HR.com has announced the formation of its 2026 Advisory Board on Pay Equity and Transparency, bringing together senior HR executives and compensation experts to guide 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 dealing with evolving regulations and technologies.
The advisory board will help shape research on 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 scheduled for October 14, 2026, designed to equip HR leaders with actionable strategies.
The newly formed 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 HR vendors, this development signals a growing market for tools and services that support pay equity analysis, compliance, and transparent reporting. The involvement of experts from firms like Syndio, Trusaic, and DCI Consulting indicates that technology and consulting solutions are central to addressing these challenges. Vendors should monitor the research outcomes and the October 2026 virtual event for insights that could shape product roadmaps and client needs. The emphasis on data-driven practices and regulatory compliance suggests that vendors offering analytics, benchmarking, and reporting capabilities will find increasing demand.
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 more than 2 million HR professionals and their organizations make strategic decisions with informed research findings. Visit hr.com/hrresearchinstitute to maximize your HR potential.
