Let's Talk About Pay: Hard Conversations and Negotiation Strategies

Let's Talk About Pay: Hard Conversations and Negotiation Strategies

From SHRM All Things Work by SHRM

February 25, 2026 · 30 min · Season 3 · Episode 34

About this episode

Ben Zweig discusses pay negotiation strategies and the barriers to self-advocacy in compensation discussions.

Ever struggled with how to turn nerve-wracking pay conversations into career-changing opportunities? Ben Zweig, CEO of Veo Labs, shares pay negotiation strategies for employees, unpacks the psychological and social barriers to self-advocacy, and equips people managers with empathy-driven tools to build trust and transparency in compensation discussions. Subscribe to the All Things Work newsletter to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/fg444d --- Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r Resources from this Week’s Episode – 2025 Employee Benefits Survey: https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/research/employee-benefits-survey Total Rewards Specialty Credential: https://www.shrm.org/credentials/specialty-credentials/total-rewards

People in this episode

Guest: Ben Zweig

Topics covered

  • pay negotiation
  • self-advocacy
  • employee compensation
  • trust in discussions
  • career opportunities

Keywords

  • pay conversations
  • negotiation strategies
  • psychological barriers
  • empathy-driven tools
  • transparency in compensation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Veo Labs, SHRM

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