PayTalk

Ever think payroll could take you around the world—or land you a front-row seat with your favorite sports team? We sit down with Jon Schausten, director of payroll at Group 1001, and Michelle Ganzer, senior payroll manager at REI Co-op, to unpack the career nobody tells you about in college. From precocious beginnings to global system conversions to teaching payroll abroad, Jon and Michelle reveal why this "behind the scenes" job might be one of the most flexible, people-driven careers out there. Part one of a two-part series.

Join the conversation! Let us know your experiences with payroll careers by messaging PayrollOrg's Facebook page or by sending us an email to [email protected].

Which earned wage access model is right for your payroll department? Dive in with our guest Bryan Thomas, the Vice President of Enterprise Accounts at rapid! by Green Dot. We discuss the difference between direct-to-consumer and direct-to-business EWA models, the shifting regulatory landscape shaped by the CFPB, and what payroll teams should look for before choosing a vendor. Bryan also breaks down why nearly every major U.S. employer now offers EWA, and shares a payroll nightmare involving a staffing company that ran the wrong pay file two weeks in a row.

Join the conversation! Let us know your experiences with earned wage access by messaging PayrollOrg's Facebook page or by sending us an email to [email protected].

We're joined by Andy Garboden, CPP, a payroll executive, speaker, consultant, and educator for PayrollOrg, to explore the fundamentals of a smooth year-end close and the new considerations payroll teams must navigate under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). We discuss how payroll professionals can build the right cross-functional team and checklist to start preparing for year-end, the new W-2 requirements (including the increased dependent care limit), as well as the new Trump Account code and the tip and overtime credit codes. We also discuss how leaning on mentors and celebrating team wins can turn a stressful year-end into a confident, successful close.

Do you have thoughts or questions about OBBBA or year-end payroll? We want to hear from you! Join the conversation by reaching out via email at [email protected] or send a message to the PayrollOrg Facebook page.

In this special episode of PayTalk, recorded at the 44th Annual Payroll Congress in Nashville, we're joined by PayrollOrg members Wendy Muirhead, Kira Rubiano, and Dale Wethered, CPP, alongside special guest hosts Nick Day and Natalie Lloyd, to explore where payroll is headed in the age of automation. We discuss how payroll professionals can leverage AI to drive strategic workforce planning, why culture is a leadership skill that extends far beyond global payroll, and how agentic AI is set to become a foundational element of payroll operations within the next five years.

Do you have thoughts or questions about the future of payroll or AI and automation? We want to hear from you! Join the conversation by reaching out via email at [email protected] or sending a message to the PayrollOrg Facebook page.

In this special episode recorded at the 44th Annual Payroll Congress in Nashville, Tennessee, special guest host, Brent Skinner, with his HR.com podcast, "Future of Payroll and Workforce Management," discusses with PayrollOrg member, Karen Settembrino, CPP, one of payroll's most consequential emerging debates — artificial intelligence (AI) and payroll.

AI may be advancing rapidly, but should payroll professionals trust it to calculate gross-to-net pay? While AI can already support auditing, reconciliation, employee self-service, and anomaly detection, this podcast argues that fully autonomous payroll calculations cross a dangerous line.

Want even more insights? Don't forget to register for PayrollOrg's Virtual Congress!

In this episode of PayTalk, we're joined by Jason Lee, Chief of Chime Enterprise, to explore how banking and payroll are becoming one integrated system. We discuss why the traditional wall between payroll and banking is artificial, how AI is revolutionizing fraud detection while creating new challenges around privacy, and what the future holds as payroll professionals build strategic relationships with financial institutions. We also examine the affordability crisis facing workers and how payroll leaders can position themselves as key players in employee financial wellness for the years ahead.

Do you have thoughts or questions about the intersection of banking and payroll or workplace financial wellness? We want to hear from you! Join the conversation by reaching out via email at [email protected] or sending a message to the PayrollOrg Facebook page.

In this episode of PayTalk, we're joined by Debbie Piacitelli, a Global Process Owner of Payroll, and Mokscha Haack, Global Payroll Process Excellence Lead at Zimmer Biomet, who share insights from their extensive international payroll experience. Our guests explore how the payroll profession is evolving globally, discussing the critical balance between standardization and localization, vendor selection strategies for new countries, and emerging compliance challenges across multiple jurisdictions. We also cover common expansion pitfalls, the future of AI in global payroll operations, and career advancement strategies for payroll professionals navigating complex multi-country environments.

Do you have thoughts or questions about global payroll expansion or international compliance challenges? We want to hear from you! Join the conversation by reaching out via email at [email protected] or sending a message to the PayrollOrg Facebook page.

In this episode of PayTalk, we're joined by Carolyn Hayden-Garner, Director of Finance at Tesla, who brings 33 years of payroll leadership experience managing operations for over 140,000 employees worldwide. In honor of International Women's Day, Carolyn discusses creating inclusive environments and mentoring the next generation of payroll professionals, with a special focus on supporting women's advancement in leadership roles. We explore the barriers women face in senior payroll positions, the importance of sponsorship beyond traditional mentoring, and strategies for building confidence and visibility.

Do you have thoughts or questions about empowering women through mentorship in payroll or creating more inclusive leadership opportunities? We want to hear from you! Join the conversation by reaching out via email at [email protected] or sending a message to the PayrollOrg Facebook page.

In this episode of PayTalk, we're joined by Michael Francis, MBA, CPP, and Global Payroll Director at SBA Communications, who discusses one of the most critical challenges facing the payroll industry: the generational talent gap. Michael explores strategies for attracting millennials and Gen Z to payroll careers while preserving the institutional knowledge of retiring baby boomers. We dive into rebranding payroll as a strategic, purpose-driven profession that offers technology integration, international exposure, and meaningful career growth. Michael also shares insights on succession planning, mentorship, AI adoption in payroll, and how to showcase the human impact of payroll work.

Do you have thoughts or questions about attracting new talent to payroll or bridging generational gaps in the profession? We want to hear from you! Join the conversation by reaching out via email at [email protected] or sending a message to the PayrollOrg Facebook page.

In this episode of PayTalk, we're joined by Steve Hodgson, CPP, CPTD, and PayrollOrg's Director of Learning and Development, who shares insights from PayrollOrg's latest biennial payroll industry report. Steve explores how the payroll profession is evolving, discussing the increasing value of professional certifications, direct deposit adoption challenges, and emerging global payroll trends. We also cover compensation patterns, technology adoption, and career advancement strategies for payroll professionals navigating an ever-changing landscape.

Do you have thoughts or questions about the payroll industry report findings or career development in payroll? We want to hear from you! Join the conversation by reaching out via email at [email protected] or sending a message to the PayrollOrg Facebook page.