Earlier today I had an opportunity to chat with CNBC Make It about a growing trend in compensation: the "Peanut Butter" raise. The Strategic Risk My take is that market leverage is a temporary tactic, but retaining top-tier performance is a long-term strategy. Right now, some companies may see the cooler job market as an opportunity to simplify their merit process. They lean into "normalizing mediocrity" by spreading a thin 3% budget across the board, assuming that lower tu

And you hope they do not find out. Every Founder and VP of People dreads this moment during a growth spurt. You find the perfect candidate. They are a game-changer. But the market price for their role has jumped 20% since you hired your current team. To land them, you must break your own pay band. You sign the offer letter, but your instincts tell you it is a mistake. Because you know the clock is ticking. Eventually, people talk. And when your loyal high-performer finds o