Comp and Coffee
Comp and Coffee is a podcast by Payscale where we explore the art and science of compensation management. Grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and join us for conversations on pay and performance—packed with insights, practical tips, and strategies to help you stay ahead in a rapidly evolving world of work.
Episodes
July 10, 2025 • 37 mins
Compensation isn’t just an HR function—it’s a core business strategy. In this episode of Comp and Coffee, we look into the pay crystal ball with Rebecca Toman of Pearl Meyer, Ruth Thomas, Chief Compensation Strategist at Payscale, and Sara Hillenmeyer, Payscale’s Director of Data Science. Together, they explore how trusted data, AI, and a forward-thinking approach to comp strategy can help organizations not just keep up—but lead. I...
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June 20, 2025 • 38 mins
What happens when your pay strategy sparks more questions than confidence—and your best people start walking? In this episode, we bring in the experts to tackle the hard truths behind tough pay conversations and how to rebuild trust before it’s too late.
Episode resources:
https://www.payscale.com/featured-content/cbpr
Email coffee@payscale.com for listener questions and suggestions
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June 13, 2025 • 53 mins
Compensation has come a long way—from handwritten ledgers and dusty binders to AI-powered insights and real-time salary data. But what does the past teach us about where we’re headed? Join us for a nostalgia-packed, future-forward journey through the history of comp, featuring expert reflections from WorldatWork, and predictions from the people shaping the next era of pay.
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May 1, 2025 • 26 mins
What's the state of the gender pay gap in 2025?
In this episode Ruth Thomas discusses Payscale's 2025 Gender Pay Gap Report with Amy Stewart, Payscale's principal content strategist and author of the report.
Together, they explore the controlled and uncontrolled pay gaps, the impact of pay transparency, and the various systemic factors contributing to the gender pay gap.
Gain insights into why pay disparities persist and what or...
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April 29, 2025 • 57 mins
With the median company now using three salary data sources—and four or more for larger organizations—it’s clear that more data is the norm. But more doesn’t always mean better. Are you truly getting the most out of your investment in compensation data? Or just adding complexity without clarity?
In this episode, we break down what an effective compensation benchmarking strategy really looks like—and how to use multiple data sources...
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April 16, 2025 • 43 mins
Why has the gender pay gap stalled, and what does it take for women to break into leadership? In this episode of Comp & Coffee, Ruth Thomas sits down with Payscale’s Chief People Officer, Lexi Clarke, and Chief Customer Officer, Kate Peter, to explore the latest findings from the 2025 Gender Pay Gap Report. They discuss the challenges women face in leadership, the role of pay transparency, and what businesses can do to close the ga...
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April 8, 2025 • 36 mins
Compensation practices are constantly evolving, and staying ahead requires a keen understanding of the latest trends and data. In this episode, we’re sitting down with Amy Stewart, Principal of Content Strategy; Sara Hillenmeyer, Senior Director of Data Science; and Lulu Seikaly, Senior Corporate Attorney, to pour over the latest insights from the Compensation Best Practices Report 2025. We’ll explore the hottest trends in pay stra...
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March 12, 2025 • 34 mins
In this episode of Comp and Coffee, host Ruth Thomas is joined by Cliff Stevenson, Director of Research at Sapient Insights Group, to discuss the latest trends in HR technology. The conversation covers AI's impact on compensation, HR anchor systems, and the importance of real-time data to enhance compensation strategies. This episode offers valuable insights and advice for HR and compensation leaders looking to navigate upcoming te...
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March 3, 2025 • 34 mins
In this episode of "Comp and Coffee," Ruth Thomas is joined by Lulu Seikaly, our senior corporate attorney and pay transparency expert at Payscale, to unravel the complexities of pay transparency trends and legislation. With new laws continually emerging, the duo explores what this shift means for organizations, employees, and the future of compensation practices. This episode is packed with insights on compliance, the growing impo...
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February 27, 2025 • 28 mins
In this episode of "Comp and Coffee," host Ruth Thomas is joined by Payscale's compensation experts Kim Taylor and Roberto Molina to discuss strategies for empowering managers in compensation dialogues. The trio dives into the importance of coaching managers to lead effective pay conversations, especially amid increasing demand for transparency and legislative changes. Tune in to discover actionable insights for conducting smoother...
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February 4, 2025 • 33 mins
Grab your favorite mug—we’re asking what’s ✨brewing✨ in comp strategies for the year ahead.
In this episode of Comp and Coffee, host Ruth Thomas kicks off 2025 with guest Sarika Lamont, Vice President of People and Culture at Vidyard. The discussion revolves around the emerging trends and critical priorities in HR and compensation, focusing on the intersection of equity, AI, and employee empowerment. Sarika shares insights on fost...
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December 29, 2024 • 33 mins
In this episode of Comp and Coffee, host Ruth Thomas is joined by Payscale's thought leaders Sarah Hillenmeyer, Senior Director of Data Science, and Lexi Clark, Chief People Officer, to explore HR predictions for 2025. The discussion dives into the evolving employer-employee power dynamics, the rapid adoption of AI in HR, and the implications of wage growth trends as we transition into the new year. This episode promises insightful...
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December 19, 2024 • 29 mins
In this episode of Comp and Coffee, hosts Ruth Thomas and Amy Stewart dive into Payscale's 2024 Year-End Report, highlighting the state of the job market as we approach 2025. Amy Stewart, Payscale's Principal Content Strategist, shares her insights on the year’s labor market trends, hot jobs, and the significance of wage growth. The episode also explores the challenges and opportunities in recruiting and retaining top talent in an ...
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November 20, 2024 • 21 mins
In this episode of Comp and Coffee, host Ruth Thomas is joined by first-time guests Morgan Love, Tina Yu, and Olivia Crowley as they explore Payscale's exciting Q4 advancements and the role of AI in compensation. The discussion centers on managing salary surveys, leveraging dynamic data, and incorporating AI to ease and enhance compensation processes. Tune in to learn how these innovations empower compensation professionals to focu...
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October 28, 2024 • 34 mins
What a brilliant time we had at Compference24! In this episode of Comp and Coffee Ruth Thomas is joined by Marc Mullis of Payformance Partners and Elena Van Kirk of Exude Human Capital to review and discuss all things Compf24. They share their own experiences of Payscale's annual flagship conference, as well as dig into the exciting intersection of compensation strategy, equity, and future workforce considerations.
Whether you are...
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October 11, 2024 • 29 mins
In this engaging episode of Comp and Coffee, host Ruth Thomas is joined by Payscale colleagues Katie Harmon and Sara Hillenmeyer to discuss their insights and experiences from the recent HR Tech conference in Las Vegas. The trio dives into the electrifying energy at the event, highlighting how AI and skills-based talent management are transforming HR practices. With firsthand observations from the conference floor, they unpack the ...
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September 16, 2024 • 39 mins
In this special centenary episode of Comp and Coffee, host Ruth Thomas celebrates 100 insightful episodes of discussions on compensation. Joined by Heather Kruger, Senior Director of Corporate Marketing, and Zach Jamieson, HR Manager at Payscale, this episode reflects on past episodes' themes and their evolution in today's workplace. From the historical journey of pay structures to remote work dynamics, this episode offers a compre...
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September 6, 2024 • 24 mins
In this episode of Comp & Coffee, host Ruth Thomas delves into the insights from Payscale’s newly released 2024 Salary Budget Survey Report. Joined by Amy Stewart, Principal of Research and Insights at Payscale, and Minde Stone, Senior Director of Rewards, HR Operations, and Talent Acquisition, the discussion covers critical findings from the survey, the macroeconomic factors influencing salary budgets, and practical tips for compe...
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August 16, 2024 • 35 mins
In this episode of Comp & Coffee, Ruth Thomas hosts a lively discussion on favorite summer reads that offer both professional insights and personal growth. Joined by Jennifer Ferris, Principal Solutions Consultant at Payscale, and Liz Sheffield, Manager of Content Marketing, they dive into books that range from leadership strategies to pay equity.
The books they discuss include:
"The Myth of the Nice Girl: Achieving a Career Yo...
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July 10, 2024 • 22 mins
This episode of Comp & Coffee, hosted by Ruth Thomas, covers Payscale's latest innovations and updates in compensation management. Key themes include surfacing actionable insights, growing data, and incorporating user-led feedback. The discussion features Brooke Grimes, Senior Director of Product Marketing, and Brittany Innes, Senior Director of Product Management. They highlight new features such as job family management, improvem...
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