Session
Beyond Buzzwords: HR and Compliance that Encompasses Merit, Transparency, and Equity
This program will cut through rhetoric to focus on practical, objective, and defensible HR strategies. This program explores how organizations can design and administer policies, pay practices, and talent decisions that are merit-based, transparent, and equitable—while remaining compliant with evolving employment laws. Attendees will gain clear guidance on aligning business strategy with objective decision-making, therefore, reducing risk, and building trust through consistent, defensible HR practices.
Key Objectives
1. Identify and apply merit-based, objective criteria in the design and administration of HR policies, compensation structures, and talent decisions to promote consistency, transparency, and equity. 2. Assess HR practices for legal compliance and risk exposure by evaluating pay, promotion, and performance systems against evolving employment laws and regulatory enforcement priorities. 3. Demonstrate strategies for documenting and communicating HR decisions in a manner that supports defensibility, reduces bias, and strengthens employee trust through transparent and consistent practices.
Thomas Carnahan, PhD
Sr. Manager, People Insights at Berkshire Associates
Thomas Carnahan, Ph.D. is the Senior Manager of People Insights and is responsible for managing Berkshire’s pay equity, compensation design, and performance/talent management line of business. Dr. Carnahan’s expert work centers around conducting meaningful statistical analyses of clients’ compensation data to ensure pay equity and in support of federal, state, and/or local fair pay laws, meaningful development of compensation systems based on market data and job evaluation techniques, and developing objective performance and talent management systems to support operational and HR objectives for rewarding high performers while focusing on individual and organizational development goals. Dr. Carnahan possesses expert-level data capabilities and an extensive background that informs his work with clients, enabling him to deliver customized insights and fuel actionable strategies around pay equity, compensation design, and HR Development (HRD).