Total Rewards
Using compensation and benefits strategically to retain talent, control costs, and drive organizational performance.
FEATURED RESEARCH:
2025 SHRM Employee Benefits Survey Report
A comprehensive annual survey of HR professionals capturing the prevalence of benefits across a wide range of offerings.
The Importance of Benefits
Compensation and benefits are among the largest expenses for any organization — but when managed strategically, they deliver outsized returns in retention and engagement. HR leaders who design effective rewards systems reduce turnover, attract top talent, and align workforce motivation with business objectives. Total rewards is more than pay — it’s a business lever for maximizing workforce ROI.
Member OnlyLooking to design pay and benefits that attract and retain talent?
Ask a SHRM Knowledge Advisor or insights on building competitive total rewards.
Key Data & Trends
45%
the median share of operating expenses attributed to salaries in 2025, up from 40.9% in 2022, making compensation and benefits a major organizational cost
61%
of HR pros say competitive compensation is very or extremely effective for retaining deskless workers
56%
of HR professionals report ongoing challenges in retaining deskless workers, emphasizing the importance of total rewards strategies for reducing turnover
SHRM Total Rewards Specialty Credential
Design competitive compensation and benefits programs that boost employee engagement with the SHRM Total Rewards Specialty Credential.
Latest Total Rewards News & Insights
Learn how HR can use scenario planning to develop optimal benefits solutions. Explore how different benefits packages could maximize value for employees and HR.
Discover how total compensation statements may help employees better understand and appreciate their pay and benefit offerings.
Find out about potential changes to fiduciary standards and pharmacy benefit manager transparency, affecting retirement plans and health benefit costs.
A new survey from Mercer projects a sharp rise in employer health care costs for 2026. Find out what it means for employers and their benefits strategy.
Employees recognize that benefits are important, but they often get overwhelmed during the enrollment process. It's a problem that employers need to address.
Inflation rose again in August, moving further from the Federal Reserve's goal of 2% and providing evidence that tariffs are putting upward pressure on prices.
Get expert advice about how to build a successful compensation plan by focusing on goals, total rewards, benchmarking, and transparent pay practices.
A Wellhub survey of 1,500 CEOs shows workplace wellness is now a core business strategy, credited with boosting productivity, retention, and ROI.
Learn how to win CEO support for workplace wellness, identify the metrics executives value most and discover how HR can best track and report impact.
Explore pressing compensation challenges facing organizations, including navigating pay transparency and attracting and retaining talent without big pay hikes.
BUILD WINNING REWARDS STRATEGIES
Attract and retain top talent by designing competitive compensation and benefits programs that align with business goals and workforce needs.
Member Resources
This toolkit provides actionable resources and frameworks to help HR be a strategic revenue engine that drives measurable value and business impact.
Drive strategic value with our compa-ratio calculator. This tool empowers HR leaders to ensure pay equity, optimize budgets, and make data-backed decisions.
In 2026, the ACA affordability percentage will increase to 9.96 percent, up from 9.02 percent in 2025. This change reflects the IRS’s annual inflation adjustment and directly impacts employer compliance requirements.
Avoid antitrust risks when benchmarking compensation. Use aggregate data from the third parties to ensure legal and competitive practices.
Design Rewards That Deliver
SHRM membership provides insights on compensation, benefits, and pay transparency that attract talent and reduce turnover.
Become a SHRM Member and build a total rewards strategy that works.