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- Private vs. Federal Pay: The Double Standard đ | PFunc Pulse #16
Private vs. Federal Pay: The Double Standard đ | PFunc Pulse #16
Your go-to HR briefing from People Functionâs expert team
Emma Leeds
November 11, 2025
PFunc Introduction
Message From Our CEOâs Desk
 | I flew back from Austin to NYC on Sunday, enduring hours of delays. As I walked through the airport, I found myself locking eyes with TSA agents and thanking them for working. My gratitude felt misplaced, even embarrassing. I was thanking people for working without pay because of a political failure. How deeply and truly embarrassing for this country. |
My reality was an inconvenience, but that small inconvenience pales in comparison to the reality of that federal employee who hadn't been paid since October 11. These are people who were ensuring my safety but couldn't ensure food security for their families.
What's truly wild is that federal workers, while they get benefits like a pension, lack basic wage protections afforded to the private sector.
Private sector employees denied wages are usually entitled to back pay PLUS penalties.
Federal workers are forced to work for free, wait for eventual backpay, and get no extra compensation. The law itself reinforces the risk they bear.
We are living in a country where realities diverge wildly, spanning from an employee worrying about basic necessities to a president focused on gilding a bathroom. This failure of government leadership is a powerful reminder for us as business leaders:
Look past your own reality. A national crisis can be life-altering for someone on your team who lacks a safety net.
Build an empathetic space. Be a resource for stability (employee assistance programs, conversations) and acknowledge the stress your people may be carrying.
Leadership is understanding. To build resilient organizations, we must seek to understand the full spectrum of our teamsâ lived experiences.
Here at People Function, weâre focused on building something better: organizations that support people and stability, not use them as leverage. If you're doing the same, you're not alone.
âEmma
CEO & Founder, People Function
Ask PFunc Anything đŹ
Iâm early in my HR career, and Iâm curious about what experienced HR professionals wish their industry and/or their colleagues were better at? Excited to hear perspectives from your network!
From too little investment in the âpeopleâ side of business to inconsistent company oversight, HR professionals face a range of systemic frustrations. So first off, kudos to you for wanting to understand the tough parts early because that kind of curiosity is what separates a good HR practitioner from a great one.
Employee trust in HR has also declined in recent years, with more than one-third of U.S. workers stating they donât trust their HR department. Itâs a reminder that while HRâs mission is to support both people and business goals, the balance isnât always easy to maintain.
Here are four key âwishesâ from HR experts, change they believe would move the industry forward:
That everyone understands their role in building and elevating culture because that job is shared, not concentrated in HR, and that they make decisions that help create the company where they and others can thrive.
100% transparency into how our team really feels about working here.
That we would hold accountability on investment decisions reflecting the prioritized roadmap fueling product-led growth vs. succumbing to shiny object syndrome or feeding a leaky top-of-funnel.
That more leaders saw their people strategy as their business strategy: not the thing you do after growth but the thing that drives it. When you build a culture of clarity, accountability, and excellence early, everything compounds from there.
Have an HR-related question youâd like to see answered by Emma or featured in our âAsk PFunc Anything!â section? Submit it here. You may see it in an upcoming issue!
ICYMI Compliance Tips
Below are some of the latest HR regulatory and compliance updates, published within the last month.
New York City (eff. 1/1/2026) - The salary threshold for Administrative and Executive exemptions will be $1,275/week in NYC, Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester, and $1,199.10/week elsewhere in New York. Thereâs no set threshold for the Professional exemption.
Rhode Island (eff. 1/1/2026) - The minimum wage will increase to $16 on Jan. 1, 2026, and to $17 on Jan. 1, 2027.
Washington (eff. 1/1/2026) - Washingtonâs exemption threshold will be 2.25Ă the state minimum wage ($17.13/hour) for all employers and will continue to rise each year until it reaches 2.5Ă in 2028.
PFunc Recommended Resources
Check out these vetted and recommended podcasts. đ§
 | If Emmaâs note got you thinking about the government shutdown and its ripple effects across industries, check out Bloombergâs The Big Take episode, âThe Government Shutdownâs Economic Toll,â for a deeper dive. And if youâre with Erin and Rebecca on the need for better alignment between HR and leadership, tune in to âNine to Thrive HR.â In the latest episode, âCEO whispererâ Robert Hargrove shares practical strategies for getting executives and HR teams on the same page. |
On the PFunc Market
Hereâs whatâs happening in the PFunc ecosystem. â
Talent Spotlight
A fantastic, vetted candidate is actively seeking new roles and consulting opportunities. Reach out directly or reply here to learn more!
Robert Postotnik, Creative Development and Design Leadership - Robert is an award-winning executive who has led bold, culture-shaping campaigns for television hits like âRuPaulâs Drag Race,â âDexter: Original Sin,â and âYellowjackets.â Known for pairing big ideas with hands-on execution, he brings strategy, style, and substance to every project he takes on. Heâs now seeking a role as a Vice President, Senior Vice President, Executive Creative Director, or Head of Design. Learn more by visiting Robertâs portfolio here.
Exploring new opportunities in HR, People Operations, Business Operations, or Executive Leadership? Submit your information here to be featured in our âTalent Spotlightâ section.
Open Roles in Our Network đ€
Like what you see? Drop us a note (weâve got an inside line to the hiring team).
Coder, PFunc client: Director of Product Marketing - If youâre fluent in both code and communication, and love turning complex AI concepts into stories that resonate with developers, executives, and customers alike, this role is for you.
Enigma, former PFunc client: Director of Finance - Put your financial acumen to work in a role that shapes how this fast-scaling data company invests, grows, and operates. Youâll own the financial backbone of the organization, leading daily operations, driving revenue strategy, and turning insights into action across every team.
Inspiren, PFunc client: Director of Enterprise Growth - If youâre a natural relationship builder who loves the thrill of closing deals, this role is for you. Youâll help healthcare leaders discover smarter patient engagement solutions through traveling, connecting, and growing new business along the way.
Watson Style Group, PFunc client: Director of Luxury Client Development - Youâll be the face of the luxury arm of the business for one of PFuncâs newest clients, leading elite client acquisition and partnerships across the luxury ecosystem. This role is all about polish, strategy, and results as it shares how high-net-worth clients experience the brand.
If you have an open role at your company you want us to highlight, please reply to this email!
PFunc News
Hereâs whatâs happening at People Function.
Highlights âš
The holidays are almost here, but weâre not slowing down at PFunc! Hereâs whatâs been happening and whatâs ahead.
As we mentioned in the last issue, PFunc employees were set to enjoy a spooky hooky the night before Halloween, thanks to our friends at Newfront. While inclement weather forced us to reschedule the outing to this Friday, we didnât let that stop the fun! PFunc and Newfront hosted a cozy happy hour at Lillieâs in Manhattan instead.
Joining us were Matt Ryan, Senior Vice President and NY Market Leader of Total Rewards at Newfront; Lena Steinberg, Head of People at HAP Capital; Alyxa Lease, Chief People Officer and Head of Strategic Projects at BetterCloud; and Amy Krym, Senior Business Recruiter at ResortPass. We had an absolute blast, and now, weâre counting down to our rain date at Harvest Moon Farm, where weâll finally get that perfect fall afternoon weâve been waiting for. đđ
From left: Lena Steinberg, Emma, Alyxa Lease, Amy Krym and Matt Ryan at Lillieâs.
Client Corner đ
Meet the newest additions to our growing client roster! Theyâre innovative companies spanning diverse industries, stages, and locations.
AlphaSense: AlphaSense is an AI-powered market intelligence platform that helps businesses quickly find insights buried in millions of documents, from earnings calls to expert interviews. Leaders across industries use it to cut through the noise and make smarter decisions, faster.
Internews: Internews is a global nonprofit that helps communities around the world access trustworthy news and information. By training journalists, supporting local media, and championing press freedom, Internews empowers people in 100+ countries to stay informed and hold power accountable.
Watson Style Group: Watson Style Group (WSG) is the only full-service personal styling firm in the U.S., helping clients nationwide build wardrobes that fit their life and style. Using a proprietary styling process, the team blends personal insight, smart shopping, and custom digital lookbooks to create outfits clients love.
Weâre thrilled to be working with their teams and canât wait for whatâs next!
Stay in Touch!
Are you interested in fractional HR support for your team? Reply to this email or contact us to learn more about our offerings, pricing, and how we can support your growing company.
đ Do you have feedback about our content or things youâd like to see us feature in future editions? Submit your thoughts here.
