The mayor wants a press release saying "we pay the market median," but the adopted pay policy targets the 40th percentile. What should the CHRO do?
Select an answer to reveal the explanation.
Short Explanation
Saying the city pays the median while aiming at the 40th is like putting a 55-mph sign on a 40-mph road. Public claims have to match the real pay policy. Either tell the truth or change the policy in public — do not run two philosophies.
Full Explanation
Communications strategy is an extension of the total-rewards philosophy, not a marketing overlay. A public median claim that contradicts a 40th-percentile target invites public-records exposure, bargaining distrust, and candidate backlash. The CHRO should either publish the true position or take a policy change to council before the press release. Relabeling survey math or deleting the target does not create consistency.