Reality check on skills-based pay
May 14, 2026 — 1pm ET / 10am PT
Skills-based pay is often presented as an inevitable evolution, but for those in the trenches of compensation and HR, the reality is far more nuanced. Before an organization can even consider pulling the lever on a skills-based model, there is a labyrinth of technical, ethical, and cultural questions that must be answered — many of which don't appear until you're already in the thick of implementation.
Join industry veterans from Bettercomp and Culpepper for a session designed to peel back the layers of the "skills" hype. This webinar isn't a sales pitch for a new trend; it’s a rigorous stress test for your compensation strategy. We will explore the "unknown unknowns" of skills-integrated pay, from the fragility of skill-level market data to the complexities of objectively validating proficiency to the volatility of skill shelf-life and market demand.
This webinar will help you:
Audit Your Readiness: Identify the "red flag" organizational gaps that suggest a skills-based model might do more harm than good.
Map the Risk Landscape: Anticipate the legal and compliance hurdles associated with moving away from traditional, job-based pay structures.
Construct a Framework: Build a checklist of the critical "day-two" considerations—like performance management and career pathing—that must be solved before pay is ever discussed.
Featured speakers

Eric Hurst | VP, Compensation Data Solutions | Culpepper
Eric leads the strategy and development of market intelligence and compensation data solutions that help organizations make more informed, defensible pay decisions. With 15+ years of experience spanning compensation strategy, executive advisory work, and data product innovation, he brings a business-minded and analytically rigorous perspective to the evolving challenges of pay design. Prior to joining Culpepper, Eric served as Global Compensation Manager at McKinsey & Company, where he designed compensation frameworks and pay strategies for the firm’s global consultant population. His work sits at the intersection of compensation, analytics, and product innovation, helping organizations navigate an increasingly complex pay landscape.

Stacey Morgan | VP, Compensation Surveys | Culpepper
Stacey Morgan has been at Culpepper for over 20 years, serving as a data analyst, compensation team manager, special projects coordinator, compensation consultant, and currently serves as Vice President of Compensation Surveys. Stacey received a BA in Psychology and Communications from the University of Iowa and a Master’s in Human Resource Development from Clemson University. She currently holds certifications through WorldatWork as both a Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) and Global Remuneration Professional (GRP). She served as a director on the board of the Atlanta Area Compensation Association (AACA) for four years and now serves on the WorldatWork Affiliate Expert Council.


