034: Payroll’s Evolving Role in Total Rewards

In this episode of SpeakEasy HR, we sat down with Sean Luitjens from Salary.com to explore how the role of payroll has evolved—and why it’s becoming a more strategic player in the total rewards conversation. Gone are the days when payroll was seen as purely transactional. Today, it’s a critical part of how organizations attract, retain, and engage their workforce. Sean broke down how technology, data, and transparency are transforming payroll into a powerful lever for compensation strategy, internal equity, and employee satisfaction. 🔍 Topics We Covered: The intersection of payroll and total rewards strategy How pay transparency is shifting expectations Why payroll teams should have a seat at the table Trends shaping compensation and HR tech Actionable advice for HR leaders and payroll professionals If you’re in HR, payroll, or total rewards—or simply trying to understand how pay drives performance—this episode was packed with insights you won’t want to miss.