Blog - MorganHR

17 Jun 2025

2025 Salary Increase Budgets: HR Strategic Planning Guide

Posted on June 17, 2025 (June 17, 2025) by Austin Schleeter

HR director reviewing salary increase budgets on laptop with compensation charts displayed on screen

Are your current salary increase budgets prepared for the economic realities of 2025? Furthermore, many HR Directors face mounting pressure to balance competitive compensation with fiscal responsibility, especially as organizations navigate continued workforce challenges. Moreover, recent research reveals that salary increase budgets are expected to reach 3.9% in 2025, creating both opportunities and complexities for […]

15 Jun 2025

by Michelle Henderson Permalink

Meditate Before You Evaluate: HR Wisdom from Rousseau and Kass

Posted on June 15, 2025 (June 17, 2025) by Michelle Henderson

HR leader meditating surrounded by icons of balance and strategy

The Modern HR Dilemma In today’s fast-moving business environment, HR leaders face growing pressure to deliver fast, flawless decisions. From compensation adjustments to AI workforce strategies, everything seems urgent. Yet amid that urgency, the question lingers: Are we solving the right problems—or just reacting? Leon Kass, in his June 16, 2025, appearance on EconTalk, draws […]

12 Jun 2025

by Neil Morgan Permalink

Career Engagement and Pay Perception: Why Reactions Differ

Posted on June 12, 2025 (June 17, 2025) by Neil Morgan

Two employees react differently to the same promotion—smiling vs. dissatisfied—highlighting career engagement differences.

A Tale of Two Promotions Why did Pat smile and Sam frown over the same promotion and pay increase? Understanding career engagement and pay perception could explain their differing reactions. Sam and Pat are both accountants at a manufacturing company in Austin, Texas. Hired one month apart, with the same credentials, same performance scores, and […]

10 Jun 2025

by Stacy Fenner Permalink

Building Pay Transparency Culture: Social Foundation First

Posted on June 10, 2025 (June 17, 2025) by Stacy Fenner

Pay transparency culture implementation framework showing cultural foundation supporting compliance requirements

Are your employees ready for the psychological impact of knowing exactly how their compensation compares to their colleagues? Most HR directors focus on legal compliance when implementing pay transparency culture, yet they overlook the fundamental social dynamics that determine success or failure. Furthermore, 18th-century philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau identified a crucial insight that modern compensation experts […]

09 Jun 2025

by Laura Morgan Permalink

The Strategic Compensation Strategy: A Business Imperative

Posted on June 9, 2025 by Laura Morgan

Executives reviewing a strategic compensation plan in a boardroom

Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes Why Compensation Strategy Can’t Be an Afterthought HR leaders and executives alike know that compensation isn’t just about paychecks but purpose, performance, and positioning. A strategic compensation strategy goes beyond routine salary administration to shape how an organization attracts, retains, and motivates talent. In today’s market, where transparency expectations are […]

06 Jun 2025

by Alex Morgan Permalink

Why Unified Data Layer Is Essential for Compensation Models

Posted on June 6, 2025 (June 17, 2025) by Alex Morgan

Diagram showing integrated HR data layers supporting compensation analytics

HR directors face mounting pressure to justify compensation decisions with concrete data. However, developing productive, data-informed compensation models requires more than advanced analytics—it demands a unified data layer as the foundation. Without this critical infrastructure, even sophisticated modeling tools deliver fragmented insights, introduce compliance risks, and fail to build executive trust. Recent research shows that […]

04 Jun 2025

by Stacy Fenner Permalink

Pay Communication Guidelines: 8 Behavioral Laws Every HR Leader Must Master

Posted on June 4, 2025 (June 4, 2025) by Stacy Fenner

Pay communication decision tree with 8 behavioral laws for HR managers

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes When 73% of employees report feeling confused about their compensation structure, effective pay communication becomes critical for organizational success. Most HR directors face this challenge: managers avoid difficult compensation conversations, employees question pay decisions, and trust erodes across teams. However, by understanding key behavioral patterns, leaders can transform these conversations […]

02 Jun 2025

by Austin Schleeter Permalink

Salary Squeeze or Expectation Gap? Fixing the Real Pay Problem

Posted on June 2, 2025 (June 4, 2025) by Austin Schleeter

Illustration of an iceberg representing hidden causes of salary dissatisfaction.

HR’s Toughest Job Right Now? Managing Expectations. The term “salary squeeze” is trending across every compensation discussion—from boardrooms to Reddit threads. And while inflation, housing costs, and general economic anxiety are real pressures, they aren’t the whole story. In fact, they’re just the surface of a much deeper issue: the underlayment of mistrust between employers […]

01 Jun 2025

by Michelle Henderson Permalink

AI in Learning and Development: June 2025 HR & Compensation Trends

Posted on June 1, 2025 (June 3, 2025) by Michelle Henderson

Digital HR dashboard showing compensation insights and AI-powered analytics

Revolutionizing eLearning Development With AI Article: Revolutionizing Elearning Development With AI: A Conversation With Ethan Webb, CEO of Mindsmith Author: Steve Dahlberg Published: May 29, 2025 Why HR Leaders Should Read It: If your compensation strategy includes rewarding upskilling or performance-based learning outcomes, this article is a must-read. Ethan Webb of Mindsmith explains how AI […]

29 May 2025

by Stacy Fenner Permalink

Employee Onboarding Strategy: ROI-Driven Talent Retention Guide

Posted on May 29, 2025 (May 30, 2025) by Stacy Fenner

Infographic displaying employee onboarding strategy ROI metrics including turnover reduction percentages and cost savings

Compensation executives often overlook the powerful connection between employee onboarding strategy and total rewards effectiveness. However, recent industry analysis reveals that strategic onboarding programs deliver measurable financial returns while strengthening your compensation value proposition. Organizations implementing a comprehensive employee onboarding strategy report significant reductions in turnover costs and faster time-to-productivity metrics. The Financial Impact of […]