If your HR team has convinced you that it would be unfair to give a high performer a raise because they’ve only been with your firm for several months or they’ve told you that for legal reasons it’s best to wait until everyone is reviewed prior to rewarding a particular group of people, then it’s time to fire your team.
Companies spend so much time covering their butts, that they often forget why they have these policies in place. Last time I checked, it was to reward specific performance. However, over the years it’s become more and more apparent that most reward systems aren’t working.
Dare to be different. Reward those who are doing a great job and let the others quit or show them the door yourself. Doing so will make room for you to hire those who are much more productive.