Hosts Bo Brabo and Luke Carignan sit down with Heather Zarzycki, Director of Total Rewards at Adventist Health, for a candid conversation about what’s really changing in healthcare compensation, why transparency isn’t the enemy, and how HR leaders can adapt to the realities of wage compression, remote work, and AI.

💡 In This Episode You’ll Learn:

1️. Transparency Is the New Trust
Heather shares how public pay scales, wage laws, and cultural shifts are dismantling the old taboo around “talking money.” From pay equity and internal loyalty to the role of transparency in employee retention, she explains why openness is reshaping the employer-employee relationship.

2️. Wage Compression and Creativity in Compensation
With California’s healthcare minimum wage now at $24 and climbing, Heather walks listeners through the balancing act of raising pay for frontline teams while keeping leadership structures sustainable and why “flattening the top” may soon be unavoidable.

3️. The Remote Work Reality
Heather, Bo, and Luke tackle the return-to-office debate head-on. Does culture really require proximity, or can flexibility create a stronger sense of trust and productivity? The discussion reveals how outdated mindsets may be hurting recruitment and morale more than helping.

4️. Leadership Without Incentives
As more professionals shy away from management roles, the trio explores whether merit pay and performance-based compensation could reignite purpose and accountability, or risk driving burnout if not thoughtfully designed.

5️. AI, Automation & the Next Era of Comp Strategy
From digital twins to AI-driven HR service centers, the conversation turns futuristic. Heather imagines a world where compensation programs adapt in real time and HR leaders must answer the question, “Why shouldn’t AI do my job?”

💬 Memorable Quotes:

• “Transparency isn’t dangerous; it builds loyalty.”
• “If you think you’re underpaid, you deserve to know the truth.”
• “AI isn’t coming—it’s already here. Learn it, or be left behind.”

🌟 Why Listen:
This episode blends humor, hard truths, and forward-thinking ideas to challenge how we view pay, performance, and purpose in the modern workforce. Whether you’re leading compensation strategy, managing talent, or simply rethinking what motivates people to stay, Heather’s insights deliver a masterclass in balancing heart, data, and innovation.

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