Strengthening Teams Through Smarter Pay

A Case Study in Compensation Strategy and Analysis

Regularly reviewing compensation practices and packages helps organizations remain competitive and ensures their offerings are equitable, effective, and meaningful to employees. While these reviews are typically conducted annually, a full compensation analysis is a more in-depth project that may be undertaken separately, particularly during periods of organizational change such as mergers, leadership transitions, or restructuring.

However, not all HR teams have the capacity or specialized expertise to manage this process internally. That’s where fractional HR consultants, like Beaird Group, can provide crucial support — offering strategic insight, analysis, and tailored recommendations to guide compensation decisions.

Overview

A popular child care organization’s Board of Directors engaged Beaird Group to develop a comprehensive compensation strategy and analysis aligned with their mission, values, and long-term goals. Our team combined highly specialized and experienced HR and marketing professionals to deliver actionable insights and high-quality tools designed to enhance employee satisfaction, fairness, and retention.

The Challenge

The organization’s Compensation Committee was seeking a structured, mission-aligned approach to compensation that would support staff attraction and retention in a competitive labor market. Their goal: to ensure compensation practices were equitable, motivating, and competitive. They needed expert guidance and a menu of options that would allow the Board to make informed, values-driven decisions.

Our Solution

Beaird Group delivered a comprehensive compensation strategy that addressed every key area of concern. All findings and recommendations were packaged into a branded, print- and digital-ready packet, enabling easy presentation to stakeholders.

Key deliverables:

• External Benchmarking Analysis

  We assessed base salaries, benefits, and total rewards, comparing them to peer organizations. Key recommendations included pay structure adjustments to address gaps and ensure alignment with market norms.

  
  

• Pay Equity Review

  A thorough analysis of internal pay data helped identify disparities and areas for improvement. We delivered recommendations to ensure equitable compensation practices across roles, supporting inclusivity and legal compliance.

  
  

• Incentive Compensation Evaluation

  We reviewed the existing bonus structure, identifying opportunities for better alignment with individual and organizational performance. Our proposed tiered bonus system promotes fairness and stronger performance-based incentives.

  
  

• Benefits Assessment

  Our analysis showed that core benefits were competitive, but enhancements — such as wellness programs and flexible spending accounts — could help attract and retain talent more effectively.

  
  

• Compensable Factors Analysis

  We evaluated how education, certifications, experience, and tenure influenced pay, laying the foundation for a transparent and equitable compensation structure.

  
  

• Pay Grade Framework

  Using insights from benchmarking and compensable factors, we developed a clear pay grade structure. This promotes fairness and consistency across the organization, helping employees understand their compensation path.

  
  

• Personalized Total Compensation Statements

  We created 58 individualized, branded statements to show employees the full value of their compensation, including salary, benefits, and incentives. These tools help boost engagement and demonstrate the organization’s commitment to its staff.

Results

Our client received a detailed, flexible compensation plan tailored to their workforce and aligned with their organizational values. The insights and tools we delivered empowered leadership to make data-driven decisions while enhancing transparency, fairness, and staff morale.

The materials also enabled clear communication with employees and stakeholders, reinforcing trust and confidence in the organization’s commitment to its people.

Conclusion

This project is a strong example of Beaird Group’s ability to deliver strategic, people-centered solutions through cross-functional collaboration. Whether you're building a compensation strategy from the ground up or refining existing practices, our team can help you ensure your approach is competitive, equitable, and aligned with your mission.

Let’s Work Together

Want to improve your compensation practices? Beaird Group can help you:

• Benchmark your total compensation and benefits against the market

• Ensure your pay practices are equitable and legally compliant

• Design or refine your bonus and incentive structures

• Create clear, engaging total compensation statements

  
  

Contact us to learn how Beaird Group can support your organization’s HR goals — no matter how complex.