Employers should compensate workers based on the value they deliver to the company instead of potentially opening up the gates to more pay inequity by creating location-based tiers, writes Pipeline Equity CEO and founder Katica Roy. "Geographic location shouldn't determine an employee's worth," Roy writes.

A rise in COVID-19 cases due to the Delta variant has led agencies to delay office reopenings and, while agencies are encouraging employees to get vaccinated, none of the 11 that Adweek spoke with has issued a mandate. Most agencies are in the process of figuring out hybrid models, and Hanson Dodge's Kelly Klawonn says that while it's beneficial for employees to be physically together, "we want to make sure that our culture isn't based on a specific place, but it's based on the people and how we make those connections as rich and tangible and deep as possible."

Before investing in an HR tech stack, identify the biggest issues technology is needed to solve and consider spending on a modular stack that can be adapted in the future, Andreas Rivera advises. Ensure that the stack meets compliance standards and enables quick retrieval of documents, Rivera writes.

A recent survey of employers found that their main goal in informing workers about health savings accounts is explaining how the accounts can provide tax benefits. Around 40% of the employers surveyed said they talk about HSAs as part of saving for retirement.

One way to deal with imposter syndrome is to accept the feeling for what it is, then turn the negatives into positives, such as feeling humble, prepared and resilient instead of vulnerable, fearful and beaten-down, writes psychologist Gemma Leigh Roberts, founder of The Resilience Edge. "By looking at how you do new things in this way, you're reframing the situation so that you're not necessarily expecting to get everything right straight away -- instead acknowledging you're on a path of learning," Roberts writes.

When my children entered college and began thinking about their careers, I encouraged them to see work outside our local area. They were reluctant to commute until I pointed out the salary difference. “Go up over that hill and your income goes up $10-20 Gs,” I told them.

It’s true. Geography still does affect pay scale. And that practice needs to end, says Katica Roy in today’s Top Story. Paying workers for their value -- as opposed to where they get their mail -- can help eliminate salary inequities, especially among women breadwinners. It can also help lift the economy and cut dependence on social welfare, she says, citing statistics from various sources.

It’s worth considering. But what are your thoughts? Let me know! And if you enjoy this brief, tell others so they can benefit also.