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 News
The latest alarming health care cost projections employers are facing for 2026 should give HR professionals and employees pause — and other total rewards news.
Learn about the benefits of accommodating employee caregivers, how prominent organizations have led the way, and how to prioritize compliance in your approach.
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.
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.
Member Resources
Strengthen your workforce by implementing effective educational assistance programs. Gain strategies for compliance, budgeting, and employee engagement.
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.