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.
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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
HR leaders can use AI to enhance benefits engagement, but human connection remains vital. Get tips for communicating regularly with staff and measuring impact.
Catch up on the latest benefits and compensation news, including new figures on the cost of annual premiums and the increase in Social Security benefits for 2026.
Learn about a trend in employee benefits: AI subscriptions. Find out how your organization can accelerate productivity through AI usage within certain bounds.
Annual premiums rose 6% to reach $26,993 in 2025, according to a new analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation. Explore what the findings mean for employers.
Annual inflation ticked up to 3% in September, the largest increase since January.
Benefits will rise by 2.8% next year for 71 million people, including retirees and workers with disabilities. Learn more about the increases taking effect in January.
Catch up on the latest benefits news, including new limits for FSAs and commuter benefits, plus upcoming tax changes that will affect free food perks.
HR leaders face a paradox: more tech, less connection. Explore strategies to address employee loneliness, improve manager support, and enhance workplace belonging.
New Mexico is the first state to launch universal free child care. Discover what the news indicates for momentum around support and benefits for working parents.
Starting Jan. 1, employers won't be able to write off expenses for food in the office. Learn what that means for the popular office perk and what HR leaders plan to do.
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
Pay transparency laws, which require employers to disclose salary ranges in job postings or upon request, vary across states. . These laws aim to promote equitable pay practices and reduce wage gaps by increasing transparency in compensation.
Effective January 1, 2026, Oregon’s Senate Bill 906 requires employers to provide new hires with a written wage notice that clearly outlines key details about pay and deductions. The notice must include each rate of pay the employee may earn, the regular pay period, and all applicable deductions or allowances that affect wages.
The Director of California's Department of Finance published a letter on August 1 stating that the minimum wage needed to rise by 2.49% to $16.90 per hour effective January 1, 2026.
Pay transparency is becoming an essential practice for organizations aiming to attract and retain talent while promoting fairness in the workplace.
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.