Why pay decisions can no longer remain a back-office function (Vismay Gada, Chief Evangelist).
- The two critical questions every team must ask before adopting AI (Clare Bonham, Chief Product Officer).
- 3 concrete steps you can take right now to close the gap between your strategy and your infrastructure.
Fill out the form to access the full report.
Some of our latest resources
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Download the HR Leader’s Guide to Pay Communication
Every review cycle puts managers in conversations they didn't design but have to deliver. Get the checklists, scripts, and ground rules to brief them with confidence.
Download beqom’s EU Pay Transparency Directive Compliance Checklist
The EU Pay Transparency Directive deadline has passed. Find out where your organization stands, and what to fix now.
From Policy to Practice: What’s Happening Since the EU Directive Went Live, With beqom & Mercer
The EU Pay Transparency Directive deadline has passed. Watch beqom and Mercer unpack what's happening across Europe, and what employers should do next.
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