Salary ranges, market percentiles, compa-ratios, job levels, merit increases. Compensation has its own language, and understanding how pay decisions are made can feel overwhelming if you're new to the field.

In this beginner-friendly session, break down the essential concepts behind compensation, from market pricing and salary structures to incentives, internal equity and pay positioning. Through practical examples from an in-house Compensation Manager, explore how organizations balance market competitiveness, employee performance, affordability and compliance when making pay decisions.

You'll also examine common situations that make compensation more complicated, including promotions, market adjustments, employees paid outside their salary ranges and questions about pay transparency. Leave with a clearer understanding of how compensation works, the terminology you'll encounter and the questions to ask when discussing pay decisions with managers and employees.