News
Fair Pay Does Not Mean Equal Pay
2026/10/08
When discussing fair pay, one common assumption is that people doing similar work should receive the same salary. In practice, however, two employees with similar job titles may have justifiably different salaries, while two seemingly very different roles may be considered equivalent in terms of pay. Pay is influenced by the value of a role within an organisation, the level of responsibility, the competencies required, labour market conditions, and the availability of particular skills. The purpose of a well-designed compensation system is therefore not to pay everyone the same. Its aim is to ensure that pay is determined according to clear and consistent principles, while enabling organisations to attract specialists with the competencies they need.
We know more than we do: how learning becomes useful at work
2026/09/29
September, the month of learning, is almost over. Hopefully, we are all a little wiser, more capable or more curious than we were at its beginning. Learning rarely arrives as a dramatic breakthrough. We season a meal more confidently, complete a familiar task more clearly, or run 100 metres further than last month. We tried something, noticed what happened and made an adjustment.
Latvia’s Fairest-Paying Employers in 2026: Accenture Latvia Branch and Linde Gas
2026/09/23
Compensation research and management consulting company Figure Baltic Advisory has announced Latvia’s fairest-paying employers of 2026 in the large organisation and small and medium-sized organisation categories. This year, last year’s leaders have retained their top positions: Accenture Latvia Branch ranks first among large organisations, while Linde Gas ranks first among small and medium-sized organisations. The 2026 living wage has also been calculated: for a single adult living in Riga, it has reached EUR 1,697, up 2.4% year-on-year, while in Latvia’s regions it stands at EUR 1,477, an increase of 1.5%.
Vacation from work does not equal proper rest: how to really switch off
2026/07/16
Summer is upon us, and with it comes the much-anticipated vacation season. However, there is often a common misconception regarding the nature of vacation—it is frequently equated with rest. Most people and organisations mainly view vacation from a work perspective and consider it as off-job time that provides employees with opportunities to remove stress sources related to work. Proper rest, however, involves the restoration of energy, mental rejuvenation, and the opportunity to engage in direct and profound social interaction with family and friends. In a world that praises constant busyness and “grinding,” taking time off and knowing how to truly rest has become a rare occurrence, whether during a typical week or even while on vacation.
Is Your Autumn Plan Realistic — or Just Well-Structured Optimism?
2026/07/07
Two years ago, I wrote about the planning fallacy. Today, I could publish the same article again with one small, but rather honest, addition: because of the planning fallacy, my own master’s thesis is still not submitted. It is slightly embarrassing. But it is also a useful reminder that knowing about the planning fallacy does not automatically protect us from it.