Remuneration, employee financial participation

Transparent, fair and non-discriminatory remuneration systems have long been more than just a compliance obligation. They are a strategic success factor for employer attractiveness, employee retention and risk minimization. With the implementation of the EU Pay Transparency Directive by 2026 at the latest, the requirements for companies will increase significantly and equal pay lawsuits will become one of the biggest personnel cost risks for employers.

We support you in setting up your remuneration structures in a legally compliant, practical and future-proof manner – from the initial analysis to sustainable implementation.

Our services on pay transparency and remuneration systems

Analysis & pay gap assessment: We review your existing remuneration systems for discrimination risks, system inconsistencies and deviations from national and European requirements. On this basis, you will receive a clear action agenda.

Legally compliant design of remuneration structures: Development of gender-neutral, transparent remuneration models, definition of objective comparison groups and evaluation criteria, and integration of collective bargaining, works constitution and labour law requirements.

Documentation, reporting obligations & compliance, HR processes & governance: Support in the preparation of legally required reports, documentation and internal guidelines, as well as preparation for employee information requests and audits by authorities; integration of pay transparency into recruiting, promotion, performance appraisal and remuneration rounds. Design of cooperation with works councils and training of HR and management teams.

Prevention & dispute avoidance: Development of strategies to avoid allegations of discrimination, collective disputes and individual legal actions.

Our specialisation in employment law and many years of experience in remuneration and participation systems enable us to provide comprehensive advice from a single source – legally sound, strategically thought-out and operationally practicable.

Sector expertise and remuneration regulations

Our experts also support you in designing your remuneration systems wherever detailed knowledge and industry-specific characteristics are required. Examples include the regulatory requirements in the financial sector (IVV, WpI-VgV, VersVgV, MiCAR, etc.) or the requirements of the DCGK (German Corporate Governance Code) for management.

Employee participation

Whether VESOP/ESOP, Virtual Share Options, RSUs, Carry, Stock Appreciation Rights (SAR), STI or LTI: Our experts advise you on the design of employee participation programs in accordance with the latest legal requirements. We are familiar with the special requirements of corporations, start-ups and private equity and help you with tailor-made implementation. Our close network with corporate and tax advisors ensures a seamless service to you.