Workshop Explores Global Payroll Function, Past, Present, and Future

Congress Xstream kicked off its workshops by going global in Tuesday’s “Re-imagining the Global Payroll Function.”

Speakers Deborah Piacitelli, CPP, Director of Global Payroll Compliance at W.L. Gore and Associates, and Judy Hamilton, Director of Payroll and Global Process Owner at UKG, explored what it takes to be a global payroll professional today.

“We can be proactive in identifying challenges, because we have the ability to think out of the box to solve problems,” Hamilton said. “We can influence direction by leading major programs and initiatives and act as an advisor to stakeholders as it relates to global payroll.”

Attendees took a deep dive into how the global payroll function has transformed over the last 20 years and how they can think ahead to the future.

“A transformation like this is not a 100-yard dash, and we are not trying to break Olympic records to get to the finish line,” Hamilton said. “It takes a lot of thought, coordination, and support. Sometimes it’s trial and error, sometimes it’s one step forward and two steps back. But I encourage you to be resilient and keep moving forward.”

Through polls and speaker questions, attendees joined in on the discussion in the webinar chat about how they can ensure payroll operations can adapt and what is happening in their own workplaces. One poll question, "Do you feel that the global payroll function of your organization has a seat at the (virtual) table?" roused workshop attendees in particular, where 62% answered 'yes'. 

"I'm excited to say we are just getting a seat at the table and starting this adventure. Payroll is also transitioning globally," said Danny Schulz, CPP. 

Piacitelli responded to Schulz's update in the chat promptly.

"We are all on this journey together but in different places on the map--this is a topic we could use a whole day to discuss!" Piacitelli said.

At the end of the workshop, Hamilton and Piacitelli pointed out to attendees that they are the change they want to see for the future and to be their own “call to action.”

“Participate in the conversation and explore those payroll capabilities and skills needed to manage and execute global payroll function,” Hamilton said. “Share the journey with your team; they will absolutely appreciate it.”