What Makes Pay Feel Fair (It’s Not What You Think)
December 16, 2025
Compensation strategy is increasingly data-driven. We benchmark salaries, calibrate ranges, and apply performance models, all in the name of fairness. And yet, even in well-designed systems, employees…
How to Budget for Salary Increases in 5 Steps
December 12, 2025
How to Budget for Salary Increases in 5 Steps It could easily be argued that organizations are facing more new norms than ever. HR, people managers, and leaders need effective levers to pull in order…
What is Compa-Ratio? How It Guides Pay Decisions
December 04, 2025
Making fair and competitive pay decisions doesn't have to be complicated. Whether you're setting a new hire's salary, reviewing raises, or explaining compensation to managers, understanding a few core…
Training Managers to Make Confident Pay Decisions
October 15, 2025
Managers play a critical role in delivering pay decisions, engaging with employees on topics like raises, bonuses, and salary structures. Without adequate preparation, these discussions can lead to…
What Happens When Your Pay Ranges Fall Behind the Market
Pay ranges are supposed to be the foundation of fair, consistent compensation. But when they're outdated or out of sync with the market, they quietly become one of the biggest drains on both budget…
How to Increase Talent Density
October 09, 2025
Talent Density is becoming a key leading indicator for today's most innovative companies. But what does it even mean? It’s not just about having a bunch of rockstars — it's about building a critical…
Why Profit Interest Units (PIUs) Are On the Rise
September 25, 2025
More and more companies are turning to Profit Incentive Units (PIUs) to reward and retain top talent, especially those structured as LLCs or backed by private equity. Startups are constantly refining…
Building a Bonus Program That Actually Works
September 24, 2025
Most companies get bonus programs wrong. They either fail to drive the right behaviors or confuse employees so much that bonuses become meaningless. Some companies even waste valuable budget on…
Building a Compensation Philosophy That Actually Works
September 05, 2025
Walk into any boardroom during compensation planning season, and you’ll likely hear the same phrase: “Let’s target market median.” It sounds strategic, data-driven, and safe. Here’s the uncomfortable…
Why Job Leveling Matters More Than You Think
June 11, 2025
At its core, job leveling is the process of establishing a consistent, structured framework for how roles are defined, titled, and aligned within an organization. It’s not just about assigning levels…
Stop Asking “What’s Our Comp Philosophy?” — Ask This Instead
May 23, 2025
Written by: Lola Han, CEO & Founder of Kamsa Early in my consulting career, I asked a CEO a question: “What’s your compensation philosophy?” He looked at me and said, “I have no idea.” And it taught…
Rising Trend of Functional Chiefs of Staff
March 20, 2025
Chiefs of Staff are like air traffic controllers for organizations - they turn strategy into action, bridge gaps between teams, and keep everyone aligned towards the same destination. Often, they lead…
Managing Out Low Performers: Thoughtful Approaches
March 10, 2025
Performance management isn’t just about celebrating top performers - it can also be about addressing the uncomfortable reality of managing low performers out of the organization. While it’s never an…
Pay Structures That Work: Grade Levels or Job-Based?
March 04, 2025
Employees are questioning their pay more than ever. Grade level structures may be making it worse. Grade level structures seem scalable - until they aren’t. Let’s say a company uses grade levels…
A Compensation Roadmap for Salary Ranges, Equity & Pay Transparency
January 09, 2025
Early adoption of this compensation roadmap pays off. It allows companies to attract & retain their most valuable asset — their people — and thoughtfully use their budget. The ROI for implementing…
CPO Guide: How to Prove ROI on Budget Requests
December 04, 2024
In today’s economic climate, CEOs, CFOs, and even board members are scrutinizing budgets more than ever. For Chief People Officers, this means every dollar spent on salary increases, employee programs…
Aligning Pay Equity and Company Culture for Business Success
November 18, 2024
In today’s competitive market, companies are increasingly recognizing that strong organizational culture and equitable pay practices go hand in hand to drive success. Eddie Geller, CEO & Founder of…
Most Job Descriptions Fall Flat - Here are 4 Steps to Fix Them
Too often, job descriptions focus on long lists of tasks with vague expectations, failing to capture the interest of top talent. The solution? These actionable steps can help companies create job…
Pay for Performance: How to Use Compensation Benchmarking in Compensation Reviews
November 15, 2024
Performance and compensation are often managed as separate processes — but they’re most effective when treated as one. A clear compensation strategy doesn’t just attract and retain talent. It defines…
Four Years of Perfect SOC 2 Type II Compliance
November 08, 2024
We’re thrilled to announce the successful completion of our annual SOC 2 Type II audit for the 4th year in a row, marking yet another year with a perfect report! At Kamsa, the security of our clients…
What’s Next for Pay Transparency?
November 07, 2024
The journey toward full pay transparency is ongoing, and while recent trends show a slight slowdown in the rate of new policies, companies across industries are still moving forward. According to…
Roadmap to EU Pay Transparency Directive Compliance
November 05, 2024
With the EU Pay Transparency Directive taking effect in June 2026, employers with employees across Europe have a new mandate: create fairer, more transparent compensation practices that address pay…
Lola Han: How I Turned a Pay Gap Shock into a Solution for Equal Pay
October 31, 2024
Written by Lola Han, CEO & Founder of Kamsa Have you ever found out you were underpaid? It’s a gut punch, isn’t it? For me, it happened about 15 years ago when I was at a work happy hour. A colleague…
Why Pay Equity Should Be a Priority for Every Company
October 23, 2024
In October 2024, the world lost a trailblazer: Lilly Ledbetter, a woman who dedicated more than a decade of her life to fighting for fair pay. She may not have gotten the justice she deserved in her…
Promotion Trends in Tech Startups
October 09, 2024
Ever wonder how the number of employees getting promoted compares to other similar organizations? Do you feel like employees in the Engineering department are getting promoted way too often? Below is…
Using AI to Job Level
October 01, 2024
HR professionals are looking into how AI tools like ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini can make compensation related processes more efficient, like 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 and 𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘆 efforts…
The 'Netflix Compensation Approach': A Cautionary Tale for Scaling Companies
August 27, 2024
The allure of the "Netflix approach" to compensation – offering employees the freedom to choose their own cash-stock ratio – is undeniable. However, for many growing companies, this seemingly…
Navigating the First 90 Days as a Chief People Officer
August 26, 2024
Starting a new role as a Chief People Officer (CPO) can be both exhilarating and overwhelming. The first 90 days are crucial for establishing your leadership, understanding the organization, and…
compensly is now part of Kamsa!
July 30, 2024
We’re excited to announce that compensly, the compensation platform focused on benchmarking data in APAC countries is now a part of Kamsa. This relationship compliments Kamsa's global footprint in…
Business Acumen for HR Leaders
July 11, 2024
Next-gen HR leaders see themselves as business people. But, what is business acumen, anyway? We break it down below: Business acumen refers to: The ability to understand an organization’s goals…
HR Executive's Guide to Talent Questions from the Board
July 10, 2024
Board of directors are responsible for overseeing the management of a company on behalf of its shareholders and acting in the best interest of stakeholders, including investors, customers, and…
How Compensation Committees Are Evolving
Compensation committees have traditionally focused on executive pay. However, the landscape is shifting. Recognizing their most valuable asset – its people – companies are expanding the Compensation…
Choosing the Best Compensation Approach for Your Company: Local Market Data vs. Geographic Differential
June 11, 2024
In developing or updating a compensation structure that aligns with your organization's latest needs, selecting the appropriate market data cut approach is critical to match the pool of talent you…
EU Pay Transparency Directive Summary
May 07, 2024
EU Pay Transparency Directive is a legislative act that requires compliance from EU countries by June 7, 2026. Below is a summary of what’s required for employers according to the EU Pay Transparency…
Best Compensation Approach for a Global Remote Workforce
May 06, 2024
One of the most pressing challenges faced by organizations today is ensuring fair and competitive salaries across various geographical work locations. A recent survey conducted by Shelby Wolpa, among…
Pay Transparency Laws Summary & Suggestions
April 30, 2024
Keeping up with pay transparency laws can be complicated, especially when hiring remotely across various states across the United States. Below are some of our favorite resources that provide a…
Pay Transparency & the Generational Divide
April 26, 2024
In today's dynamic workforce, diversity extends beyond demographics and includes generational perspectives. USA Today's recent survey sheds light on how different generations perceive and engage with…
5 Steps to Evaluate Internal Pay Equity
April 12, 2024
If companies aren’t able to offer a compelling compensation package, employees' eyes will wander. Companies need to not only offer fair pay that is competitive to the market but also equitable…
4 Steps to Successful Pay Transparency
April 04, 2024
Today, retaining top performers and attracting talent requires more than just a competitive salary. Transparency around compensation is increasingly becoming a key differentiator for companies…
Alternative to Spreadsheets: Automate Compensation Reviews with Kamsa
April 01, 2024
Why are companies still conducting their compensation reviews in spreadsheets? The answer often lies in the need for flexibility and customization. Companies want the freedom to choose what…
HR Tech Stack Consolidation: Is it the Solution?
February 21, 2024
There’s been a recent trend toward techstack consolidation in the HR industry. The HR tech space has recently seen HRIS platforms innovating and adding new features like a salary review tool to offer…
Equity Programs: Why the % of Salary Approach is Broken
February 08, 2024
When offering stock options to employees, some companies consider establishing equity guidelines based on a percentage of salary. This formula seems straightforward and easy to administer, but using a…
Unlock Your Compensation Game with Kamsa!
December 05, 2023
Effective compensation management within an organization is key for attracting and keeping top talent, but challenges like pay inequities and outdated practices can hinder success. Our recent poll of…
Good Pay Decisions Need Reliable Market Data
December 01, 2023
Salary survey data is essential for companies to benchmark employee salaries against the market to attract and retain top talent. But with so many different job families and cuts of the data to…
Equity Grant Guidelines, Made Simple
November 08, 2023
Equity compensation is a powerful tool for attracting and retaining top talent. In today's competitive job market, companies that offer equity grants are better positioned to hire and keep the best…
Sales Compensation Roadmap
September 12, 2023
Sales reps are crucial to an organization's growth and revenue generation. Communicating sales incentive plans to sales reps ensures they are clear on their goals and companies/leaders are driving the…
Workforce Planning + Compensation Structure = ROI
August 10, 2023
A well-designed compensation program is crucial for any company’s success. It requires a thoughtful and structured approach, as well as the use of reliable market data to establish compensation ranges…
2 Case Studies: Using Market Compensation Data for Pay Transparency
February 23, 2023
There’s more evidence than ever that companies with a successful compensation strategy retain employees better, promote productivity, and become more profitable. Being transparent about compensation…
How to Customize Salary Ranges
November 28, 2022
Many things go into establishing a comprehensive compensation structure. It starts with obtaining market data, job leveling, and then determining a compensation philosophy. Further customizing salary…
How To Strategically Include Pay Ranges In Job Postings
November 09, 2022
Pay transparency is here to stay. An increasing number of states and cities follow New York City, California, Colorado, Nevada, and others by passing laws requiring companies to share the salary or…
How to Combat Pay Inequities
October 31, 2022
Governments and employers agree that closing pay inequity is a top priority. Some reports indicate that 57% of companies agree gender diversity initiatives improve business outcomes, and 60% of…
Benefits of Sharing Compensation Ranges with Recruiters
October 25, 2022
A successful pay transparency strategy requires the participation of the entire talent team, including recruiters who play a vital role in conveying fair and equitable job offers to candidates…
Improving Organization Commitment Through Pay and Planning
October 18, 2022
Organizational commitment plays a crucial role in evaluating whether employees will stay with the organization and dedicate themselves to achieving its goals. It’s a view of employees’ psychology…
Getting Pay Right: How to Choose the Best Compensation Partner
October 12, 2022
For most organizations, payroll is the largest budget line item; therefore, it’s critical that founders and leaders set the right compensation strategy. In order to achieve business goals, companies…
Five Signs It’s Time to Refresh Your Comp Strategy
October 07, 2022
Best practice suggests that organizations revisit their compensation strategy yearly and refresh it as needed, but what metrics and circumstances should companies watch out for to know it's time to…
Total Rewards Statements: Are They Worth It?
October 04, 2022
It's common practice for companies to provide Total Reward Statements (or Total Compensation Statements) to their employees, often when an offer is made or after a compensation review. The rationale…
Importance of Job Titles and Levels
September 29, 2022
Establishing job levels and titles across an organization (both early on and in growth) is essential to any talent strategy. Transparency in job levels/titles is vital to identify business needs and…
How To Retain Employees When Cash Is Tight
September 22, 2022
Startups commonly face the dilemma of retaining top talent while being tight on cash. To compensate employees competitively while simultaneously being conscious of the bottom line, leaders should…
Clarifying Workforce Needs with Span of Control
August 31, 2022
While job leveling helps HR and company leaders assess their workforce needs, evaluating the span of control within an organization allows leaders to more efficiently and effectively manage business…
Job Leveling for Pay Consistency & Transparency
August 19, 2022
Job leveling is an exercise that is essential for leaders to go through if a company wants to offer fair and competitive pay. Establishing a pay structure for employees consistently and equitably…
How to do Pay Transparency Right
August 03, 2022
Pay transparency is critical in a fast-paced, global startup environment. Yet, many organizations lack the proper structure (i.e., manager training) to successfully utilize it as a strategy to attract…
Pay Questions Managers Should Know How To Answer
July 27, 2022
Conversations surrounding compensation between managers and employees can feel nerve-wracking for everyone involved. Managers could feel overwhelmed and uneasy about the potential questions they might…
Market Compensation Adjustments Made Easy
July 22, 2022
Did you know only 40% of employees perceive they are paid fairly? That’s a staggering number, considering that staying competitive in any market disproportionately aligns with the ability to acquire…
How to Avoid Common Mistakes in Compensation
July 12, 2022
A comprehensive compensation program is essential to an organization's growth. Still, companies often get lost in their process and it’s easy to make it more complicated than needed. Overengineering a…
Why Pay Should be Added to the Strategic Agenda
June 24, 2022
Cultivating a clear strategy for employee pay improves employee satisfaction (i.e., retention) and impacts the company's bottom line, yet many companies think about it reactively instead of…
How to Conquer Budget Planning
September 16, 2021
Your company has been taking off, and you're shifting into high gear for hiring. Do you know your budget for your new hires? Your organization is probably in the annual process of creating a budget…
How to Refresh Your Compensation Strategy
November 20, 2020
Companies that lack compensation processes often don’t have the resources to manage the complexity of compensation initiatives effectively. Planning, creating, and maintaining a compensation strategy…
How to Structure Compensation
October 01, 2020
It has been proven that companies can effectively operate with a remote workforce. This guide provides an effective compensation strategy to meet the needs of a distributed workforce. When…
How to Manage Compensation
June 09, 2020
COVID-19 has turned HR processes on their head and companies are having to adjust quickly. As a result, companies need to revisit compensation programs to prepare for the future by reassessing job…
The Ultimate Guide to Job Leveling (with 5 Crucial Steps to Get It Right)
April 01, 2020
Job leveling is more than a compensation project. It’s how you lay the groundwork for fairness, growth, and pay transparency. Whether you're hiring your first People leader or scaling globally, a…
