Blog - MorganHR

11 Dec 2025

Pay Transparency Laws 2026: Stop Scrambling, Start Leading

Posted on December 11, 2025 by Laura Morgan

Framework comparing minimum pay transparency compliance versus strategic compensation structure building with six-month outcome projection showing 300-400% cost differential

Your January deadline isn’t a compliance problem. It’s a structural problem. Every HR leader calling us right now sounds the same: “We need to post salary ranges by January 1st, and we don’t even know if our job titles make sense.” They’re treating pay transparency like a posting requirement. It’s not. It’s a forcing function […]

10 Dec 2025

by Michelle Henderson Permalink

Merit Review Implementation: The Complete HR Director’s Guide to Running Your Annual Cycle

Posted on December 10, 2025 (December 11, 2025) by Michelle Henderson

The Merit Review Trap Most HR Directors Fall Into Your finance team just approved a 3.5% merit budget. Managers are already asking when the cycle opens. Your HRIS doesn’t talk to your performance system. And you’ve got exactly six weeks to deliver increases to 800 employees without creating pay equity lawsuits or budget overruns. Sound […]

09 Dec 2025

by Alex Morgan Permalink

Salary Survey Selection: A Strategic Framework

Posted on December 9, 2025 by Alex Morgan

Salary survey selection framework matrix displaying talent competition, data quality, use case alignment, and geographic precision as evaluation dimensions for compensation benchmarking

Every compensation leader has asked the wrong question: “Which salary survey should I buy?” The real question demanding an answer is: “What strategic decisions drive my data requirements, and which surveys actually deliver against those needs?” Survey selection reveals your compensation philosophy, validates your talent competition, and exposes whether you understand what you’re truly measuring. […]

08 Dec 2025

by Austin Schleeter Permalink

Are You “Out of Office” – or Out of Clarity? Why the Holiday Season Exposes How Little We Understand Our PTO Policies

Posted on December 8, 2025 (December 10, 2025) by Austin Schleeter

Illustration showing a December calendar, clocks, PTO icons, and policy checkmarks representing holiday time-off planning and PTO policy clarity.

The inbox says, “I’ll be offline.”The calendar says, “OOO.”And the brain says, “Wait… am I using PTO, a floating holiday, sick leave, or something else entirely?” Every December, conversations about time off surge. Employees submit last-minute requests, managers scramble to balance coverage, and HR teams brace for the annual wave of “What policy applies here?” […]

25 Nov 2025

by Stacy Fenner Permalink

Ask Better Questions: The Leadership Skill That Transforms Performance Conversations

Posted on November 25, 2025 (November 25, 2025) by Stacy Fenner

Venn diagram showing involvement, understanding, and clarity overlapping to illustrate how asking better questions leads to effective performance conversations.

As a leader, have you ever rushed to solve a problem, give an answer, or outline a plan of attack? If so, you’re not alone. HR professionals, compensation teams, and people leaders want to support others. They aim to guide, reassure, and advance the work. Yet this instinct often leads us to skip one critical […]

24 Nov 2025

by Austin Schleeter Permalink

When “Professional” Doesn’t Mean What You Think: Untangling the DOE Degree Ruling and FLSA Confusion

Posted on November 24, 2025 (November 25, 2025) by Austin Schleeter

Scales balancing academic degrees on one side and compensation on the other, symbolizing the difference between educational classifications and the learned professional exemption under FLSA.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. FLSA classifications depend on specific job duties, salary tests, and jurisdictional guidance. Organizations should consult legal counsel or the Department of Labor for guidance on their unique situations. For HR and compensation teams, few things create anxiety faster […]

14 Nov 2025

by Laura Morgan Permalink

Why Job Descriptions Don’t Mention AI Evolution (And Why They Should)

Posted on November 14, 2025 by Laura Morgan

Comparison of traditional static job description versus evolution-focused job description highlighting role transformation expectations

The Silent Evolution Problem in Hiring HR Directors face a puzzling issue in 2025. According to the World Economic Forum, job disruption will equal 22% of roles by 2030, with 170 million new jobs created. Yet most job descriptions remain silent about evolution needs. Meanwhile, your finance team tracks sheets for pay planning, your HR […]

11 Nov 2025

by Stacy Fenner Permalink

Leonardo vs. Michelangelo: Designing the Right AI Learning Environment

Posted on November 11, 2025 (November 11, 2025) by Stacy Fenner

Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo split portrait representing conceptual thinkers and hands-on builders in AI learning environments

When bringing AI into your business, success depends less on algorithms and more on how people learn. Some workers learn by exploring and asking questions, while others learn by doing and building. To make AI truly part of your company culture, you must design an AI learning environment that serves both types: the Leonardos (deep […]

30 Oct 2025

by Laura Morgan Permalink

In the World of Compensation, Not All Hierarchies Are Created Equal

Posted on October 30, 2025 (October 18, 2025) by Laura Morgan

Organizational job hierarchy chart illustrating compensation structure.

Understanding the Role of Hierarchies in Compensation When you think of a “hierarchy,” what comes to mind? For many, it’s a ladder—from highest to lowest, most to least important, or greatest to smallest. The Oxford Dictionary defines it as “a system or organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according […]

28 Oct 2025

by Michelle Henderson Permalink

Compa-Ratio Explained: A Simple Guide for HR Directors

Posted on October 28, 2025 (October 18, 2025) by Michelle Henderson

HR professional analyzing digital salary range and range penetration dashboard, visualizing midpoint and pay progression metrics.

Introduction: Making Compensation Metrics Human Again Many HR leaders have faced the moment when a CEO asks, “What’s our compa-ratio for the marketing team?”—and everyone pauses. Compa-ratio, short for comparative ratio, is a metric used in compensation management to compare an employee’s salary to the midpoint of their pay range or market rate. Some organizations […]