If your love for global payroll puts a song in your heart, Congress Xstream: An Online Conference & Expo—with its “I Love Payroll” theme—is for you.

From 18-21 May, payroll professionals from across the world will gather virtually for lots of education, networking, a vendor Expo, inspirational keynote speakers, and more.

As was the case with last year’s Congress Xstream, the agenda has a global flavor. Some global payroll workshops include the following:

• Can You Afford the Global Payroll Compliance Risk?
• Danger Ahead: Navigating the Perils of Global Employment
• Re-imagining the Global Payroll Function

Attendees will also learn the identity of this year’s Global Vision Award recipient.

New this year, as part of your Congress Xstream registration, two bonus events are set that will help kick off your educational learning. Motivational speaker Pegine on 10 March and guest speaker Charles P. “Chuck” Rettig, U.S. IRS Commissioner, on 7 April (read below for more details on these two events).

Also new for 2021—face-to-face video networking opportunities with your peers and vendors.

Registering for Congress Xstream by 5 March will give you all of the following:

• Up to 33 RCHs for the live event with on-demand access until 20 July (plus 2 RCHs for attending both bonus events)
• 28 workshops, five General Sessions, and three Industry Expert presentations
• Four days in the Expo
• Free access to Virtual Congress (14-15 July) for additional education and up to 14 more RCHs
• Interactive games to test your knowledge and win prizes
• A one-year APA membership (for colleagues and non-members)

For more information on Congress Xstream, visit the Congress Xstream website.

New Bonus Events

The two new bonus events are sessions that will not be available on demand, so register by 5 March to be able to enjoy  both (registration after 5 March and before 2 April will include only one bonus event).

Motivational speaker Pegine, whose sessions at last year’s Congress Xstream and Virtual Congress were very popular with attendees, will present “Influential Virtual Leadership” on 10 March.

She will explain how to improve virtual leadership skills by using an action plan that keeps the team focused on the vision, prevents miscommunication and project delays, builds morale and camaraderie, and delivers higher levels of productivity.

Learning objectives for this first bonus event include the following:

• Communicating more effectively with team members in an organized fashion
• Creating processes and a structure to develop rapport and increase effective communication among team members
• Building confidence and commitment to being an effective virtual leader
• Determining how to look positive, confident, and engaging while speaking virtually

  Then on 7 April, join the U.S. IRS Commissioner for “Celebrating the IRS-Payroll Relationship: The Tax Challenges Ahead.”

The IRS, through its vast governance on matters related to U.S. tax administration and collection, has an enormous impact on the work of payroll professionals. Likewise, payroll professionals affect the work of the IRS because nearly 70% of federal government collections comes through payroll management. 

Learning objectives for this informational bonus session will include the following:

• Getting the inside scoop from the head of the U.S. federal tax agency on initiatives that will impact payroll over the next few years
• Gaining a better understanding of the relationship between payroll and the IRS
• Hearing about the IRS’s modernization and reorganization efforts, inspired by the Taxpayer First Act 

  Let’s look closer now at many of the other exciting events happening during Congress Xstream 18-21 May.

  Industry Expert Education

  Payroll experts will lead 28 workshops in the following tracks: Late-breaking Legislative and Regulatory Updates, Payroll Management and Operations, Professional Development, Global Payroll, and Payroll Thought Leadership.

  Choose from workshops such as “Payroll Developments: What to Expect in 2021 and Beyond,” “The Art and Science of Sending Sensitive Data,” “Effectively Capturing and Reconciling Equity Income Globally,” and “Raising the Game! Rethinking Your Overall Business Impact as a Payroll Professional.”

  Industry Service Providers in Networking Lounge, Expo

  The Congress Expo is always the place to be for payroll professionals to connect with leading industry product service providers, APA, and Global Payroll Management Institute (GPMI) staff. If your company is looking to find out the latest and greatest in payroll products and services, this is the place to be.

  Congress Xstream sponsors^* ADP, UKG, rapid!, DailyPay, Wisely, Immedis, and Netspend will join dozens of other vendors ready to chat and show you what they’ve got. You’ll have the opportunity for live interaction, for interactive virtual networking, to grab industry-leading white papers, win prizes, and more.

  The Networking Lounge and Expo will be open each of the four days of Congress Xstream. Hours are as follows:

  • Tuesday 10:30 am – 7:30 pm
  • Wednesday, Thursday 9:30 am – 7:30 pm
  • Friday 9:30 am – 7:30 pm

Inspirational General Session Speakers

The APA’s Payroll Congress is always known for informative and inspiring General Session speakers, and this year’s lineup fills the bill.

Morgan Stanley executive, author, and singer Carla Harris will present “Carla’s Pearls: Tools for Maximizing Your Success” on 18 May. Harris will speak about the proven strategies that have helped her succeed and thrive on Wall Street. Sponsored by rapid!, her presentation will help Congress Xstream attendees maximize success from where they currently find themselves, as well as increase the odds of reaching the positions to which they aspire.

Harris will discuss the importance and power of perceptions in the workplace, key relationships needed to ensure success, and the role authenticity plays in being a powerful leader.

In “The Future of Work: Taking into Account Increasing Longevity and Longer Careers” on 20 May, British organizational theorist Lynda Gratton will examine thought-provoking questions about what our working lives might look like 20 years from now. Her presentation, sponsored by DailyPay, will explore the changes we face and the skills and behaviors needed to remain competitive.

In a similar vein, technology futurist Daniel Burrus will speak on “The Economic Pandemic: An Evolutionary Revolution Accelerating Disruptive Innovation Post Pandemic” on 21 May. He will reveal how we can emerge from the pandemic better than normal by reinventing business models and processes.
In his Immedis-sponsored presentation, Burrus will explain why digital disruption does not have to be negative and how we can use new tools and new thinking to become positive disruptors, creating the transformations to build a better future for ourselves, our organizations, and our customers.

Tailored Industry Expert Presentations

In addition to the keynote speakers, Congress Xstream will also feature industry experts who are household names in the payroll realm. This year’s industry expert speakers include the following:

• De Ann Doonan, CPP, “Looking Back, Moving Forward,” Tuesday, May 18

• Max Van der klis Busink, RPP, “A Global Payrollercoaster in the Big Leagues,” Thursday, May 20

• Linda Obertin, CPP, and Dimitris Papageorgiou, “A Thought-Provoking Journey Into the Future of Payroll,” Friday, May 21

Awards, Networking Lounges, More

During Congress Xstream, you’ll have the chance to chat with new APA President Bruce Phipps, CPP, Executive Director Dan Maddux, as well as several keynote speakers in their Networking Lounge Meet and Greets.

Plus, you can hear from Immediate Past President Lois Fried, CPP, on what this past year as APA’s President has been like during the pandemic.

Before we find out the identities of this year’s Payroll Woman of the Year and Payroll Man of the Year, get insights from 2020 honorees Valery Noakes, CPP, and Jon Schausten, CPP, as moderator Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE, interviews them.

Other awards to be bestowed or recognized are for Meritorious Service, Special Friend of the Board of Directors, Special Recognition, and the education grant recipients, as well as many chapter awards at the Chapter Exchange, including the prestigious Chapter of the Year.

Fun Times

Whether in-person or virtual, Payroll Congress would not be APA’s Congress without a lot of fun.

This year’s good times include the Congress Xstream Party, a virtual photo booth, videos of APA members sharing why they love payroll, and interactive games. Emcee Bryan Chan and DJ Shai Peri will also be back to add to the fun.

With all of this in the Congress Xstream songbook, make sure you are part of the payroll chorus so you can declare, “I love payroll!”

^*As of publication time

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• Kerry Cole is Senior Editor of Membership Publications for the American Payroll Association (APA) and the Global Payroll Management Institute (GPMI).