Come together with industry leaders as they impart valuable insights to help you in your career — today, and in the future. Don’t miss this chance to connect with some of the biggest payroll innovators to ask your burning questions and hear what’s new.

THE CROSS BETWEEN AI AND PRIVACY: WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR PRACTITIONERS (Panel Discussion) 

In a world where technology and innovation are reshaping our lives, the demand for artificial intelligence and privacy has never been more critical.   

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools and techniques can be game-changers for HR (Human Resources) and payroll professionals, modernizing how they manage and support their workforce. With AI and ML, HR and Payroll teams can streamline their operations, make data-driven decisions, and enhance the overall employee experience. Although AI is designed to provide intelligent solutions, safeguarding your personal information should always be top of mind. 

 Join our panel of experts, John Wunderlich (Privacy Consultant) and Mark Daley (Chief AI Officer at Western University), as we discuss the cross between AI and Privacy and the impact on Payroll and HR Practitioners.

When it comes to employer-provided health, dental and vision expense reimbursements employers can now choose from different types of plans, some of which are different from the traditional group benefits plan.  

Some even offer reimbursement of non-medical expenses such as sports equipment and gym memberships! 

Whether it be a Health Care Spending Account, a Personal Wellness Spending Account or a group health/dental/vision group insurance plan, the correct tax treatment and source withholding will differ. 

In this session we will go through everything you need to know in order to be complaint when processing these employee benefits in payroll.  

Join representatives from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for a discussion on the latest issues, trends and changes coming from the CRA.

In today’s boundless world of work, payroll has evolved into a powerful partner and a strategic asset to organizations, as many embrace new challenges and opportunities such as managing a global workforce and improving accuracy through automation, while recognizing the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

In this session, Dayforce will discuss how organizations can better utilize payroll and take the lead in the future of pay, specifically in administrative efficiency, business compliance, and people experience.

Leading a team is challenging, and dealing with toxic behaviour can make it even more so. Resentment grows, respect dwindles, and toxic behaviours can infect the entire team. Challenging employees test your patience and energy, but turning the tide requires skillful management. How you and your team effectively deal with toxicity can make or break your workplace culture. Discover the secrets to building a positive, productive workplace by learning what to focus on, how to respond effectively, and master the art of moving conversations forward. Become the leader who inspires lasting change and cultivates an engaged, collaborative, and thriving team.

In this, the most hyperconnected era we’ve faced in history, Payroll leaders report feeling more DISconnected than ever!  They report that 6 out of the top 7 problems that keep them up at night… are people problems, which can include;

• accessing and attracting top talent
• identifying and motivating talent from within
• designing iron-clad succession plans for sustainability
• nurturing trust, innovation, and autonomy
• reducing bottlenecks, misalignment, and conflict
• creating an atmosphere for collaboration and cohesion
• driving an inclusive and diverse culture

From vision to crisis communication, MIScommunication impacts productivity, market share, trust, profitability, performance, reputation, culture, and sustainability.

Are you looking for…

• Techniques that are simple and quick to implement Monday morning!
• Real-life case studies
• Research-based content
• Peer-generated, co-created solutions?

Join us to explore how masterful communication is the primary driver of cohesive and highly productive teams.

Effective January 1, 2024, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and Revenu Québec’s new administrative policy enables employers to determine a fully remote employee’s province of employment based on several indicators for the employee to be considered “attached to an establishment of the employer.” An employee’s province of employment may differ from their province of residence.

Payroll Professionals are responsible for ensuring that all employees and pensioners are set up accurately in the payroll system with the proper income tax withholdings and any associated employer payroll levies and taxes.

During this session, we will review the rules for establishing the province of employment for withholding purposes before and after this new administrative policy change and guide you through several examples, such as:

• Remote/in-person employees
• Employer’s permanent establishment
• Non-Resident employer

We will answer these questions along with others you may have to ensure that you are on the correct path in establishing the proper province of employment rules.

When an organization terminates an employment relationship, payroll professionals are tasked with processing final payments. These settlements may include a retiring allowance or a salary continuance, claims for damages, legal fees or other post-employment benefits. Join us to understand the taxation and reporting requirements for each type of payment or benefit provided.

During this session, we will answer questions such as:

• Can a settlement be treated as a salary continuance if the employee requests installment payments over a period of time?
• Are claims for damages non-taxable?
• When paying the employee’s legal fees, is the amount taxable and reportable?
• How do we treat payments provided in lieu of certain benefits at termination?

Everyone loves a vacation, but for payroll professionals dealing with the legislated requirements for administering employee vacations is often a source of anxiety. And given the fight for talent and the changing nature of the workforce, organizations are often looking for new and inventive ways to attract employees with innovative compensation packages that include unique policies for things like vacation in order to focus on workplace wellness and work/life balance. Join in this informative session that will explore the new and unique ways that organizations are offering vacation policies, while exploring the legislative aspects of policies and how it relates to the administration of an organization’s vacation policy.  The session will include a look at aspects of vacation policies such as:

• Unlimited vacation
• Donating vacation time
• Vacation purchase or selling

This presentation will take you through the newly published Payroll Privacy Guidelines which includes information on the payroll data privacy life-cycle, how to determine what privacy legislation applies to your payroll – if any, and some coverage on the impact of new and emerging technologies.

Recording taxable benefits properly is important for both employers and employees as it can affect the amount of income tax and other deductions that are calculated and reported on their returns. Benefits are considered part of the employee’s income and have to be included on the employee’s tax slips. The employers also have to remit source deductions on those benefits.

If taxable benefits are not recorded properly, it can result in errors, omissions and inconsistencies in payroll and tax returns. This can lead to penalties, interest, and audit and it can affect the employee’s eligibility for tax credits and deductions.

The legislative policies on gifts and awards have changed twice focusing on gift cards, social, virtual and hospitality events.

This session will provide the newest updates for payroll professionals to stay compliant and have a better understanding of the complexity of determining when certain benefits are taxed.

Ever feel like the unsung hero in the payroll world? It’s time to change that narrative. In this power hour, we’re diving deep into strategies to amplify your impact and secure that well-deserved seat at the table. Remember, you never see anyone in payroll unless there’s trouble brewing—but let’s flip that script together.

We’ll navigate the avenues of influence by confidently questioning, actively listening, and harnessing the power of your voice. You’ll walk away with:

• Strategic Communication Mastery: Craft compelling messages that resonate with Finance or HR, ensuring your voice is heard beyond just troubleshooting.
• Influence Amplification Tactics: Learn how to assert your expertise effectively and become an indispensable asset.
• Confidence and Empowerment: Develop a confident presence that demands attention in crucial discussions, making your impact count where it matters most.

It’s time to rewrite the story—make your contribution count. Join us and unleash the influential force you’ve always had within. Let’s elevate your role from the shadows to the spotlight!

Unleash your inner resilience and thrive in the face of life’s pressures. Discover practical strategies based on the 10 Resiliency Factors, that will transform your ability to respond to challenges, navigate change, and recharge your energy. Master the art of bouncing back after stress, while minimizing its negative impact. Create a personalized resiliency plan that empowers you to live a flourishing life. By implementing actionable ideas and releasing the physical effects of stress, you’ll safeguard your mental well-being, prevent burnout, and unlock the doors to greater happiness, satisfaction, and joy. Don’t miss this opportunity to reclaim control and embrace a resilient, thriving future.

What does it mean to be strategic in payroll? There’s no denying that payroll plays a critical administrative role—like ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time—but there is huge potential for payroll to become a strategic cornerstone within every organization. A key component of becoming a strategic payroll leader is technology and how you leverage it to deliver value to the business. Join us to learn how to go from tactical payroll to strategic payroll, and the role technology plays in that shift.

In this, the most hyperconnected era we’ve faced in history, Payroll leaders report feeling more DISconnected than ever!  They report that 6 out of the top 7 problems that keep them up at night… are people problems, which can include;

• accessing and attracting top talent
• identifying and motivating talent from within
• designing iron-clad succession plans for sustainability
• nurturing trust, innovation, and autonomy
• reducing bottlenecks, misalignment, and conflict
• creating an atmosphere for collaboration and cohesion
• driving an inclusive and diverse culture

From vision to crisis communication, MIScommunication impacts productivity, market share, trust, profitability, performance, reputation, culture, and sustainability.

Are you looking for…

• Techniques that are simple and quick to implement Monday morning!
• Real-life case studies
• Research-based content
• Peer-generated, co-created solutions?

Join us to explore how masterful communication is the primary driver of cohesive and highly productive teams.

Join The People Purpose podcast host Chas Fields & Managing Partner of HCM Advisory, Teresa Smith for a thought-provoking conversation about key practices and metrics they’ve utilized as consultants to help organizations level up their payroll processes and practices. Learn to become an organizational change agent while becoming that strategic partner, understand how payroll has evolved, and fulfill organizational need that drives business success.

Join our expert Payroll Compliance Team for a comprehensive session on the latest enhancements to the Canada and Quebec Pension Plan (C/QPP) for 2024, including the introduction of a new additional C/QPP contribution. Stay ahead in understanding the intricate details of these pivotal changes. Additionally, we’ll delve into the most common taxable benefits audits, providing essential insights on what employers need to do to ensure full compliance. Don’t miss this opportunity to update your knowledge and keep your company on the right side of payroll compliance!

The Commissioner will provide updates on the Employment Insurance program and the labour market, as well as facts on the Temporary Foreign worker programs and information on resources to support workforce development. 

In early 2024 the National Payroll Institute unveiled a competency framework and career pathing tool for payroll professionals. This was an exciting step forward and towards further elevating the payroll profession.  The focus of the competency framework and career path will enable individuals to:

• understand the competencies required to be a successful payroll professional,
• identify areas of competence and areas of development
• identify a path forward in their payroll career
• provide a path for career development and career advancement

Join us for this engaging session as we delve into the competency framework and payroll career path tool to identify how it can be used for yourself, and with your direct reports to elevate your career in payroll!

Leadership is traditionally defined as: ‘the practice of guiding, influencing, & motivating others’- it implies the involvement of at least two people. You can lead up, down, and sideways – but can you lead yourself?… Come join Trina Huntley & Maddison Kowalczuk of the Payworks Learning & Development Team to debunk the oxymoron that is self-leadership.

Looking inward and self-reflecting can be challenging, especially if we do not set aside dedicated time to do so. In this session we will take a look at ourselves through the “Johari-Window” to gain an understanding of ourselves and how we interact with those around us. Further exploration of Emotional Intelligence will give us insight into our reactions/actions, relationships, and personal triggers.

What You Will Learn:

• Review of the Johari window including tips to increase your self-awareness.
• Dive into Emotional intelligence theory and what can be done to strengthen your emotional intelligence muscle.

As we look to 2024 and beyond, we can already see how the landscape of the workplace has great potential and is ripe for change.  The scope of work and how we work is being restructured and propelled by advancements in technology and socio-economic trends, as well as a reimagined workplace thrust upon us by different generations.

Technology shifts are rolling in fast; AI will transform the workplace and enhance the employee experience.  The gig-centric mentality of our younger generations is redefining the concept of “career”, employee and client experience is intertwining and workplace flexibility is here to stay.  2024 promises to be a fascinating journey for employees, and employers.

At the center of this shift is employee experience – how can employers and leaders build an experience that promotes retention and generates results. This session will cover topics that include:

• Improving and Personalizing the Onboarding Experience
• Getting More Results with Hybrid Work
• Shifting Towards More Dynamic Work and Careers
• How Enhancing the Employee Experience Benefits the Client Experience
• AI’s potential to Enable and Empower the Workforce

Join representatives from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for a discussion on the latest issues, trends and changes coming from the CRA.

Although no country has established legislated requirements to enforce a 4-day workweek, employers in several countries, including Canada, have voluntarily been experimenting with the concept.

Join us to discuss the nuances of offering a 4-day workweek and some considerations to ensure you comply with employment and labour standards legislation.

Get ready for an interactive and insightful session with The National Payroll Institute’s Compliance Team! This is your golden opportunity to have all your payroll compliance queries addressed by the InfoLine experts. Come equipped with your most pressing payroll questions and experience them being answered live. Our team is eager to share their extensive knowledge and expertise with you. Join us for a dynamic exchange of knowledge and get ready to enhance your payroll compliance strategies!

Topics include:
• Basic employment standards and rights and responsibilities of employers and employees
• The difference between an “employee” and an “independent contractor”
• The definition of “Manager” under the Act
• Wage rates, paying wages, wage statements and record-keeping
• Allowable deductions from wages
• Hours of work and overtime rules
• Statutory holidays and annual vacation pay
• Other types of leave from work (including pregnancy and parental leave)
• Termination of employment
• Information on the dispute resolution process

Why is it that we often feel more at ease discussing our most intimate secrets than our finances? Money, which significantly impacts our well-being, remains a sensitive subject. But Kelley Keehn has a mission: to change that narrative and empower Canadians to feel good about money.  Given the nature of payroll, there is a great opportunity to influence this narrative and assist employees in better understanding the importance of financial literacy and how that can contribute to financial wellness.

As a payroll professional, you are vital to every employee’s financial well-being. Financial Literacy goes hand in hand.  Join Kelley Keehn in her dynamic presentation, Unlocking Financial Freedom and How Payroll Can Play a Role. In this presentation, Kelley eliminates the emotional barriers and provides the tools for open and judgment-free financial conversations. Kelly will guide you with actionable steps to regain control and find peace with your financial situation and how you can bring this positive message to your work place and highlight the role payroll can play in doing so.

The shift from paper-based to electronic payroll and benefits management has indeed introduced greater efficiency, but it has also opened new avenues for fraud and errors. By integrating AI and data analytics into these processes, organizations can better safeguard their systems and detect irregularities. Citing real life cases, this session led by a seasoned forensic accountant will explore the possible indicators of payroll fraud, the most common payroll fraud schemes, how organizations are adopting AI and data analytics within the payroll process and practical strategies for organizations to prevent and detect payroll fraud within their organizations.

This session will empower Payroll and Financial professionals with strategic insights on how to conduct effective, legally sound workplace investigations while while minimizing organizational liability. Participants will gain valuable tools to enhance confidence in handling complex Investigations and learn proactive approaches to navigate commonly encountered challenges seamlessly, while ensuring thorough and compliant investigations.

In this session, participants will learn:

• When to Conduct a Workplace Investigation, and alternative options
• Different Types of Investigations
• Deciding Between Internal and External Investigators
• Key Elements for an Effective Investigation
• The Value of Preparation – Managing Unanticipated Issues
• Common Mistakes, Pitfalls, and Lessons Learned
• Helpful Hints to Ensure a Fair and Compliant Process
• The Investigation Report: An Overview

10 Easy Steps to LEVEL UP your employee benefits program. Since 2020, when everything changed, employers are struggling to keep up with the many innovations that have revolutionalized the employee benefits marketplace. This forward thinking presentation delivers 10 easy-to-implement and actionable ideas to help our firm keep up with your competition. We approach these benefits innovations from 3 points of view; Finance, HR and the Employee Experience. LEVEL UP your knowledge of the new benefits UX in this engaging discussion with an industry thought leader.

Ensuring that your organization can effectively navigate the ever-changing HR landscape is essential to surviving and thriving. In this session, participants will learn about HR and Employment Law best practices to mitigate some of the most common HR issues and allow your organization to flourish.

Topics will cover Employment Law implications in the new world of work including:

• Employment agreements and flexible policies
• Human rights and accommodation
• What does a duty of good faith mean for employers?
• Just cause, discipline, layoffs and termination considerations
• Commissions and Bonus Plans – key policy considerations
• Key considerations for hybrid and remote work models
• Review of legislative and case law developments in Employment Law

Have you been audited by any federal or provincial governments?  Did it go well or not so well?  Don’t think that it cannot happen to your organization.  Instead, be prepared, proactive and reduce any risks.  Join us for an interactive session that will guide you through the necessary steps to conduct your own payroll review before the government auditors come knocking.

• Review your current state practices and identify gaps
• Understand the legislative requirements including where to conduct your research.
• Document your case including financial risk.
• Present the fact/s and recommendation/s.
• Discussion and questions.

Business is becoming much more global.  As a result, companies are often looking to expand to other countries, and as a result, will need to ensure that they are properly managing their global payroll to ensure that they are compliant with local rules and regulations.

While there are a lot of similarities between Canada and other countries (US, UK, etc.), there are many nuances to consider, and getting it wrong can have serious consequences.

This presentation will highlight some of the most common mistakes.

Join us for a transformative presentation where we demystify human behavior during times of change. Key points:

Understanding Behavior: Decode why people react as they do.

Effective Communication: Learn strategies to connect and collaborate during crises.

Conflict Resolution: Gain skills to lead teams through uncertainty.

Discover valuable insights to navigate challenges, foster team cohesion, and ensure no one is left behind in times of crisis. This session equips you to master the people puzzle during change, enhancing your leadership and problem-solving capabilities. Don’t miss this opportunity to excel in times of transformation.

Discover the profound parallels between complexity theory and corporate dynamics. Elevate your leadership skills and discover how to lead with insight and drive change:

Embrace complexity: Learn to lead with confidence in the face of uncertainty, nurturing a growth-orientated culture within your team

Foster collaboration: Uncover the value of interconnectedness, breaking down silos and encouraging cross-functional teamwork

Encourage creativity: Unlock the innovative potential of your team, creating a culture that celebrates experimentation and embraces creativity

In this session, we will examine the U.S. federal and state wage and hour rules. You’ll understand how the federal and state minimum wage and overtime requirements interact. We will also discuss the federal and state child support and creditor garnishment withholding rules.

In the dynamic landscape of payroll management, the diverse age range within today’s workforce poses a unique set of challenges and opportunities. Employers are continuously striving to align hiring strategies, tailor employee benefits, and cultivate workplace cultures that resonate with individuals spanning multiple generations. This presentation will explore the impact of baby boomers, Gen X, millennials, and Gen Z on the workforce today, so you are equipped to accommodate them all equitably in your business’ future. Social and economic disruption have shifted priorities and changed what work means for all these groups — making generational sentiments in the workplace worth re-examining.

Payroll professionals in Canada are collectively responsible for remitting $343 billion in statutory remittances to federal and provincial governments annually. While many of us rely on payroll software that has been programmed to calculate these amounts, as professionals we need to be able to provide oversight on these remittances. What’s more, we need to be prepared when employees have questions about their payroll deductions.

During this session, you will learn how payroll income tax works as well as answer questions such as:

• How is net taxable income determined?
• How do TD1/TP.1015 exemptions impact income tax deductions?
• What is the difference between a marginal tax rate and an average tax rate?
• Why do bonus payments seem to have a higher tax deduction?
• Are there ways employees can lower their tax at source?
• How does payroll income tax work for employers in Quebec?

Jordan Rodney and a senior member of the MaxPeople HR team will address pre-submitted and live questions in an open-mic Q&A format (Available as both Breakout-Session or Ask the Expert Round Table).

10 Easy Steps to LEVEL UP your employee benefits program.   Since 2020, when everything changed, employers are struggling to keep up with the many innovations that have revolutionalized the employee benefits marketplace.  This forward thinking presentation delivers 10 easy-to-implement and actionable ideas to help our firm keep up with your competition.   We approach these benefits innovations from 3 points of view; Finance, HR and the Employee Experience.   LEVEL UP your knowledge of the new benefits UX in this engaging discussion with an industry thought leader.

Payroll plays a key role in issues associated with Workers’ Compensation. Join representatives from WorkSafe NS as they address the Workers Compensation Act and how it affects the payroll function.

Topics include:

• What is Workers’ Compensation and is it compulsory?
• Employer and employee responsibilities and work-related injuries
• Workers’ Compensation coverage and exceptions to coverage
• Funding Workers Compensation: regular versus self-insured employers
• Workers’ Compensation premiums: what earnings are assessable?
• Workers’ Compensation assessment process

Discover the vital connection between brain health and payroll efficiency. In this presentation, we’ll explore how lifestyle choices impact cognitive function and delve into the concept of neuroplasticity. By understanding these principles, Payroll Staff can optimize their cognitive abilities, leading to improved accuracy, problem-solving, and overall job performance. Join us to prioritize your cognitive well-being, ensuring your crucial role in payroll remains sharp and effective.

“Inspire your team with a focused and strategic approach that takes Team Building to Team Learning.

Join team building expert Tyler Hayden in this active and in-depth look at how we build greater team engagement using his technique of MIQ.

For more than two decades Tyler has been sharing with managers how to develop greater alignment and engagement within their teams to create greater efficiency and effectiveness.

• Build a more cohesive and engaged teams who will be increasingly aligned.
• Explore how to enable teams to successfully perform in a complex business environment.
• Discover insight and tools that will enable managers and leaders to improve their team’s accountability.
• Walk away with road-ready tools that can be implemented at your next day at work.
• Laugh, Learn, Network and wonder “”how can learning be this much fun?””

Tyler’s out-of-the-box experiential and adventure based learning experiences are built so that you can immediately apply them to your team to increase engagement in your projects and activities. The things you will learn in this high-energy event are essential for framing your team’s structure and long-term dialogue.

You will explore 81 different team-building solutions that can be applied immediately. Further Tyler will explore how to apply certain tools both virtually and on-site. This session is based on Tyler’s book The Business that Cared About People – A Leader’s Guide to Team Building and Engagement Using Multiple Intelligences.”

In this session, we will examine the U.S. federal and state taxation rules. You’ll understand when popular fringe benefits are taxable and how to calculate the taxable wages. We will also review the requirements for completing Forms 940, 941, and W-2.

TBD

In the dynamic landscape of payroll management, the diverse age range within today’s workforce poses a unique set of challenges and opportunities. Employers are continuously striving to align hiring strategies, tailor employee benefits, and cultivate workplace cultures that resonate with individuals spanning multiple generations. This presentation will explore the impact of baby boomers, Gen X, millennials, and Gen Z on the workforce today, so you are equipped to accommodate them all equitably in your business’ future. Social and economic disruption have shifted priorities and changed what work means for all these groups — making generational sentiments in the workplace worth re-examining.