Blog - MorganHR

04 Jul 2025

True Independence: Redefining Independent Judgment in Modern Job Design

Posted on July 4, 2025 (July 4, 2025) by Neil Morgan

Independence spectrum framework showing three levels of workplace autonomy from procedural to strategic

Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes Independent judgment in job design represents one of HR’s most misunderstood concepts. You review the job description stating “Must exercise independent judgment in daily decision-making,” but when your employee asks for guidance on a routine client request they’ve handled dozens of times before, a critical question emerges: Are they truly […]

30 Jun 2025

by Laura Morgan Permalink

Purpose, Recognition & the Employee Experience: The Retention Illusion in the Age of AI

Posted on June 30, 2025 (July 2, 2025) by Laura Morgan

Employee holding a “You Matter” card, looking confused in front of a screen of AI tools

Companies aren’t building “mattering” into the employee experience — they’re buying time. Today’s headlines are filled with stories about employee purpose, wellness, and recognition. PwC just invested $22 million to integrate well-being and rewards. Harvard Business Review is pushing the idea of “mattering” at work. On the surface, it looks like employers are finally getting […]

23 Jun 2025

by Alex Morgan Permalink

AI Job Architecture Planning: The HR Leader’s Guide to Workforce Transformation

Posted on June 23, 2025 (July 3, 2025) by Alex Morgan

AI job architecture planning decision tree with transformation categories

Your compensation analyst just spent three days manually updating salary bands in Excel, and you know this work won’t exist in two years. Meanwhile, your CEO expects you to lead the organization’s AI transformation while maintaining team morale. How do you tell dedicated employees that their current roles are becoming obsolete? This uncomfortable reality defines […]

17 Jun 2025

by Austin Schleeter Permalink

2025 Salary Increase Budgets: HR Strategic Planning Guide

Posted on June 17, 2025 (June 30, 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 23, 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 (July 1, 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 (July 3, 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 (July 2, 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 (July 2, 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 (July 3, 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 […]