spydc

Welcome to Washington, D.C. It is said that our nation’s capital has more spies per capita than any other city. Walking through a park or down the street, riding on the metro, in a cab, or ride-share, eating out at a restaurant or enjoying a museum or a play—you are more likely to come across a true, living, and breathing spy here, in D.C., than anywhere else in the world.

So, it is fitting that the 36th American Payroll Association (APA) Annual Congress, held just outside the spy capital of the world, is injected with a spy theme—Pay Another Day. But could there be another reason for the focus on this form of data collection?

This town, the area where I grew up, also is known as the capital of the free world, the home of the three branches of the federal government and its regulatory agencies—all extremely important in forming the policies and requirements for payroll professionals.

Officials and members of Congress come up with laws and policies, yet fairly often fail to recognize the impact to the payroll processes. The intentions may be noble, but the impact could be complicated and expensive to implement as things can get overlooked.

So, it is not a coincidence that both my company, a technology firm that publishes information for payroll professionals, and the APA’s government relations office, have set up shop here.

Why?

For both of us, in a way, we are spying for payroll issues in a town full of spies.

My team of journalists is charged to uncover, investigate, report, and explain about developing payroll issues and how they may impact payroll operations across the United States and the world.

The APA’s government relations staff works with other employer groups and is considered by the IRS and others a “stakeholder” for payroll-related measures and actions. Though often solicited for comment, frequently the APA staff has to discover, intervene, and explain the impact certain initiatives can have on payroll. (You can find out more about this by attending the “Legislative Outlook and APA Lobbying” workshop sessions here during Congress)

We all may not look the part of James Bond, but we are the eyes and ears on the ground for payroll, in D.C., and across the country, looking for developments that could affect what you do now and in the future.

So, enjoy this Annual Congress, enjoy the town, and see if you can at least get to the National Archive where our key documents, such as the Declaration of independence and the Articles of the Constitution are on display. And know that someone next to you or near to you may indeed be a real spy!