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Payroll Congress is often seen as just another industry conference but what if it's actually the single most career-defining investment a payroll professional can ever make? In this episode of @thepayrollpodcast we explore why Payroll Congress is so much more than a conference and how attending can completely transform your career in payroll.

In this episode, Laurel Serra, CPP, Director of Education Services at PayrollOrg, joins Nick Day, CEO of JGA Recruitment Group, to make the ultimate case for attending Payroll Congress 2025. Together they unpack how Congress drives payroll career development, builds lifelong professional networks, and delivers the kind of payroll education and compliance training that no webinar or online course can replicate. Along the way, the discussion touches on payroll professional growth, practical payroll podcast insights, and the community-driven culture that makes Payroll Congress the premier event for payroll professionals worldwide.

It's not just about the classes.

It's not just about the credits.

It's about finding your people.

Laurel shares her personal journey from falling into payroll through a temp agency to becoming one of the profession's most respected education leaders, and how one trip to Congress changed the entire trajectory of her career. The episode also covers how to pitch Congress to your employer using PayrollOrg's Boss's Letter, practical tips for first-time attendees, and real career transformation stories from professionals whose lives changed the moment they walked through those doors.

This episode is sponsored by Deel

Managing a global team is complex, Deel makes it simpler with payroll, HR, IT, and compliance all in one place. That's why over 35,000 businesses trust Deel to hire, pay, and manage their teams worldwide.

See how Deel works at www.deel.com/nickday

Guest & Host:

Connect with Laurel Serra, CPP: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurelserra-cpp/

Connect with Nick Day: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/

Stay tuned for the next episode of The Payroll Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!

Timestamps:

(00:00) What does payroll mean to you? Laurel's "heartbeat" philosophy

(02:39) Laurel's journey from temp placement to Director of Education at PayrollOrg

(07:32) Why even a well-run payroll team needs to keep evolving

(10:08) What is Payroll Congress? 100+ workshops, global sessions & the expo hall

(12:53) Key benefits: RCH credits, networking, vendors & knowledge resources

(16:57) Advice for introverts and first-time attendees

(22:26) Real career transformation stories from Congress attendees

(28:05) Networking success stories from reconnections to new hires

(31:22) The Boss's Letter: how to get your employer to say yes

(38:54) Payroll Congress 2025 dates, schedule & how to register