Podcast appearances and mentions of Nick Day

Ask a question hereHiring new employees is only the beginning. If pool and spa businesses want knowledgeable technicians, loyal teams, confident customers, and fewer unqualified operators dragging down the trade, they must invest in professional development.On this episode of Mondays Down Under, Lee Salisbury, Nick Day, and Shane Sneddon welcome Rachel, General Manager of IR Learning—soon to return to the name SPASA Training—to discuss the education and qualifications available to pool and spa professionals across Australia and New Zealand.The group explores Recognition of Prior Learning, competency conversations, transferable skills, online education, industry-specific qualifications, and why experienced technicians may already possess much of the evidence needed to become formally qualified.They also discuss the responsibility carried by pool professionals. Today's technicians must understand water chemistry, hydraulics, electrical and plumbing systems, safety, automation, customer service, and business operations—yet the trade continues fighting for the recognition and funding it deserves.Training your employees is not simply an investment in them. Better-trained people provide better service, inspire greater customer confidence, strengthen staff retention, and build a better business.Topics discussed include: The transition from IR Learning back to SPASA Training  The Four Pillars of Pool Care training series  Recognition of Prior Learning for experienced technicians  Why competency conversations are not traditional exams  Turning everyday jobsite photos and videos into qualification evidence  How skills from sales, safety, and other industries may transfer  Building long-term career pathways within the pool and spa industry  Training opportunities for Australian and New Zealand professionals  Certificate III in Swimming Pool and Spa Service  Pool building, retail, business, leadership, safety-barrier, and aquatic-operator training  Why professional qualifications help separate legitimate businesses from industry cowboys  The continuing push for trade recognition, licensing, and training funding Learn more about available courses and qualifications at IRLearning.comThis episode is brought to you in part by Pool Brain, giving pool professionals the tools to operate smarter, more efficiently, and more profitably. Support the showThank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:FacebookInstagramTik TokEmail us: talkingpools@gmail.com

What if the biggest barrier to innovation isn't a lack of confidence but a workplace culture that quietly punishes people for speaking up?This episode is sponsored by Deel.Hire, manage and pay – anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickdayhr/In this episode of @thehrldpodcast Nick Day is joined by Seema Bhansali, author, strategist, attorney, and former Fortune 500 people and culture executive. With over two decades of experience across high stakes environments, from supporting US Congressman Steve Israel to senior leadership at Henry Schein, Seema reveals why psychological safety fails in most organizations and the specific hr leadership behaviors that are silencing your talent. Discover how to flip the script before your best people go quiet.Seema challenges the assumption that confidence training solves the problem of employees holding back. Together, Nick and Seema explore why the brain treats speaking up as a genuine risk, why environments rather than individuals are usually the real barrier, and why this issue starts far earlier in life than most leaders realize.This conversation unpacks what the silence tax actually costs an organization, from lost innovation to hidden attrition that never shows up until it is too late. Nick and Seema discuss the difference between building confidence and building psychological safety, why rotating who gets to speak matters more than who is naturally confident, and why the loudest voices in the room are not always the smartest ones. They also explore Seema's forthcoming book, Hit the Buzzer, and the science competition story that inspired its title.In a world increasingly shaped by AI adoption, fast decision making, and the risk of losing talent quietly rather than loudly, this episode delivers practical frameworks every HR and L&D professional needs in 2026, including how to build a no repeats rule into leadership presentations, how to treat voice as infrastructure rather than personality, and how to make speaking up less costly for everyone.A must-listen for HR leaders, L&D professionals, and anyone ready to stop asking people to be braver and start building cultures where being heard does not carry a hidden cost.Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thepayrollpodcast for more great content!Guest and Host:Connect with Seema Bhansali: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seema-bhansali-esq-principal/Nick Day's LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/nickdayFind your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the HR L&D Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Stay tuned for the next episode of the HR L&D Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction: Exposing the Silence Tax(01:28) What Human Resources Really Means to Seema(03:36) Why Accomplished Women Go Silent in the Room(06:49) The Behaviors Behind Muted Cultures(09:10) The Neuroscience of Silence and Why Confidence Training Fails(15:11) Naming the Silence Tax and Its Cost to Retention(18:43) Systems vs Individuals: Who Is Really Responsible(21:42) Making It Safer to Challenge Leadership(25:18) The Real Cost of Silence: Innovation in the AI Era(28:39) Building a Practical Open Voice Culture Framework(34:56) Command and Control, and the Story Behind Hit the Buzzer(45:06) Rapid Fire Questions and Closing Thoughts

Your payroll runs smoothly but that's exactly where payroll compliance risk hides. In this episodeIn this episode of @thepayrollpodcast, Nick Day, CEO of JGA Recruitment Group, sits down with Jay Crider, CPP, MBA, founder and principal of ValuGuard Payroll Advisory, talked about the hidden payroll errors, implementation gaps, and data vulnerabilities lurking beneath green status reports. Discover what audits, acquisitions, and system migrations reveal about payroll maturity, and learn how to identify and remediate silent failures before they cost you.This is not just a conversation about whether payroll gets processed. It is a conversation about whether payroll is governed. Jay and Nick break down the five pillars of payroll risk, why key person dependency quietly puts entire operations at risk, and how payroll leaders can finally translate what they see into language the C-suite actually listens to.They also cover Jay's Payroll Stability Index, or PSI, a free scoring framework built to quantify payroll risk the way a FICO score quantifies credit risk, real statistics on fraud, compliance penalties, and outage costs, and why payroll may be the largest uncontrolled financial process in most companies today.It is not just about getting the paycheck right.It is about proving the process behind it can be trusted under pressure.And if you have never measured that before, this episode will change that.Whether you are a payroll professional trying to earn a seat at the table, a finance leader trying to understand where your real exposure sits, or a business owner who assumes payroll is fine because no one has complained, this episode will give you a new way of seeing one of the most important functions in your organization.This episode is sponsored by DeelManaging 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/nickdayGuest and Host:Connect with Jay Crider: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-crider/Learn more about ValuGuard Payroll Advisory and run your free PSI snapshot: https://www.valueguardpayroll.comConnect with Nick Day: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal payroll candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the Payroll Podcast Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Stay tuned for the next episode of The Payroll Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content!Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction: Why a Green Payroll Status Report Can Still Be Hiding Risk(03:01) What Payroll Really Means: Trust Made Operational(04:06) The Iceberg Analogy: What's Hiding Beneath a Stable-Looking Payroll(06:35) Why "Paid Accurately and On Time" Is an Incomplete Definition of Success(11:17) Controlled Process vs. Correct Outcome: The Real Test of Governance(13:29) Key-Person Dependency and the True Cost of Payroll Heroics(20:04) Introducing the Five Pillars of the Payroll Stability Index(24:27) Operational Continuity, Governance Controls, and the Cost of Fraud(32:17) Why a Risk Score Changes the Conversation With the C-Suite(39:55) Who Should Own Payroll Governance: HR, Finance, or a Future CPO?(45:56) Diagnosing Risk Before a Crisis Forces Your Hand(52:21) Payroll Vault: Rapid-Fire Questions and Jay's Boldest Prediction

AI for payroll is reshaping the profession but failed implementations reveal what truly matters. In this episode of @thepayrollpodcast, Nick Day, CEO of JGA Recruitment, sits down with Raju Chauhan, explore why payroll compliance and management require human judgment, what automation gets wrong, and how payroll professionals evolve into strategic oversight roles. Essential for anyone navigating payroll implementation in the AI era and building a resilient careerThis is not just another AI hype conversation. It is a grounded, practical look at where the technology genuinely helps and where it quietly creates risk.Nick and Raju explore why AI does not fix broken payroll processes but exposes them, how AI can act as a structured thinking partner without replacing critical thought, and why safeguarding personal and payroll data has become the single biggest risk facing leaders today.They also cover the real difference between adoption and AI literacy, practical starting points for leaders who feel behind, and why automating the most repetitive manual tasks first is the smartest place for any payroll team to begin.It is not about replacing payroll professionals.It is about revealing where payroll needs to evolve.And those are two very different things.Whether you are just starting to explore AI or already rolling it out across a global payroll function, this episode is an honest, practical look at how to do it without losing the discipline payroll depends on.This episode is sponsored by DeelManaging 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/nickdayGuest and Host:Connect with Raju Chauhan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajuchauhan40/Connect with Nick Day: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/nickdayFind your ideal payroll candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the Payroll Podcast Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Stay tuned for the next episode of The Payroll Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content!Timestamps:(00:01) Introduction: Is AI Coming for the Payroll Profession?(02:15) What Payroll Really Means: Creating Smiles Behind Every Payslip(06:52) Raju's First Encounter with AI: From ChatGPT to Real Payroll Tools(12:31) Getting Started: Where Payroll Leaders Should Begin with AI(14:27) Overcoming the Two Biggest Fears About AI in Payroll(18:24) The Real Risk: Data Safeguarding and AI Literacy(21:55) How AI Became Raju's Thinking Partner, Not His Idea Generator(26:13) Can AI Actually Improve the Employee Experience?(29:38) Shortcut or Discipline? What Recruitment Teaches Payroll About AI(35:39) Bad Data In, Bad Data Out: Why Structured Prompting Matters(40:00) Automation Priorities and the Future of Payroll in an AI World(44:09) Payroll Vault: Career Advice, Data Risk, and Predictions

Most organizations think fertility is a private matter. It is not. It is a silent talent drain hiding in plain sight. Employees quietly step back from opportunities, and by the time HR notices, the resignation letter has already been written.This episode is sponsored by Deel.Hire, manage and pay, anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickdayhr/In this episode of @thehrldpodcast, Nick Day is joined by Jennifer Elworthy, a career and fertility coach and Director of Engagement at Fertility Matters at Work. Jen's own path into this work began in 2015, when a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, a miscarriage, and a second ectopic pregnancy left her navigating PTSD while working at a senior level in the media industry. Despite it all, with the right manager and the right support in place, she was promoted, and she now spends her career helping organizations turn good intentions into meaningful workplace policy. That lived experience, paired with the research she leads at Fertility Matters at Work, is exactly what she brings to this conversation.Nick and Jen explore why fertility remains one of the least discussed issues on the HR agenda despite affecting one in six people globally, and why the myth that it is not happening in your business is quietly costing UK employers an estimated 217 million pounds a year. They unpack the four questions every manager should ask when an employee discloses a fertility challenge, why 87% of managers have no training despite being the first point of disclosure for 70% of employees, and why a policy sitting in a dusty folder means nothing without a culture of psychological safety to back it up. They also dig into why fertility is not a women's issue, the hidden struggles of the childless not by choice community, the often overlooked reality of pregnancy and parenting after loss, and why career ambition and fertility treatment are not mutually exclusive, no matter how well meaning the advice to just relax might be.In a world where 38% of employees have left or considered leaving a role due to lack of support, this episode makes the case that the real barriers were never about policy documents. They are about silence, stigma, and managers who want to help but were never given the tools.A must-listen for HR leaders, L&D professionals, and anyone responsible for building a workplace where employees don't have to choose between their career and their fertility journey.Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thepayrollpodcast for more great content!Guest and Host:Jennifer Elworthy's Website: www.jenniferelworthy.comJennifer Elworthy's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferelworthy/Fertility Matters at Work: fertilitymattersatwork.comNick Day's LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/nickdayFind your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the HR L&D Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Stay tuned for the next episode of the HR L&D Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Timestamps:(00:01) One in Six Face Infertility, Yet It's Still Hidden at Work(03:24) Jen's Story: Ectopic Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and a PTSD Diagnosis(10:05) What Real Support Looks Like: Policy, Manager Training, and Culture(13:17) Why Fertility Is Missing From the HR Agenda(17:27) Coaching From the Scar: What HR Never Hears in the Coaching Room(20:32) Quiet Quitting and the Hidden Cost of an Unsupported Workforce(24:28) Why 87% of Managers Have No Training for This Conversation(26:17) The Four Questions Every Manager Should Ask(29:14) Fertility Is Not a Women's Issue: Protecting Career Ambition(35:01) When IVF Doesn't Work: Supporting the Childless Not by Choice(37:45) Becoming Fertility-Friendly: Accreditation and the Power of Storytelling(41:28) Life After Loss, the Future of Work, and Rapid-Fire Vault Questions

Payroll careers are often written off as accidents. Someone needed a job, a shared service center needed a body, and thirty years later they never left. But staying in payroll for three decades and being recognized as one of the best in the profession does not happen by accident. So what actually separates people who simply work in payroll from those who go on to shape its future?In this episode of @thepayrollpodcast, Nick Day, CEO of JGA Recruitment, sits down with Jamie Phillips, CPP, the 2026 Payroll Man of the Year as named by Payroll Org. With over three decades of experience spanning payroll leadership, workforce management, human capital management, industry education, and mentoring, Jamie brings a rare, career-long view of what it actually takes to stay relevant in an industry that keeps changing shape.This is not just a conversation about winning an award. It is a masterclass in what separates accumulating years of experience from becoming more valuable with every one of them.Nick and Jamie unpack how payroll has shifted from a transactional function to a strategic one over the past thirty years, why data analytics has been the single biggest transformation in the profession, and why the idea that payroll resists change is more myth than reality. They dig into Jamie's own path back to graduate school at fifty, why lifelong learning is a mindset rather than a milestone, and how mentoring newcomers through Payroll Org's certification courses has shaped his own legacy. They also talk candidly about the isolation that can come with reaching the top of a payroll career, and why community and networking are two of the most underrated tools for staying sharp.It is not just about winning an award.It is about what you do with thirty years to deserve it.And that is what separates a job from a career.Whether you are six weeks into payroll or thirty years in, this episode makes the case that longevity means nothing without curiosity, contribution, and a willingness to keep evolving.This episode is sponsored by DeelManaging 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/nickdayGuest and Host:Connect with Jamie Phillips:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-phillips-mha-mhrd-cpp-19b2505Connect with Nick Day: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal payroll candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the Payroll Podcast Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Stay tuned for the next episode of The Payroll Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content!Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction: Is Payroll Longevity Ever an Accident?(01:35) The Elephant in the Room: Jamie's Cycling Accident(03:33) What Payroll Means to Jamie After 30 Years(04:31) Meet Jamie Phillips: Life Beyond the Payroll Desk(08:31) How Jamie Fell Into Payroll By Accident(11:00) The APA's Role in Giving Jamie a "30,000-Foot View"(15:00) 30 Years of Change: From Transactional to Strategic Payroll(20:15) Ranking the Biggest Transformations: Data, Experience, and Technology(22:43) Why Jamie Went Back for Two Master's Degrees After 50(27:59) Community, Networking, and Avoiding Isolation at the Top(29:44) Becoming the 2026 Payroll Man of the Year(37:47) Advice for Newcomers: Learn, Network, Zoom Out

Nick Day of Roundtable Learning discusses how virtual reality is transforming workforce training by measuring real skills, helping employers verify learning outcomes and preparing workers for high-stakes jobs.

In this episode: Mandatory Payrolling of Benefits, Salary Sacrifice Traps and Zero-Hours Reform | Payroll Question TimePayroll Question Time is brought to you by SD Worx. SD Worx offers smart, tailored and integrated HR and Payroll solutions, along with the local expertise, global reach and reliable service you need to grow your business today!UK payroll has a lot to get through before the summer break. Is your business ready for the biggest shake-up to benefits reporting in a decade?In this episode of Payroll Question Time, host Steve Yardley and our expert panel tackle the most pressing payroll topics of the moment, from mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind to salary sacrifice and national minimum wage risk. From new HMRC data requirements for company cars to the Fair Work Agency's zero-hours contract consultation. With April 2027 mandation now confirmed and phased, this is essential viewing for every payroll professional in the UK.From car benefit reporting quirks and real-time Class 1A charges to holiday pay record keeping and salaried staff hours tracking, this session covers the operational, compliance, and strategic issues you need to act on before September.We cover:• Mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind: the confirmed April 2027 and April 2028 phased timetable• New and dropped HMRC reporting fields for company cars and medical benefits• Why payrolling benefits in kind isn't a lift-and-drop of your P11D process• The new real-time Class 1A employer NI charge and what it means for your April to July bills• When the voluntary payrolling registration service is expected to reopen• Car benefit reporting quirks, the P46 car form, and why real-time alignment still isn't there• Salary sacrifice and national minimum wage: why "voluntary" doesn't mean it's exempt• GymFlex, cycle to work, and other disguised salary sacrifice arrangements• The Fair Work Agency's zero-hours contract consultation: guaranteed hours, notice and canceled shift pay• Why zero-hours reform could create an ongoing obligation, similar to pension re-enrolment• Holiday pay record keeping and why NMW investigators are asking about it• Tracking working hours for salaried staff and the burden of proof on employers• The April 2029 proposal to cap salary sacrifice tax relief at £2,000 a year• Is HMRC getting better? A look at dispute resolution timescales in practiceDon't forget to subscribe and turn on notifications to stay updated with every Payroll Question Time and the latest insights on UK payroll changes 2026 and ongoing payroll legislation updates.Learn more about SD Worx Academy training courses: https://www.sdworx.com/en-enFind your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/691ee4…Steve Yardley's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/syardley/Nick Day's LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/nickdayEnjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content!Our Panel:Simon Parsons, Director of UK Compliance Strategies, SD WorxRichard George, Senior Bureau Manager, MHAMathew Akrigg, Policy & Advisory Leader, CIPPJeni Morris, National Minimum Wage SpecialistSteve Yardley, Host, Managing Director, JGA Recruitment GroupTimestamps:(00:00) Welcome & Panel Introductions(06:03) Mandatory Payrolling of Benefits in Kind Confirmed(09:50) New HMRC Data Requirements for Company Cars(15:20) Preparing Payroll for Real-Time Reporting(22:37) Live Q&A: Voluntary Registration Reopening(28:07) Car Reporting Quirks & the P46 Car Form(32:58) Salary Sacrifice's Hidden NMW Trap(42:48) Zero-Hours Contract Consultation Breakdown(54:33) Holiday Pay & Worker Status Under NMW Scrutiny(1:04:15) Salary Sacrifice's Future: The 2029 Cap(1:11:14) Tracking Hours for Salaried Staff(1:18:27) Is HMRC Getting Better? Wrap-UpHashtags: #PayrollQuestionTime #UKPayroll #MandatoryPayrolling #PayrollingBenefits #SalarySacrifice #NationalMinimumWage #ZeroHoursContracts #FairWorkAgency #PayrollCompliance #Class1A #EmploymentRightsAct #PayrollLegislation #PayrollProfessionals #SDWorx #CIPP #JGARecruitment

Most organizations think they have an AI tool problem. They do not. They have an AI behavioral problem. The licenses get bought, the workshops happen, and by Monday morning, people are back to working exactly as they did before.This episode is sponsored by Deel.Hire, manage, and pay anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickdayhr/In this episode of @thehrldpodcast Nick Day is joined by Jamie Bykov-Brett, an AI transformation strategist, TEDx speaker, and co-founder of the Executive AI Institute. Jamie's path into AI started in youth work, supporting young people from marginalized backgrounds into STEM careers. It was there, back in 2014, that he began forecasting how automation would reshape the workforce, discovering along the way that technology adoption rarely fails because of the tools themselves; it fails because people were never taken through the change. That change management lens is exactly what he brings to AI training and organizational transformation today.Nick and Jamie explore why one-off AI workshops rarely create lasting behavior change, and why real transformation starts with human-centric skill development, not the tools. They unpack the "eliminate, automate, delegate" framework for deciding where AI actually belongs in a workflow, why psychological safety is the missing ingredient in most AI rollouts, and how legacy failed change projects can quietly sabotage adoption before training even begins. They also dig into why your most resistant employees might be your best future change agents, why highly technical people sometimes struggle most with AI adoption, why organizations should expect a temporary dip in performance during rollout rather than instant ROI, and what it actually looks like to design an AI learning intervention that turns AI into a daily working habit rather than a novelty.In a world where organizations are under pressure to prove AI adoption is working immediately, this episode makes the case that the real barriers were never technical. They are emotional, cultural, and behavioral, and the organizations that address that will be the ones that actually get results.A must-listen for HR leaders, L&D professionals, and anyone responsible for making AI adoption actually stick inside their organization.Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thepayrollpodcast for more great content!Guest and Host:Jamie Bykov-Brett's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiebykovbrett/Jamie Bykov-Brett's Website: bykovbrett.netNick Day's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the HR L&D Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Stay tuned for the next episode of the HR L&D Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Timestamps:(00:01) Why AI Training Fails: The Behavior Problem, Not a Tool Problem(03:27) Jamie's Journey: From Youth Work to AI Transformation Strategist(09:05) The AI Adoption Gap: Rising HR Burnout Despite AI Investment(10:47) AI as a Mirror: Why Technology Reflects Your Organization's Culture(14:30) Human-Centric Skills First: Curiosity, Creativity and Critical Thinking(20:31) The Eliminate, Automate, Delegate Framework(23:09) Designing AI Interventions That Actually Fit Your Organization(27:43) Turning Resistant Employees Into Change Agents(33:11) The Hidden Fears Driving AI Resistance(37:03) Case Study: How Insights Achieved a 9.7 NPS on AI Training(39:59) Why L&D Should Expect a Performance Dip Before AI Pays Off(45:43) Rapid Fire: Career Advice, Leadership, and HR's Future

For years, multinational payroll was managed country by country, provider by provider, and spreadsheet by spreadsheet. That model worked when businesses expanded slowly. Global workforces do not expand slowly anymore.In this episode of @thepayrollpodcast, Nick Day, CEO of JGA Recruitment, sits down with Sivanne Fishel, VP of Client Success for Global Enterprise Accounts at Papaya Global, to ask whether the traditional multi-provider payroll model has become one of the biggest risks in global payroll today. With over 12 years of experience supporting large organisations through workforce payments, compliance, and technology transformation, Sivanne brings a rare inside view of what full consolidation actually looks like at scale.This is not just a conversation about switching platforms. It is a masterclass in why fragmentation quietly costs companies far more than they realise.Nick and Sivanne unpack why payroll consolidation has shifted from a hard sell to client-driven demand, why the strongest case for going all-in on one platform is not efficiency but accountability, and why fragmented providers create hidden costs in compliance risk, worker experience, and retention that rarely show up on a balance sheet. They dig into Papaya's new agentic AI compliance tool, One by Papaya, how AI is genuinely saving payroll teams time and cost today, and why the human touch behind every payslip still cannot be automated away. They also look ahead to what a connected global workforce ecosystem could look like by 2030.It is not just about which provider you use.It is about who takes accountability when things go wrong.And that changes everything about how payroll should be built.Whether you are managing one provider or twenty-seven, this episode makes the case that global payroll's next chapter is about ownership, not just optimisation.This episode is sponsored by DeelManaging 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/nickdayGuest and Host:Connect with Sivanne Fishel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sivanne-fishel-805993218/Explore Papaya: https://www.papayaglobal.comRead Papaya Global's research on the future of global payroll: https://www.papayaglobal.com/research/the-future-of-global-payrollConnect with Nick Day: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal payroll candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the Payroll Podcast Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Stay tuned for the next episode of The Payroll Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content!Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction: Is This the End of Country-by-Country Payroll?(01:12) What Payroll Really Means Today (and How COVID Changed Everything)(04:07) From Convincing Clients to Client-Driven Demand for Consolidation(09:41) Inside One by Papaya: Agentic AI, BI Analytics and the Payments Merger(17:57) Why Payroll Still Hasn't Earned Full Strategic Recognition(24:25) Is the Multi-Provider Model Still Sustainable?(28:40) Accountability Over Efficiency: The Real Case for Consolidation(32:28) How Compliance Changes on a Consolidated Global Platform(35:56) Where AI Is Delivering Real, Measurable Value in Payroll(42:32) Prompting Tips and Fast-Forwarding to Payroll in 2030(45:06) Building a Global Workforce From Scratch: Sivanne's Blueprint(48:35) Payroll Vault: Career Advice, Predictions and Final Questions

Most HR leaders think a resignation starts the day someone hands in their notice. It doesn't. It starts months earlier, the moment someone decides it's no longer worth speaking up. And almost nobody in HR is measuring it.This episode is sponsored by Deel.Hire, manage and pay, anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickdayhr/In this episode of @thehrldpodcast, Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment Group, breaks from his usual format for the first time in more than 200 episodes. There is no guest this time, just Nick, a microphone, and one idea he cannot stop thinking about. After 24 years of exit interviews and placing over 10,000 professionals across 40+ countries, he has built his own coaching framework around fear. This episode is where he unpacks it in full.Nick introduces the idea of the fear tax, the invisible cost every organisation pays when people stop raising problems, ideas, and concerns out loud, and breaks down why silence looks like a wellbeing problem but spends like a balance sheet one. He contrasts a manager who unknowingly built a culture of fear with a leader whose team openly flagged a critical mistake before it went public, walks through his own fear equation of anxiety plus uncertainty multiplied by imagination, and explains why fear in capable people rarely looks like fear at all, instead disguising itself as caution, busy bravery, perfectionism, or imposter syndrome. He also shares the BOLD protocol, a four step method for catching fear in the three second window before it wins, backed by research from Stanford and UCLA, and gets personal about a lesson he learned the hard way with his own father.In a world where HR is expected to protect culture, retain top talent, and prove ROI on every initiative, this episode makes the case that the biggest lever HR has never measured is right in front of them. It is whether people feel safe enough to speak.A must-listen for HR leaders, people managers, and anyone who has ever sat in a meeting, known exactly the right thing to say, and said nothing.Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thepayrollpodcast for more great content!Nick Day's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the HR L&D Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Stay tuned for the next episode of the HR L&D Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Timestamps:(00:01) Rachel's Story: The Resignation That Started Eight Months Early(02:16) Why Nick Broke Format for His First-Ever Solo Episode(04:38) James: The Manager Who Built a Fear Culture Without Raising His Voice(07:03) Naming the Fear Tax(09:07) The Real Cost of Losing Good People(11:31) Why Your Speak-Up Culture Is Your Talent Strategy(13:55) Amy Edmondson's Research: Why Quiet Teams Aren't Healthy Teams(18:32) The Fear Equation: Anxiety Plus Uncertainty, Multiplied by Imagination(22:01) From Fear Culture to Courage Culture: James's Turnaround and Fear's Disguises(28:41) The Courage Window and the BOLD Protocol(35:15) HR's Blind Spot: Practicing Psychological Safety and Convincing Skeptical Leaders(43:14) The Monday Morning Move and Closing Thoughts

Payroll Has Never Been More Complex. Are You Prepared for What's Next?In this Special Vault edition, Nick Day gathers some of the sharpest minds in global payroll and asks them all the same questions, distilling decades of experience into one powerful episode. The result is a masterclass in why payroll is never just about processing numbers. It's about trust, livelihoods, and leading through change.From navigating the EU Pay Transparency Directive to learning why "no system will solve all your problems," this episode unpacks the real difference between business transformation done right and transformation that fails. Guests share hard-won advice on AI adoption, RFP discipline, career growth, and what it really means to be a custodian of trust in payroll.This episode is sponsored by DeelManaging 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/nickdayFind your ideal payroll candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the Payroll Podcast Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Stay tuned for the next episode of The Payroll Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content!Timestamps:(00:00) Intro: Wisdom from Payroll's Top Minds(00:37) Welcome to the Payroll Podcast Vault(02:31) EU Pay Transparency Directive: Advice and Predictions(04:51) Payroll as a Livelihood, Not Just a Transaction(06:35) Why No System Solves Everything(07:11) The Future of Payroll: AI and Automation by 2030(09:28) Why Every Payroll Leader Must Learn AI(10:39) Getting RFPs and Transformation Right(13:26) Trusting Your Instincts in a Payroll Career(16:06) Listening First: Lessons for 2026(19:53) Appreciating Your Payroll Team(22:11) Why You Should Never Be Fully Reliant on Software

Most businesses think payroll is simple. Checks go out, employees get paid, and nobody complains. But treating payroll as an administrative task rather than a strategic function is exactly what keeps it invisible, underfunded, and one crisis away from becoming the biggest story in the business.In this episode of @thepayrollpodcast, Nick Day, CEO of JGA Recruitment, sits down with Tiana Neal, Founder and CEO of Transcenders Consulting Group, to make the case that payroll is one of the most human, strategic, and risk-critical functions in any organisation. It is not an admin task sitting quietly in the background, but a direct line to employee trust, compliance exposure, and business intelligence most companies never think to use.This is not just a conversation about clicking a button and running a payroll cycle. It is a conversation about why payroll remains one of the most misunderstood functions in business, and what happens when errors, blind spots, and burnout are left unaddressed. Nick and Tiana explore why data is payroll's most underused strategic asset, why hackers understand payroll's value better than most executives do, and why automation is changing the profession without replacing the expertise behind it.They also cover why unchecked overtime and PTO abuse quietly cost companies far more than most leaders realise, why buying a new payroll system rarely fixes a broken process, why payroll professionals should get involved in building their company's AI tools rather than fear them, the case for treating payroll as a genuine career path rather than a stopgap job, and why getting payroll heard before decisions are made matters more right now than chasing a seat with a job title attached.It is not just about getting the payroll numbers right.It is about the trust, resilience, and business intelligence sitting behind every single payslip.And if you are not thinking about payroll that way yet, this episode will change that.Whether you are a payroll professional tired of being seen as a back office function, an HR or finance leader trying to understand the real risk and value sitting inside your payroll team, or a business owner who has never thought twice about what payroll actually protects, this episode will give you a new way of seeing one of the most business-critical functions in your organisation.This episode is sponsored by DeelManaging 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/nickdayGuest and Host:Connect with Tiana Neal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiana-neal-emba-22903386/Connect with Nick Day: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal payroll candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the Payroll Podcast Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Stay tuned for the next episode of The Payroll Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content!Timestamps:(00:01) Introduction: Why "Back Office" Is the Wrong Label for Payroll(02:04) Meet Tiana Neal, Founder and CEO of Transcenders Consulting Group(03:58) The Real Cost of Getting Payroll Wrong(08:35) The Language Gap Between Payroll and Leadership(13:15) Payroll Data, Security, and Why Hackers Get It Before Executives Do(19:44) Overlooked Compliance Risks: Overtime, PTO, and Union Filings(23:39) When Companies Blame the System Instead of the Process(26:25) AI and Automation: A Tool, Not a Replacement(29:19) What Separates a Good Payroll Team From a Strategic One(32:06) Rethinking the Chief Payroll Officer Debate(35:21) Inside the Human Role Podcast and Tiana's Own Journey(39:01) Preparing Payroll Leaders for What's Coming Next(45:05) The Payroll Vault: Closing Advice and Final Thoughts

This episode is sponsored by Deel.Hire, manage and pay, anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickdayhr/In this episode of @thehrldpodcast Nick Day is joined by Nelly Salinas, a global HR operations leader and Director of Global HR Operations at Accertify Inc. Nelly's path into HR started nowhere near HR. She began her career in industrial engineering and IT project management before discovering that projects rarely fail because of technology, they fail because people were never aligned in the first place. That engineering lens is exactly what she brings to global HR operations today.Nick and Nelly explore why the future of HR will not belong to the most human leader alone, but to the hybrid leader who can connect people, process, systems, data, and strategy in one conversation. They unpack where AI is genuinely creating value in HR right now versus where organizations are mistaking experimentation for transformation, why AI can make recruiters lazy if it replaces human connection instead of freeing up time for it, and how homogenized AI written CVs are making it harder than ever to spot real talent. They also dig into the near impossible balancing act of standardizing HR processes across global regions without losing local nuance, why data literacy and change management are becoming non-negotiable skills, the ongoing debate over whether payroll should sit inside HR or finance, and what a realistic first step into agentic AI actually looks like for HR leaders who have not started yet.In a world where HR is being asked to improve employee experience, scale global operations, adopt AI responsibly, and still deliver measurable outcomes, this episode makes the case that technology and humanity were never competing priorities. The job has always been to bring both together.A must-listen for HR leaders, global operations professionals, and anyone trying to figure out what skills will actually matter in the next phase of HR.Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thepayrollpodcast for more great content!Nelly Salinas's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nellysalinascabala/Nick Day's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the HR L&D Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Stay tuned for the next episode of the HR L&D Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Timestamps:(00:01) Why HR Is Asking the Wrong Question About AI(02:46) From Industrial Engineering to Global HR Operations(05:04) HR's Collaboration Gap With IT(07:13) What It Means to Be a Hybrid HR Leader(08:52) Where AI Is Actually Showing Up in HR(10:31) Is AI Making Recruiters Lazy?(15:28) Experimentation vs Real Transformation(17:56) Standardizing Global HR Without Losing Local Nuance(21:51) The Skills HR Leaders Need to Future-Proof Their Careers(26:06) HR as Strategic Partner, Not Back Office(29:59) Using AI and Data Analytics to Drive Real HR Insights(31:56) Getting Started With AI and the Future of Agentic HR

Most organizations are treating the EU Pay Transparency Directive as a compliance deadline to hit. But the employers who will come out ahead are the ones who understand what it actually represents: the biggest shift in the employer-employee relationship since the internet changed retail forever.In this episode, Vickie Graham is joined by Stuart Hyland, Partner at Ellason, to tackle the EU Pay Transparency Directive head-on. What it means, why the clock is running out faster than most HR and reward leaders realise, and how forward-thinking organizations can use it as a genuine strategic advantage rather than just another box to tick.The core question driving this conversation: is your reward strategy built for a world where employees can see everything?Stuart Hyland breaks down why pay transparency is not just a legal requirement. It is a cultural turning point. He explains why the organizations rushing to comply in May will already be too late, why manager discretion is one of the biggest hidden risks in any reward programme, and why a workforce that can benchmark its own pay in real time will ask very different questions of its employer than the workforce of today.Vickie Graham explores the practical realities facing HR, payroll, and reward professionals right now. From navigating compliance across multiple EU jurisdictions to managing employee expectations when pay structures that have existed for years are suddenly visible. She also draws on live audience poll results throughout the session, revealing that managing employee communication is already seen as the single biggest challenge, ahead of data accuracy, compliance complexity, and even leadership buy-in.Together they cover what organizations need to do right now. Auditing for manager discretion, validating job evaluation methodologies, narrowing salary ranges on job adverts, documenting reward philosophy, and correcting pay anomalies before a grievance or tribunal forces their hand.The biggest theme running through this entire episode is this:Pay transparency is not arriving. It is already here.And the organizations that treat it as an opportunity to rebuild trust, strengthen their employer brand, attract better talent, and create genuinely fair reward structures will be the ones that look back on this moment as a turning point rather than a crisis.Whether you are a reward or HR professional preparing for the June 2026 deadline, a business leader trying to understand the reputational stakes, or a payroll professional navigating the compliance landscape, this episode will change how you think about pay transparency and what it means for the future of reward.This episode is sponsored by DeelManaging 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/nickdayGuests and Host:Vickie Graham: linkedin.com/in/vickiegrahamdipmacimStuart Hyland: linkedin.com/in/stuarthylandFind your ideal payroll candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6..Sign up to the Payroll Podcast Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b1…Stay tuned for the next episode of The Payroll Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content!Timestamps:(00:00) Welcome and Introduction to Pay Transparency(00:18) Equal Pay Cases Playing Out in UK Courts(00:55) Poll: Biggest Barriers to Implementing Pay Transparency(02:44) Why Leadership Buy-In and Employee Communication Matter(04:09) Poll: Is Pay Transparency a Compliance Task or Strategic Opportunity?(05:30) Compliance vs Competitive Advantage: Where Do You Stand?(08:34) How Salary Ranges Help You Hire Better Talent(09:15) Fixing Pay Anomalies and Reducing Manager Discretion(18:22) Why the Clock Is Running Out Faster Than You Think(20:40) The Next 3 to 5 Years: A Better-Informed Workforce(25:23) Culture Change, Fairness, and the Road Ahead

In this episode: Zero-Hours Reform, Umbrella Liability and Payrolling Benefits | Payroll Question TimePayroll Question Time is brought to you by SD Worx. SD Worx offers smart, tailored and integrated HR and Payroll solutions, along with the local expertise, global reach and reliable service you need to grow your business today!UK payroll is in one of its busiest consultation periods yet. Are your processes ready for changes that haven't even been finalised?In this episode of Payroll Question Time, host Steve Yardley and our expert panel break down the most pressing consultations and compliance deadlines hitting payroll teams right now. From zero-hours contract reform and SSP qualifying day pitfalls, to umbrella company liability rules and mandatory payrolling of benefits. With the Fair Work Agency expanding its powers and April 2027 approaching fast, this is essential viewing for every payroll professional in the UK.From zero-hours SSP edge cases and unpaid carers' leave proposals to P11D deadlines and devolved tax thresholds, this session covers the operational, compliance, and strategic issues you need to act on today.We cover:• SSP qualifying days for zero-hours workers and a common employer misconception• Zero-Hours Contract Consultation: guaranteed hours and the 12, 26, or 52 week reference period debate• Hours worked versus hours paid: the practical gap payroll systems cannot solve• Why zero-hours reform could create an ongoing obligation, similar to pension re-enrolment• Unpaid Carers' Leave Consultation and what evidence gathering means for employers• Ethnicity pay gap reporting: why a firm start date still doesn't exist• Devolved tax thresholds in Wales and Scotland, and the push to align announcement dates• Managing World Cup related absence, annual leave requests, and SSP under the new day one rules• The Fair Work Agency's growing powers and the shift from individual tribunal claims to direct enforcement• Holiday pay compliance risk and the scale of underpayment employers still aren't addressing• P11D and PSA deadlines, common referencing errors, and what qualifies for a settlement agreement• Mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind from April 2027: phase one covering cars, vans, fuel, and medical• New and dropped reporting fields for company cars and medical benefits• Umbrella company joint and several liability from April 2026 and what it means for agencies• Why HMRC will not accept bills of exchange as payment of taxDon't forget to subscribe and turn on notifications to stay updated with every Payroll Question Time and the latest insights on UK payroll changes 2026 and ongoing payroll legislation updates.Learn more about SD Worx Academy training courses: https://www.sdworx.com/en-enFind your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/691ee4…Steve Yardley's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/syardley/Nick Day's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content!Our Panel: Simon Parsons, Director of UK Compliance Strategies, SD Worx Mathew Akrigg, Policy & Advisory Leader, CIPP Samantha Mann, Payroll Team Manager, Armstrong Watson LLP Karen Thomson, Head of Payroll, Armstrong Watson Richard George, Payroll Consultant & Industry Leader Steve Yardley, Host, Managing Director, JGA Recruitment GroupTimestamps: (00:00) Welcome & Panel Intro (06:31) SSP Qualifying Days for Zero-Hours Workers (08:38) Zero-Hours Contract Consultation Deep Dive (29:29) Unpaid Carers' Leave Consultation (34:58) Ethnicity Pay Gap Reporting (37:54) World Cup Workforce Planning & Absence Management (44:06) Fair Work Agency & Holiday Pay Enforcement (54:19) Devolved Tax Thresholds: Wales & Scotland (58:11) P11D & PSA Deadlines (1:02:48) Mandatory Payrolling of Benefits in Kind (1:15:34) Umbrella Market Liability, IR35 & Bills of Exchange (1:20:44) Wrap-Up & Next SessionHashtags: #PayrollQuestionTime #UKPayroll #ZeroHoursContracts #MandatoryPayrolling #PayrollingBenefits #PayrollCompliance #EmploymentRightsAct #FairWorkAgency #HolidayPay #P11D #PSA #Class1A #UmbrellaCompanies #IR35 #PayrollLegislation #PayrollProfessionals #SDWorx #CIPP #JGARecruitment

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 podcasts@payroll.org or sending a message to the PayrollOrg Facebook page.

This episode is sponsored by Deel.Hire, manage and pay, anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickdayhr/In this episode of @thehrldpodcast Nick Day is joined by Dr. Thom Mayer, emergency physician, crisis leader, NFL Players Association Medical Director, and bestselling author of Leadership Is Worthless But Leading Is Priceless. Having led through 9/11 at the Pentagon, the national anthrax response, and medical training on the ground in Ukraine, Dr. Mayer brings a career forged under the highest pressure imaginable to challenge everything we think we know about what it means to lead.Nick and Dr. Mayer explore why the concept of leadership has become dangerously hollow, why every person on your team is already a leader whether you treat them that way or not, and why innovation never moves at the speed of genius but always at the speed of trust. They unpack the critical difference between bravery, courage, and tenacity, why making failure your fuel is the foundation of elite performance, how victim mentality disappears the moment people own their agency, and why calling someone a future leader is one of the most toxic things you can say. They also examine how AI is being dangerously misused as a substitute for leadership wisdom and why luck is really just a discipline meeting opportunity.In a world where trust is eroding, burnout is rising, and pressure is relentless, this episode makes the case that the leader you have been looking for has been there all along and it is you.A must-listen for HR leaders, L&D professionals, and anyone ready to stop talking about leadership and start actually leading.Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thepayrollpodcast for more great content!Dr. Thom Mayer's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thom-mayer-md-40342024/Nick Day's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the HR L&D Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Stay tuned for the next episode of the HR L&D Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Timestamps:(00:01) Why Leadership Is Worthless But Leading Is Priceless(02:09) Everyone Is Already a Leader, Not a Future One(05:15) The We Suite vs The C Suite, Empowerment Over Hierarchy(08:10) Vulnerability, Authenticity and Making Failure Your Fuel(15:23) Leadership as Identity vs Leadership as Behavior(18:12) Leading Through 9/11, the NFL and Ukraine(22:36) Bravery, Courage and Tenacity, Three Very Different Things(28:44) Can AI Close the Leadership Gap or Is It Widening It(39:00) The Book and Why It Is Not Just Another Leadership Book(43:06) Luck, Discipline and Saying Yes to the Invitation(46:11) Limiting Beliefs and How They Hold Leaders Back(50:24) How to Sustain Leadership Performance and Connect with Dr. Thom Mayer

Most businesses think payroll is working. People get paid, deadlines are met, and no one raises a flag. But compliant payroll is not the same as strategic payroll, and in a regulatory landscape that is shifting faster than most employers realise, the gap between the two has never been more costly.In this episode of @thepayrollpodcast, Nick Day, CEO of JGA Recruitment, sits down with Julie Gunnell, Associate Director of Growth Payroll at Azets, one of the UK's leading accountancy and business advisory firms, to make the case that payroll is no longer a back-office function. It is a compliance risk, a strategic asset, and a direct reflection of how much an organisation respects its people.This is not just a conversation about processing pay. It is a conversation about what is coming, what most employers are not ready for, and why the payroll profession is quietly becoming one of the most important functions in any business. Julie and Nick explore the three game-changers that have transformed the profession, auto-enrolment, furlough, and the imminent arrival of the Fair Work Agency, and why the FWA represents the most fundamental shift in how businesses manage HR and payroll data that the UK has ever seen.They also cover why six-year holiday record retention from April is a wake-up call for every employer, how payroll data is one of the most underused strategic assets sitting inside any organisation, why salary sacrifice and benefits review should be on every employer's agenda right now, the case for making internal payroll audits a non-negotiable part of the annual calendar, and why the next generation of payroll professionals, many of them post-graduates, are choosing payroll as a deliberate, informed career decision.It is not just about getting the numbers right.It is about the trust, compliance, and business intelligence sitting behind every single payslip.And if you are not thinking about payroll that way yet, this episode will change that.Whether you are a payroll professional navigating the wave of regulatory change heading your way, an HR or finance leader trying to understand the real risk sitting inside your payroll function, or a business owner who has never questioned whether your payroll is truly working for you, this episode will give you a new way of seeing one of the most business-critical functions in your organisation.This episode is sponsored by DeelManaging 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/nickdayGuest and Host:Connect with Julie Gunnell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliegunnell/Connect with Nick Day: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal payroll candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the Payroll Podcast Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Stay tuned for the next episode of The Payroll Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content!Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction and Meet Julie Gunnell, Associate Director of Growth Payroll at Azets(01:49) What Payroll Really Means and Why Julie Calls It the Best Profession in the World(03:29) How Julie Fell Into Payroll and the Mentors Who Built Her Foundation(06:30) Bureau vs. In-House and Why Processing for Multiple Clients Changes Everything(08:50) The Three Game-Changers: Auto-Enrolment, Furlough, and the Fair Work Agency(14:55) AI in Payroll: Powerful Tool, Not a Replacement(19:16) The Next Generation and Why Post-Grads Are Choosing Payroll as a Career(23:10) Julie's Proudest Moment: Getting Payroll a National Shout-Out on BBC Radio 2(27:13) Growth Meets Compliance and How Julie Balances Both at Azets(31:01) Payroll as a Strategic Asset and the Data Your Business Isn't Using(34:39) Why Every Employer Needs Regular Internal Payroll Audits(37:35) The Future of Payroll: Recognition, Qualifications, and What's Coming Next

Most payroll professionals spend their careers heads down, processing pay, managing compliance, and keeping systems running. But the payroll leaders who will still be standing in ten years are the ones lifting their heads up right now, investing in their people, embracing AI before it is forced on them, and refusing to let the profession stay invisible.This is the final episode of our three-part Payroll Congress 2026 series, recorded live on the floor in Nashville. Host Nick Day is joined by co-hosts Tom Croughton and Natalie Lloyd for an unmissable set of conversations with some of the most committed, forward-thinking payroll professionals in the world.Throughout this episode the conversations cover the real shift happening inside payroll teams right now. Jen Ballack shares how she used AI to write a Python script with zero coding knowledge, recalculating qualified overtime for 2,000 employees in under five minutes. Michelle Clawson breaks down why the language payroll professionals use about their own function is silently holding the entire profession back. Jonny Nash exposes why payments has always been the forgotten part of payroll. And Brian Sparling, attending his very first Payroll Congress as the newly appointed Chair of the CIPP, reflects on why payroll professionals everywhere share the same challenges regardless of country, currency, or regulation.The pace of change in payroll has stopped being a story we tell ourselves. It is the operating condition. AI is no longer a future conversation. The question has moved from should we to where, how, and with what guardrails. And the talent question remains the quietest crisis in the profession.Because you will never know everything. And the minute you think you do, that is the first step to your downfall.This episode is sponsored by DeelManaging 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

Every year, the conversations at Payroll Congress shift. Five years ago it was platforms and providers. Then remote work and resilience. But at the 44th Payroll Congress in Nashville, every conversation kept circling back to the same two questions: what can we actually trust AI to do, and what is going to be inside our payroll teams in five years' time?In this special live episode of @thepayrollpodcast and PayTalk, recorded on the expo floor in Nashville, Nick Day and Natalie Lloyd sit down with seven payroll leaders and innovators to get honest answers from the people living these challenges right now.Across every conversation, one thing stands out: the payroll professionals who are thriving are not the ones with the biggest budgets or the newest tech stacks. They are the ones with the clearest point of view on where their function is heading and why.Throughout the episode, Nick and Natalie explore how agentic ring-fenced AI is set to become as foundational to payroll as Excel once was, why global payroll is now the dominant conversation on the Congress floor, how cultural intelligence is becoming a core leadership skill, why change management is the steering wheel and technology is only the engine, and how payroll must move from invisibility to influence inside modern organisations.Whether you are navigating AI adoption, managing global teams, or trying to position payroll as a strategic function, this episode will sharpen how you think about the profession and your place in it.This episode is sponsored by DeelManaging 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/nickdayGuests and Hosts:Connect with Danny Gillespie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannygillespie/Connect with Stanislava Susla: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanislava-susla-6a8298b2/Connect with Kira Rubiano: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirarubiano/Connect with Kristi Smith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-smith-sphr-gphr-2269787/Connect with Susan Baptista: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sbaptista1967/Connect with Michael Chen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-chen-9761b735/Connect with Dale Wethered: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-wethered-cpp-11977317/Connect with Natalie Lloyd: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalielloyd94/ Connect with Nick Day: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal payroll candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9ea Sign up to the Payroll Podcast Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Stay tuned for the next episode of The Payroll Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content!Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction and Welcome to Payroll Congress 2026 Nashville(00:45) What Every Conversation at Congress Is Really About This Year(02:19) Danny Gillespie on Global Payroll Growth and the Rise of EOR(05:00) How Deel Gets Companies Global in Days Not Months(10:50) Stanislava Susla on AI in Payroll and the Power of In-Person Connection(14:21) Kira Rubiano on Culture, Leadership, and the Global Payroll Mindset(25:13) Kristi Smith on AI Adoption, Change Management, and Cross-Functional Alignment(29:57) Sue Baptiste on Community, Giving Back, and Never Stopping Learning(37:03) Michael Chen on Navigating the Complexity of Asian Payroll Markets(43:08) Dale Wethered on Agentic AI and the Future of the Payroll Profession(49:36) Why Payroll Congress Is the Community the Profession Cannot Afford to Miss(54:51) Closing Reflections and What Is Coming in Episode Three

In this special Enter The Vault episode of ‪@thehrldpodcast, we unlock the HR L&D vault, a curated collection of the most powerful insights, lessons, and truths shared by the brightest minds shaping the future of work.You'll hear game-changing perspectives on trust-based leadership, skills-based hiring, imposter syndrome, fear in the workplace, building high-trust cultures, HR as a strategic function, and what it truly takes to move from command and control to trust and inspire.From practical advice on rebuilding lost trust and professionalising HR, to deeply human lessons on vulnerability, failure, calmness under pressure, and original thinking, this episode captures the mindset shifts that separate reactive HR from truly transformational people leadership.If you're an HR professional, CHRO, L&D leader, talent strategist, people manager, or founder navigating culture change, leadership development, and the evolving world of work, this episode is packed with timeless insights you can apply immediately.Subscribe for more conversations redefining HR, leadership, and the future of work.Nick Day's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the HR L&D Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast ‪@thepayrollpodcast for more great content!Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction: Welcome to the HR L&D Vault(00:48) Everyone Is Making It Up: Imposter Syndrome at Every Level(03:53) The One Quality Every Great Leader Has: Calm Is Strength(07:08)Take More Risks: The Career Advice You Needed Earlier(08:28) Skills-Based Hiring and Walking Away from CVs(10:11) Why You Should Hire an HR Leader Sooner Than You Think(14:36) Trust Can Be Lost But It Can Be Rebuilt Through Behaviour(17:19) Trust and Inspire: The Leadership Model for the Modern World(21:50) Inspiration Is the New Engagement Frontier(31:06) How Fear Is Silently Sabotaging Your Leadership(34:06) Failure Is Not the Opposite of Success, It Is Part of It

Most organizations are rushing to add AI to their payroll stack. But here is the uncomfortable truth. AI does not fix broken payroll. It amplifies it. And if your foundation is wrong, your AI strategy will fail before it even starts.In this episode of @thepayrollpodcast, Nick Day, CEO of JGA Recruitment, sits down with Rick Hammell, Founder and CEO of Globalli, to go deep on what intelligent payroll actually looks like, why most AI implementations get it wrong, and what it truly takes to transform payroll from an administrative function into a strategic business driver.This is not just a conversation about technology. It is a conversation about what payroll is really capable of, where most organizations are falling dangerously short, and why the payroll professionals who embrace this shift will be the ones sitting at the executive table.Rick and Nick explore why AI must be the foundation of your payroll platform and not an add-on feature, how Globalli reduced a three-month payroll implementation process down to just a couple of days using AI, why compliance has to come before any AI strategy, the critical difference between automation and true AI and why most vendors are selling you the wrong thing, how AI-powered anomaly detection is catching payroll errors in real time without stopping a pay run, why organizations still running payroll on Excel spreadsheets are exposing themselves to legal, financial, and competitive risk, how the shift to an employee market is forcing payroll to support daily pay, multi-currency payments, and global hiring flexibility, and why the future of payroll is a Chief Payroll Officer with a seat at the executive table, armed with data-driven insights that shape global business strategy.It is not just about paying people correctly and on time.It is about using payroll intelligence to drive decisions that grow the business, retain the best talent, and compete on a global scale.And if your organization still thinks of payroll as a back-office transaction function rather than a strategic asset, this episode will show you exactly what that assumption is costing you.Whether you are a payroll leader trying to understand where AI fits into your roadmap, an HR or finance professional navigating the complexity of global workforce management, or a business owner looking to scale internationally without the chaos, this episode is essential listening.This episode is sponsored by DeelManaging 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/nickdayGuest and Host:Connect with Rick Hammell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickhammell/Rick Hammell Website: www.globalli.ioConnect with Nick Day: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal payroll candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6...Sign up to the Payroll Podcast Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b1...Stay tuned for the next episode of The Payroll Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content!Timestamps:(00:00) Why Most AI Payroll Strategies Fail Before They Start(01:40) What Payroll Really Means to a Global CEO(03:51) What Separates Real AI Platforms from the Rest(05:31) Compliance First: The Foundation AI Cannot Replace(08:53) How AI Is Killing the Three Month Implementation Process(11:39) The Hidden Cost of "If It Ain't Broke Don't Fix It"(14:04) Will AI Take Payroll Jobs or Elevate Them(18:58) Where Organizations Get AI Implementation Wrong(22:28) How AI Catches Payroll Errors Before They Become Problems(27:01) From Corporate Crisis to Founding Globalli(30:57) What a Truly Intelligent Global Payroll Operation Looks Like(40:54) Rapid Fire: Advice, Predictions and the Future of Payroll

In this video: How Payroll Is Moving from Back-Office Processor to Strategic Powerhouse in the Age of Automation | The Payroll Podcast Live from Payroll Congress 2026For years, payroll has been treated as a back-office function. A necessary process. A cost center. Something that just has to get done. But something significant is shifting across the global payroll profession, and the professionals who recognize this shift now will be the ones leading it in the years ahead.In this special live episode of @thepayrollpodcast and PayTalk, recorded on the floor of Payroll Congress 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee, Nick Day and Natalie Lloyd sit down with six leading voices from across the global payroll industry for an honest and forward-thinking conversation about where payroll is headed and what it means for the professionals driving it.Across six conversations, the episode explores how payroll is evolving from a transactional processing function into a strategic, data-driven, and ethically accountable discipline. Topics covered include AI adoption and automation in payroll teams, the rise of pay transparency legislation, earned wage access as an employee wellness tool, proactive employee communication models, and what it truly means to elevate payroll to a seat at the table.One of the most powerful ideas to emerge from this episode is what Nick Day calls the algorithmic conscience of work. As AI and automation take over the transactional layer of payroll, human professionals become the ethical and contextual layer. The people who verify not just whether the numbers are accurate, but whether what is being paid is fair.The episode also tackles the gap between AI ambition and AI reality. Most payroll teams know they should be using AI. Very few know where to start. Guests share practical first steps, real implementation stories, and honest lessons from the field.Because payroll is no longer just about processing pay. It is about workforce intelligence, equitable compensation, employee experience, and the ethical application of technology at the heart of every organisation. And the payroll professionals who embrace that shift will become some of the most influential voices inside modern business.This episode is sponsored by DeelManaging 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/nickdayGuest and Hosts:Connect with Wendy Muirhead: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendymuirhead0980/Connect with Christian Cooper:https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiancooperprofile101/Connect with Tracee Bowles: https://www.linkedin.com/in/traceebowles/Connect with Joe Ranzau: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-ranzau/Connect with Tom Croughton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-croughton/Connect with Vic Thatcher: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriajthatcher/Connect with Nick Day: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Connect with Natalie Lloyd: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalielloyd94/Find your ideal payroll candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the Payroll Podcast Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Stay tuned for the next episode of The Payroll Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content!Timestamps:(00:00:00) Introduction and Welcome to Payroll Congress 2026(00:02:20) Wendy Muirhead on Leading Payroll Transformation in the Age of Automation(00:05:04) How to Take Your First Step with AI in Payroll(00:08:12) The Executive Summit and the 50 Billion Dollar Question(00:17:49) Christian Cooper on Earned Wage Access and Employee Financial Wellness(00:23:02) Tracee Bowles on AI Readiness and the Tier Negative One Concept(00:29:34) Can AI Become Your Personal Tax and Financial Wellness Agent(00:35:48) Navigating AI Cautiously and the Importance of Data Governance(00:49:53) Joe Ranzau on Real World AI Implementation and Change Management(00:53:58) Tom Croughton and Natalie Lloyd on AI Use Cases and Elevating the Profession(01:05:00) Vic Thatcher on AI Adoption Gaps and the Coming Pay Transparency Revolution(01:15:20) Final Thoughts and What to Expect in Episode Two

A touring stand-up comedian pulls up to Jacksonville, skates all day, then hits the stage that night and somehow it all makes perfect sense. We're posted up at legendary Kona Skatepark with Taylor Clark (stand-up comedian and skateboarder) and St. Augustine's Nick Day, and the background sound of skating sets the tone for a conversation that's equal parts funny and real.Taylor breaks down how he started doing comedy, why skateboarding keeps showing up in his writing, and the hard problem every niche storyteller faces: making “skate language” land with people who've never stepped on a board. We also get into Florida skate stops like DIY parks, the vibe at Neon Moon, and the history that hangs over Kona, including the kind of spots that instantly humble you.Nick shares what it's like being 20 and living out of a backpack for skate trips, chasing sessions from San Francisco to Philly, and learning how connected the skateboarding world really is once you start moving. From there we go deeper on expectations, gratitude, and a line that sticks: skateboarding doesn't owe you anything. We talk sobriety and focus, how getting healthy can bring skating back, and why the best skate community is the one that lets people skate their own way.If you're into skateboarding, stand-up comedy, Kona Skatepark, Tampa Pro energy, or just love stories about finding your people, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who still skates, and leave us a review.

Does Payroll Need a Rebrand? | The Payroll Podcast with Vickie Graham, Nick Day, Ana Laiu, Ian Hodson and Melanie PizzeyFor years, payroll has been viewed as a back office function focused on processing pay, managing compliance, and making sure employees are paid accurately and on time. But payroll has evolved far beyond that, and many organizations still do not fully understand the strategic value payroll professionals bring to modern business.In this episode of @thepayrollpodcast, Vickie Graham hosts a powerful National Payroll Week discussion with Nick Day, Ana Laiu, Ian Hodson, and Melanie Pizzey exploring one major question:Does payroll need a rebrand?This conversation goes far beyond payroll systems and pay processing. The panel explores how payroll is becoming one of the most influential functions inside organizations through workforce intelligence, employee experience, compliance, risk management, analytics, reward strategy, and business decision making.Ana Laiu explains how payroll professionals are increasingly becoming strategic business partners by helping organizations manage workforce costs, global compliance, audit readiness, and reward effectiveness. She shares why payroll data is now critical for budgeting, forecasting, planning, and protecting organizations from financial and operational risk.Ian Hodson discusses how payroll has evolved far beyond the traditional “roll of pay” and why outdated perceptions continue to limit how the profession is viewed. He explores what payroll can learn from the transformation of HR from personnel to people and culture, and why payroll professionals must reposition how they communicate their impact.Nick Day shares why payroll professionals need to stop focusing only on what they do and start communicating how payroll creates business value. The discussion highlights how payroll can influence employee retention, workforce experience, productivity, financial wellbeing, and strategic business growth when payroll leaders learn to tell better stories to the C-suite.Melanie Pizzey explains why payroll may not need a completely new name, but it does need a stronger narrative. She discusses why payroll professionals should move away from conversations about being undervalued and instead focus on communicating the measurable impact payroll has on organizations every single pay cycle.One of the biggest themes throughout this episode is that payroll touches every employee, every pay cycle, and almost every part of the business.Payroll is no longer just about processing pay.It is about workforce intelligence, employee trust, compliance, culture, risk management, financial wellbeing, and business strategy.And the payroll professionals who embrace that shift will become some of the most influential voices inside modern organizations.Whether you are a payroll professional looking to become more strategic, an HR or reward leader trying to improve workforce insight, or a business leader thinking about the future of work, this episode will completely change how you think about payroll.This episode is sponsored by DeelManaging 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/nickdayGuest and Host:Connect with Vickie Graham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickiegrahamdipmacim/Connect with Nick Day: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Connect with Melanie Pizzey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melaniepizzey/Connect with Ana Laiu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/analaiumscfcipp/Connect with Ian Hodson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-hodson-mscchmcippdip-26828a22/Find your ideal payroll candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the Payroll Podcast Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Stay tuned for the next episode of The Payroll Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content!Timestamps:(00:00) Welcome and National Payroll Week Introduction(02:42) Meet the Panel and the Big Question(09:33) Does Payroll Reflect the Modern Role?(13:37) Payroll as a Strategic Business Partner(18:35) Compliance, Risk, and Workforce Complexity(22:13) Why Payroll Is No Longer Transactional(28:31) Storytelling, Perception, and Payroll Value(30:23) Technology, AI, and Employee Experience(37:11) What Payroll Can Learn from HR Rebranding(43:51) Does Payroll Need a Rebrand?(51:09) The Future of Payroll and Workforce Intelligence(55:17) Final Thoughts and Changing the Payroll Narrative

This episode is sponsored by Deel.Hire, manage and pay – anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickdayhr/In this episode of @thehrldpodcast Nick Day is joined by Jackie Dube, Chief People Officer at The Predictive Index, with over two decades of experience helping organizations unlock performance through behavioral science and talent optimization. Grounding her work in a simple but powerful belief, that happy, aligned people do better work and live better lives, Jackie brings both the science and the human heart to one of the most pressing challenges facing workplaces today.Jackie brings a rare blend of behavioral expertise and people leadership into the world of HR and organizational performance. Together, Nick and Jackie explore why so many employees, despite better tools, more flexibility, and greater leadership investment than ever before, still feel a deep sense of emptiness at work, and what leaders can actually do about it.This conversation unpacks what it truly means to align people with their work from the inside out. Nick and Jackie discuss why engagement and meaning are not the same thing, how the four behavioral drives of dominance, extraversion, patience, and formality determine what energizes or drains each employee, and why the same task can be deeply motivating for one person and completely demotivating for another. They explore how hiring for speed quietly erodes culture, why interpersonal conflicts at work are almost always behavioral mismatches rather than personality clashes, and how leaders can use the three whys technique to reconnect people to organizational purpose.They also cover the four forces of engagement, the role of pulse surveys in detecting disengagement early, and how AI adoption is creating a new wave of workforce fear that behavioral science is uniquely equipped to address. The discussion highlights PI's J-curve framework for navigating change, why transparency around AI matters more than most leaders realize, and how understanding what drives each individual is the foundation of a truly high-performing team.In a world shaped by remote work, rapid AI adoption, and growing disconnection, this episode examines why behavioral science may be the most practical and powerful tool HR and L&D professionals have in 2026 to restore meaning, motivation, and performance across their organizations.A must-listen for HR leaders, L&D professionals, and anyone ready to stop guessing what their people need and start building workplaces where people are genuinely wired to thrive.Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thepayrollpodcast for more great content!Connect with Jackie Dube & The Predictive Index:Predictive Index: https://www.predictiveindex.comPredictive Index behavioural science insights: https://www.predictiveindex.com/blog/Jackie Dube's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-dube/Nick Day's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the HR L&D Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Stay tuned for the next episode of the HR L&D Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction: Why Work Feels Empty in the Modern Workplace(01:40) Meet Jackie Dube, Chief People Officer at The Predictive Index(02:28) Jackie's Origin Story, From Family Therapy to HR(05:30) How Behavioral Science First Clicked for Jackie(08:33) What Is Driving the Emptiness at Work Today(12:44) How Organizations Unintentionally Drain Meaning from Work(14:39) Early Warning Signs of Disengagement and How to Spot Them(16:22) The Four Behavioral Drives and How They Shape the Way We Work(20:13) How Behavioral Differences Create Motivation or Demotivation(22:52) Why Engagement and Meaning Are Not the Same Thing(27:31) AI Adoption, Workforce Fear and the J-Curve Framework(36:01) How The Predictive Index Helps Organizations Build Meaning and Performance

Tom Heys has spent years inside the complexity of pay gap reporting and pay transparency law. And along the way, he learned something most organizations only discover when it is too late. The problem was never the reporting. It was the data behind it.In this episode of @thepayrollpodcast, Nick Day, CEO of JGA Recruitment, sits down with Tom Heys, Co-Lead of the EU Pay Transparency Directive Practice and Head of UK Gender Pay Gap Reporting at Lewis Silkin LLP, to go deep on the regulatory shift that is pulling payroll out of the back office and into the frontline of compliance, legal risk, and organizational strategy. The EU Pay Transparency Directive.This is not just a conversation about a new regulation. It is a conversation about what equal pay actually means, where the data to prove it lives, and why most organizations are not as ready as they think. Tom and Nick explore why payroll data is the only true source of what employees actually receive, why HR systems alone will never be enough for PTD compliance, how poor pay element labeling and missing audit trails create legal exposure, what happens when employees and worker representatives start asking why they are paid what they are paid, how the Directive is reshaping recruitment through mandatory pay ranges and the ban on pay history questions, and why the biggest risk behind the PTD is not a regulatory fine but a wave of equal pay claims worth tens of millions.It is not just about reporting a number.It is about being able to defend every number you report.And if your organization has ever assumed that pay transparency compliance is a legal or HR problem rather than a payroll one, this episode will show you exactly why that assumption is the most expensive mistake you can make.Whether you are a payroll leader being pulled into a PTD project, an HR or reward professional trying to understand the data challenge ahead, or a multinational employer navigating fragmented implementation timelines across the EU, this episode is essential listening.This episode is sponsored by DeelManaging 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/nickdayGuest and Host: Connect with Tom Heys: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomheys/ Connect with Nick Day: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal payroll candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the Payroll Podcast Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Stay tuned for the next episode of The Payroll Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content!Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction: Why Payroll Is Central to Pay Transparency(01:27) What Payroll Really Means, It's All About the Data(03:04) Why Payroll Teams Are Being Pulled Into PTD Projects(04:53) Is Payroll Ready for This Level of Visibility?(07:00) The Data Quality Problem, What's Missing and Why It Matters(09:28) The Legal Consequences of Getting Your Data Wrong(13:51) What To Do When You Discover a Pay Gap(17:59) How the Directive Is Reshaping Recruitment and Pay Ranges(26:53) Employee Questions, Why Am I Grouped With Them?(29:34) Cross-Border and Multi-Entity Pay Risks(33:55) Implementation Timeline, Which Countries Are Ready?(41:38) Closing Advice, What Payroll Leaders Need To Do Now

In this episode: Day-One SSP, Mandatory Payrolling & the New Rules Reshaping UK Payroll | Payroll Question TimePayroll Question Time is brought to you by SD Worx. SD Worx offers smart, tailored and integrated HR and Payroll solutions, along with the local expertise, global reach and reliable service you need to grow your business today!UK payroll is facing one of its most demanding periods ever. Are your processes ready for everything landing at once?In this episode of Payroll Question Time, host Steve Yardley and our expert panel break down the most pressing payroll challenges hitting employers right now. From day-one SSP entitlement and qualifying day complexities, to mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind and the Employment Rights Act. With the Fair Work Agency now operational and April 2027 approaching fast, this is essential viewing for every payroll professional in the UK.From zero-hours SSP edge cases and holiday pay record-keeping obligations to the mileage rate increase and zero-hours contract reform, this session covers the operational, compliance, and strategic issues you need to act on today.We cover:•SSP day-one entitlement and what it means for zero-hours and casual workers•The qualifying days problem and how some employees are already exploiting the new rules•Zero-earnings SSP and the unresolved gap in the SSP1 process and what to do now•Mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind: why preparation must start before the software is ready•Overlapping taxation explained and why you must never call it double taxation•The 50% regulatory limit and why it will catch employers out in 2027Class 1A NIC individual calculations and the complexity this creates•EV salary sacrifice and the company car confusion employers are getting wrong•Mileage rate increase to 55p per mile: what has changed, what is backdated, and what is discretionary•Employment Rights Act: unfair dismissal qualifying period, zero-hours contract reform, and tipping policy changes•Employment tribunal backlogs and the Fair Work Agency's enforcement powers•Holiday pay record-keeping and the six-year obligation employers have not woken up to•Rolled-up holiday pay risks for variable and part-year workers•How the Fair Work Agency could reshape compliance enforcement the way NMW teams did•Skills shift in payroll: analytics, AI, and what the profession looks like going forwardDon't forget to subscribe and turn on notifications to stay updated with every Payroll Question Time and the latest insights on UK payroll changes 2026 and ongoing payroll legislation updates.Learn more about SD Worx Academy training courses: https://www.sdworx.com/en-en Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/691ee4… Steve Yardley's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/syardley/ Nick Day's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content!Our Panel: Simon Parsons, Director of UK Compliance Strategies, SD Worx Mathew Akrigg, Policy & Advisory Leader, CIPP Samantha Mann, Payroll Team Manager, Armstrong Watson LLP Richard George, Payroll Consultant & Industry LeaderSteve Yardley, Host, Managing Director, JGA Recruitment GroupTimestamps:(00:00) Welcome & What to Expect(03:41) SSP Day-One Rules Explained(12:13) Zero Earnings SSP & the SSP1 Gap(20:54) Qualifying Days, Risks & Automation Pain(29:02) Mandatory Payrolling of Benefits: Planning Starts Now(38:10) Mileage Rate Rise & Payroll Impact(43:55) The 50% Regulatory Limit & Employee Communications(49:18) Employment Rights Act: What Changes & When(1:04:22) Holiday Pay, Record-Keeping & the Fair Work Agency(1:16:12) Who Should Own Holiday Records? Live Poll Results(1:23:09) Skills Shift, Analytics, AI & CPD in Payroll(1:28:26) Wrap-Up & Next Session: June 18thHashtags: #PayrollQuestionTime #UKPayroll #SSPChanges #DayOneSSP #MandatoryPayrolling #PayrollingBenefits #PayrollCompliance #EmploymentRightsAct #PayrollUpdates #ZeroHoursContracts #HolidayPay #FairWorkAgency #PayrollLegislation #P11D #Class1A #MileageRates #PayrollProfessionals #PayrollTransformation #SDWorx #CIPP #JGARecruitment

I grew up shy, introverted, and terrified of public speaking.A bookworm in Hong Kong. A wallflower who couldn't hold a room. A kid who went into investment banking because that's where smart people were supposed to go, not because it was right for me.So I walked away.Professional football. BBC radio. The Premier League. A microphone. A stage.And somewhere along the way, the worst public speaker in the room became one of the most sought-after communication coaches in the world.But here's what I'll tell you: it wasn't talent. It was never talent.It was one conversation with a stranger every single day, for years.What I discovered through football, banking, 15 years on stage, and six years coaching some of the most senior executives on the planet is this: communication is not a gift. It is a skill. And most leaders are operating at seven out of ten of their potential without even realizing it.The expertise is there. The knowledge is there. The years of experience are there.But if you can't make people feel something, none of it lands.I sat down with Nick Day, CEO of JGA Recruitment Group and host of the HR L&D Podcast, for one of the most honest and wide-ranging conversations I've had on communication, leadership, and influence.We go deep on public speaking, the art of listening, why preparation is the only thing that separates great communicators from average ones, and why in a world flooded with AI-generated content, the human touch has never been more valuable.Nick and I unpack the real reason most presentations fail, why following your passion is terrible career advice, what every great leader he's ever interviewed has in common, and the one question you should ask before you build your next deck.This is one of the most practical and honest conversations I've been part of on communication and leadership.I hope it changes the way you speak.Apply to work with me: https://www.michaelxcampion.com/Connect with me: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelxcampion/This episode is from the HR L&D Podcast hosted by Nick Day.Connect with Nick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Learn more about JGA Recruitment Group: https://jgarecruitment.com/I'm a Hong Kong-born, UK-based professional speaker, executive coach, and corporate trainer with over 15 years of experience on the global stage. Before stepping into this world, I worked in investment banking and played professional football, representing the Hong Kong national team and competing in the Premier League.Today, I help senior leaders and high-performing teams unlock their communication potential. I'm also a Partner and Head of Corporate Training at Quinlan and Associates, working with organizations across Hong Kong, Singapore, London, and the Middle East.My one-line thesis is simple: talent is practice in disguise.(00:00) Why Communication Is the Skill Every Leader Is Missing(01:26) Human First, Not Resource First(02:23) From Banking to Professional Football, Michael's Story(07:56) Talent Is Practice in Disguise(09:35) Curiosity Beats Chasing Passion(15:58) The Communication Gap Most HR Leaders Don't Know They Have(21:07) Preparation Is the Only Thing That Earns Confidence(23:41) The Art of Listening on Stage(40:09) AI and the Rising Value of Human Connection(44:38) Design Emotion, Not Slides

Miranda Humphries has spent her entire career inside payroll. Not on the edges of it, not adjacent to it, but deep inside the complexity, the pressure, and the transformation of it. And along the way, she learned something most organizations only discover too late. The vendor is rarely the problem. The process that chose them is.In this episode of @thepayrollpodcast, Nick Day, CEO of JGA Recruitment, sits down with Miranda Humphries, experienced global payroll leader and transformation specialist, to go deep on the one phase of payroll transformation that is most often rushed, most often misaligned, and most often responsible for implementations that fail before they even begin. The RFP process.This is not just a conversation about vendor selection. It is a conversation about what it really takes to make the right decision for your business. Miranda and Nick explore the full spectrum of procurement tools from direct award to RFI to RFP, why the RFI is one of the most underutilized tools in the payroll space, how to build questions that actually drive decisions, why hidden costs in your current vendor contract can completely distort your comparisons, and why no payroll leader should ever run this process alone.It is not just about finding the best vendor.It is about finding the right one for your business.And if your organization has ever gone live with a new system only to find the problems were already baked in, this episode will show you exactly where it went wrong and how to make sure it never happens again.Whether you are a payroll leader preparing to go to market, an HR or finance stakeholder being pulled into a vendor selection process, or a transformation professional who wants to understand what a truly rigorous RFP looks like from the inside, this episode is essential listening.This episode is sponsored by DeelManaging 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/nickdayGuest and Host:Connect with Miranda Humphries: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miranda-humphries-538aa72/Connect with Nick Day: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal payroll candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the Payroll Podcast Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Stay tuned for the next episode of The Payroll Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content!Timestamps:(00:00) - Why Most Payroll Transformations Fail Before They Start(01:29) - What Payroll Really Means: Miranda's Story and Identity(04:32) - How Miranda Found Her Way Into Payroll(07:58) - What Is an RFP and What Is It Designed to Achieve(10:31) - RFP vs RFI vs RFQ: Choosing the Right Tool for the Job(17:42) - Who Should Own the RFP Process(22:06) - How to Handle Misalignment Between Payroll, HR, and Procurement(28:38) - Preparation: Knowing Your Current State Before You Go to Market(33:45) - Crafting the Right Questions and Scoring Your Vendors(44:21) - If You Could Redesign the RFP Process From Scratch(48:51) - The One Thing Every Payroll Leader Must Do Before Starting(51:23) - The Payroll Vault: Rapid Fire Advice for 2026

This episode is sponsored by Deel.Hire, manage and pay – anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickdayhr/In this episode of @thehrldpodcast Nick Day is joined by John Peebles, CEO of Administrate, one of the leading voices in enterprise learning operations with over 15 years of experience helping large organizations fix the hidden chaos inside their training functions. Administrate is the number one Training Management System for instructor-led and virtual instructor-led training, trusted by enterprise teams around the world to plan, schedule, and scale complex training programs.Together, Nick and John explore why L&D teams are more overwhelmed than ever despite having more tools than ever, and why the solution almost nobody is talking about has nothing to do with buying something new. The real problem, as John makes clear, is not technology. It is operations.This conversation unpacks what training chaos actually looks like behind the scenes, why the more technology L&D teams add the worse things tend to get, how the absence of a true system of record is quietly killing training effectiveness, and why 70 to 80 percent of high-value corporate training still happens in a classroom regardless of what the e-learning industry has been promising for decades.They also dig into the truth about training ROI, why up to 80 percent of the training budget is consumed by manual admin work nobody signed up for, and how fixing that frees teams to double or even triple their training throughput within a year, with downstream gains in retention and performance that most HR leaders never connect back to training operations.On AI, John delivers one of the most grounded perspectives you will hear from any operator right now, covering where LLMs genuinely add value, where they fall short, and why operational clarity remains the real competitive advantage that winning L&D teams will be built on in 2026 and beyond.A must-listen for HR leaders, L&D professionals, and anyone ready to stop letting fear make their decisions for them and start building the kind of courage that moves teams, careers, and organisations forward.Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thepayrollpodcast for more great content!Connect with John Peebles LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnjpeebles/John Peebles Website: https://bit.ly/4dkz7mmNick Day's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the HR L&D Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Stay tuned for the next episode of the HR L&D Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction: Is Your Training Problem Really a Technology Problem?(01:29) Meet John Peebles: CEO of Administrate(02:00) What Human Resources Really Means(03:36) How John Discovered Training Operations Were Broken(06:12) What Training Chaos Actually Looks Like Behind the Scenes(08:18) Why More Tools Are Making Things Worse(12:26) The Right Tool for the Right Job: A Framework for L&D Leaders(16:24) The Case for Instructor-Led Training (The Data Might Surprise You)

Most payroll teams are still viewed as operational functions focused on processing pay, maintaining compliance, and keeping systems running. But payroll is changing rapidly, and the organizations that understand this shift first will gain a major strategic advantage. Behind the systems, spreadsheets, and workflows sits one of the richest sources of workforce intelligence in any business, yet most companies are still underutilizing it.In this special webinar episode of @thepayrollpodcast, payroll and reward professionals join Vickie Graham and Ana Laiu for an in-depth discussion about how payroll and reward teams are evolving from transactional functions into strategic business partners through workforce analytics, automation, AI, and data-driven decision making.This is not just a conversation about payroll systems or reporting dashboards. It is a wider industry discussion about how payroll and reward functions are becoming central to workforce planning, productivity, cost optimization, business performance, and executive decision-making.Throughout the webinar, Vickie and Ana explore the hidden problems caused by fragmented systems, disconnected workforce data, and inconsistent processes that prevent payroll teams from influencing the C-suite effectively. Together with insights, comments, and perspectives shared by attendees during the session, the discussion highlights the growing demand for better workforce visibility, stronger technology integration, and more strategic payroll leadership across the industry.The webinar also covers the growing role of AI and automation in payroll, including predictive analytics, workforce planning, automated scheduling, and data integration, while exploring why human interpretation, business context, and strategic thinking will become even more valuable as technology evolves.One of the biggest themes from this webinar is that payroll professionals should stop thinking of themselves as administrators and start thinking of themselves as workforce intelligence leaders.Because payroll is no longer just about processing pay.It is about understanding workforce cost, productivity, employee behavior, organizational performance, and business strategy at a much deeper level.And the payroll professionals who embrace that shift will become some of the most influential voices inside modern organizations.Whether you are a payroll professional looking to become more strategic, an HR leader trying to unlock better workforce insights, or a business leader thinking about the future of workforce planning and payroll transformation, this webinar will completely change how you think about payroll and reward.This episode is sponsored by DeelManaging 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/nickdayGuest and Host:Connect with Vickie Graham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickiegrahamdipmacim/Connect with Ana Laiu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/analaiumscfcipp/Connect with Nick Day: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal payroll candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the Payroll Podcast Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Stay tuned for the next episode of The Payroll Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content!Timestamps:(00:00) Why Payroll Is Becoming Strategic(02:44) Confidence in Payroll and Reward Data(06:40) The Most Underutilized Workforce Metrics(10:37) Pay Progression and Workforce Trends(16:02) Understanding the True Cost of Talent(23:09) The Problem With Fragmented Payroll Systems(29:44) Creating a Single Source of Workforce Truth(35:25) Why Process Mapping Matters Before New Tech(41:04) AI, Automation, and Workforce Planning(46:21) Why Human Judgment Still Matters in Payroll(48:10) Workforce Cost Optimization and Business Strategy(52:43) The Future of Payroll Leadership#PayrollPodcast #PayrollLeadership #FutureOfPayroll #PayrollAnalytics #PayrollStrategy #PayrollData #WorkforceIntelligence #AIinPayroll #PayrollTechnology #PeopleAnalytics #PayrollTransformation #PayrollProfessionals #WorkforcePlanning #HRTech #PayrollAutomation #PayrollInnovation #PayrollCommunity #AnaLaiu #VickieGraham #NickDay

This episode is sponsored by Deel.Hire, manage and pay – anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickdayhr/In this episode of @thehrldpodcast Nick Day is joined by Bill Flynn, business growth coach, ten-time startup veteran, and best-selling author of Further, Faster and the upcoming Hero Trap. With over 30 years of experience advising hundreds of companies and leaders, Bill brings a bold and provocative perspective to one of the most overlooked problems in leadership development today: leadership centrality.Bill challenges the assumption that better leaders automatically means better organizations. Together, Nick and Bill explore why decades of leadership development investment have failed to move the needle on employee engagement, why the behaviors that make individuals successful so often become the very things that hold their organizations back, and why the real measure of great leadership is how well the organization runs without you.This conversation unpacks what the Hero Trap really is and why so many leaders fall into it without ever realizing it. Nick and Bill discuss why organizations need to move from creating followers to building members, how mission sustains what inspiration starts, and why the most dangerous single point of failure in any business is often the leader at the top. They also explore the three-stage journey from Controller to Builder to Architect, the neuroscience behind why leaders love being the hero, and why HR professionals should stop asking for a seat at the table because they are the table.In a world shaped by fragility, burnout, and over-dependence on heroic leadership, this episode delivers the mindset shifts and practical frameworks every HR and L&D professional needs in 2026, including how to design organizations that scale beyond any single leader, how to build a culture of membership over followership, and how to make yourself unnecessary in the best possible way.A must-listen for HR leaders, L&D professionals, and anyone ready to move from being the hero to becoming the architect of something that lasts.Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thepayrollpodcast for more great content!Connect with Bill Flynn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billflynnpublic/Bill Flynn's website: www.catalystgrowthadvisors.comNick Day's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the HR L&D Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Stay tuned for the next episode of the HR L&D Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction: Why Leadership Centrality Is Breaking Organizations(01:27) What "Human Resources" Really Means(03:40) The Problem with 50 Years of Leadership Development(07:41) What Every Great Leader Actually Has in Common(14:42) The Hero Trap: The Paradox of Success(18:55) Why Promoting Your Best People Often Backfires(24:04) From Followers to Members: Why Mission Gets It Done(27:04) The Controller, Builder, Architect Model(34:35) Why Purpose Is What Sustains a Business(42:20) The Neuroscience Behind the Hero Trap(49:29) The Reframe Every HR Leader Needs to Hear(52:33) Bill Flynn's Work, Books, and What's Coming Next

In this episode: SSP Changes, Holiday Pay & Payrolling Benefits | Payroll Challenges for 2026 & BeyondPayroll Question Time is brought to you by SD Worx. SD Worx offers smart, tailored and integrated HR and Payroll solutions, along with the local expertise, global reach and reliable service you need to grow your business today!Payroll complexity is increasing fast. Are your payroll processes ready for the changes ahead?In this episode of Payroll Question Time, host Nick Day and our expert panel unpack the biggest payroll challenges facing employers this tax year, including SSP changes for zero-hours workers, holiday pay record-keeping, payrolling benefits readiness, AMAP mileage rates, and the future of payroll jobs.From statutory family pay confusion and sickness absence management to P11D transformation and mandatory payrolling concerns, this session explores the operational, compliance, and strategic issues payroll professionals need to prepare for now.We cover:•SSP day one entitlement changes and the impact on zero-hours workers•How qualifying days and average earnings calculations are catching employers out•Holiday pay record-keeping requirements and six-year compliance obligations•Rolled-up holiday pay rules and risks for variable-hours workers•Employment Rights Act changes and what payroll teams should prepare forP11D season priorities and mandatory payrolling of benefits from 2027•Class 1A NIC challenges and why software providers are raising concerns•Company car reporting complexities and benefit provider readiness•AMAP mileage allowance rates and why current rates may no longer be fair•National Minimum Wage calculation pitfalls including 52 vs 52.18 weeks•Payroll transformation, AI, outsourcing, and whether payroll jobs are evolving•Practical advice for reducing payroll risk, improving compliance, and preparing for legislative changeDon't forget to subscribe and turn on notifications to stay updated with every Payroll Question Time and the latest insights on UK Payroll Changes 2025 and ongoing payroll legislation updates UK.Learn more about SD Worx Academy training courses: https://www.sdworx.com/en-enFind your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/691ee4…Nick Day's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast ⁨@thehrldpodcast for more great content!Our Panel: Simon Parsons, Director of UK Compliance Strategies at SD Worx Richard George, Payroll Consultant & Industry Leader Samantha Mann, Payroll Team Manager, Armstrong Watson LLP Nick Day, Host, Founder of JGA Recruitment & Author of The Payroll PivotTimestamps:(00:00) Welcome & Panel Introductions(04:06) The New Tax Year: What Payroll Teams Need to Know(09:45) Statutory Sick Pay Overhaul: The Zero-Hours Wake-Up Call(18:11) Holiday Pay Recording: The New Mandatory Requirements(32:22) Employment Rights Act: Positive, Negative, or Indifferent?(44:54) Occupational Sick Pay: What Employers Can and Can't Do(46:25) Payrolling Benefits in Kind: The Road to 2027(1:06:16) AMAP Mileage Rates: Why 45p Per Mile No Longer Cuts It(1:20:12) National Minimum Wage: The 52 vs 52.18 Weeks Trap(1:24:40) Are Payroll Jobs Under Threat?(1:33:30) Free Resources & What's Coming NextHashtags:#PayrollQuestionTime #UKPayroll #SSPChanges #HolidayPay #P11D#PayrollingBenefits #PayrollCompliance #EmploymentRightsAct #PayrollUpdates#ZeroHoursContracts #PayrollLeadership #PayrollProfessionals #AMAP#PayrollTransformation #PayrollJobs #PayrollTraining #HRCompliance#PayrollRiskManagement #PayrollTechnology #SDWorx

Most payroll systems work. People get paid, compliance is met, and no one questions it. But working payroll is not the same as good payroll, and good payroll is not the same as modern payroll. Hidden behind the usual systems are inefficiencies, friction, missed insights, and a quietly eroding level of employee trust that most organizations never see coming.In this episode of @thepayrollpodcast, Nick Day, CEO of JGA Recruitment, sits down with Sylvain Grande, Chief Product Officer at PayFit, to challenge everything payroll leaders think they know about their current setup and make the case for why standing still is no longer an option.This is not just a conversation about software. It is a conversation about what payroll really is, a social contract, a cultural signal, and one of the most underrated artifacts in any business. Sylvain and Nick explore the hidden costs of payroll complacency, why year-end pain is almost always an upstream problem, how AI is genuinely transforming the profession right now, and what a truly modern payroll solution actually looks like in 2026.They also cover the real impact of PayFit Copilot, the AI agent already in the hands of thousands of HR and payroll professionals, the upcoming UK regulatory changes around benefits payrolling in April 2027, and why the future of payroll belongs to better-equipped experts supported by smarter systems, not fewer experts.It is not just about processing pay.It is about the trust, transparency, and culture sitting behind every single payslip.And if you are not thinking about it that way yet, this episode will change that.Whether you are a payroll professional looking to move from invisibility to influence, an HR leader trying to understand where your systems are holding you back, or a business owner who has never questioned your payroll setup, this episode will give you a new way of seeing one of the most important functions in your organization.This episode is sponsored by DeelManaging 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/nickdayGuest and Host:Connect with Sylvain Grande: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgrande/Connect with Nick Day: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal payroll candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the Payroll Podcast Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Stay tuned for the next episode of The Payroll Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content!Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction and What Modern Payroll Really Means(01:48) The Payslip as a Cultural and Business Artifact(04:07) The Hidden Costs of Normalizing Payroll Friction(09:29) Why Compliant Payroll Is Not Competitive Payroll(10:35) Interactive Payslips and the Case for Transparency(11:35) Year End Pain and the Upstream Problem Nobody Talks About(18:55) Where AI Is Actually Making a Difference in Payroll(23:24) PayFit Copilot and AI in Action(30:02) Benefits Complexity and the April 2027 UK Payrolling Change(35:29) What a Modern Payroll Solution Really Looks Like(42:53) Payroll as a Social Contract and Trust Builder(47:27) Payroll Vault: Rapid Fire Questions with Sylvain Grande#PayrollPodcast #ModernPayroll #PayrollTransformation #AIinPayroll #PayFit #SylvainGrande #NickDay #JGARecruitment #PayrollLeadership #HRPayroll #FutureOfPayroll #PayrollProfessional #EmployeeTrust #PayrollTech #PayrollCommunity #UKPayroll #PayrollInnovation #PayrollInsights #HRTech #PayrollStrategy

This episode is sponsored by Deel.Hire, manage and pay – anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickdayhr/ In this episode of @thehrldpodcast Nick Day is joined by Britain Stelly, founder of Creature Courage and one of the UK's leading experts in phobia therapy and fear transformation, featured on Good Morning Britain, Sky News, BBC Radio 2, and ITV. With over a decade of experience helping thousands of people break free from deep-rooted fears, Britain is now bringing that proven science directly into the workplace.Britain brings a rare combination of exotic animal husbandry, clinical anxiety coaching, and over a decade of live exposure therapy into the world of leadership and organisational development. Together, Nick and Britain explore why fear is the most underrated and underdiagnosed cost inside organisations today, and why the gap between a good team and a high-performing one almost always comes down to the fears nobody is talking about.This conversation unpacks what it truly means to overcome fear from the inside out. Nick and Britain discuss why avoidance never makes fear smaller, only louder, how the caveman brain is quietly sabotaging your team's decisions and conversations every single day, and why exposure therapy creates lasting transformation that no lecture, workshop, or wellbeing initiative ever could. They explore why psychological safety cannot be built on comfort alone, why the most effective leaders are the ones willing to face fear openly, and how a single shared experience of courage can transform the culture of an entire team.They also explore the neuroscience behind why you cannot think your way out of fear, why the amygdala and prefrontal cortex must be shown rather than told, and how Britain's Reject, Reframe, Replace technique gives individuals a practical tool to interrupt anxiety at the thought level. The discussion highlights why imposter syndrome is just fear wearing a professional disguise, why failure is a primitive survival instinct that modern leaders must learn to override, and how vulnerability in leadership is not a weakness but the most respected quality a leader can possess.In a world where anxiety is at an all-time high and teams are growing more disengaged, this episode examines why fear transformation may be the most important investment HR and L&D leaders can make in 2026, and how organizations that build cultures of courage will outperform those that simply manage comfort.A must-listen for HR leaders, L&D professionals, and anyone ready to stop letting fear make their decisions for them and start building the kind of courage that moves teams, careers, and organizations forward.Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thepayrollpodcast for more great content! Connect with Britain Stelly & Creature Courage:

Tricia Hartley spent 47 years doing the latter. From a chance encounter with a clock card-carrying HR manager at Heathrow Airport in 1977 to becoming one of the first women ever appointed as Director of Global Payroll Services, hers is a career that did not just keep pace with the payroll profession. It helped shape it.In this episode of @thepayrollpodcast, Nick Day, CEO of JGA Recruitment, sits down with Tricia Hartley, global payroll pioneer and recipient of the Reward Strategy Lifetime Achievement Award, to reflect on nearly five decades of payroll leadership across some of the world's most iconic organisations, including Chevron, Reuters, Cognizant, PayPal, and Microsoft.This is not just a career retrospective. It is a masterclass in what payroll truly means. Tricia and Nick explore why the payslip is one of the most important documents in a person's life, what it really takes to lead global payroll teams across multiple countries and cultures, and why the human touch in payroll must never be surrendered to automation. They also cover the honest realities of retiring after a career that consumed and fulfilled in equal measure, a coaching leadership philosophy that produced a generation of senior payroll directors, and what Tricia believes the next generation of payroll professionals must hold onto as AI begins to reshape the profession.It is not just about processing pay.It is about the people behind every payslip.And it always has been.Whether you are just starting out in payroll, leading a global team, or somewhere in between, this episode is proof that payroll is one of the most purposeful, adventurous, and human careers a person can choose.This episode is sponsored by DeelManaging 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/nickdayGuest and Host:Connect with Tricia Hartley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tricia-hartley-9189259/Connect with Nick Day: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal payroll candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the Payroll Podcast Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Stay tuned for the next episode of The Payroll Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content!Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction and Meet Tricia Hartley(01:56) What Payroll Really Means: The Human Responsibility Behind Every Payslip(03:33) How It All Started: Heathrow Airport and a Clock Card Interview in 1977(05:46) World Duty Free, Traveling the World and Catching the Global Bug(10:15) Leading Payroll at Chevron, Reuters, Cognizant, PayPal and Microsoft(12:24) Breaking Barriers as a Woman in Senior Payroll Leadership(15:19) Navigating Real Time Information, Brexit and the Big Industry Shifts(16:31) Winning the Reward Strategy Lifetime Achievement Award(18:26) Mentoring Future Leaders and Building Teams That Outlast You(24:43) The Honest Truth About Retirement and How to Prepare for It(33:19) The Future of Payroll, AI and Why the Human Touch Must Never Disappear(40:18) Payroll Vault: Career Advice for Every Stage of Your Payroll JourneyHashtags:#PayrollPodcast #GlobalPayroll #PayrollCareers #PayrollLeadership #LifetimeAchievement #TriciaHartley #NickDay #JGARecruitment #PayrollProfessional #WomenInPayroll #FutureOfPayroll #AIinPayroll #PayrollTransformation #CareerInPayroll #PayrollCommunity #HRPayroll #RewardStrategy #PayrollHistory #GlobalPayrollLeader #PayrollMentoring

This episode is sponsored by Deel.Hire, manage and pay – anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickdayhr/In this episode of @thehrldpodcast Nick Day is joined by Michael Campion, executive coach, corporate trainer, motivational speaker, and host of the Playing the Inner Game podcast, with over two decades of experience helping leaders, executives, and high performers communicate with clarity, confidence, and impact.Michael brings a rare combination of professional sport, investment banking, and 15 years on the global speaking circuit into the world of leadership communication. Together, Nick and Michael explore why communication is the single most overlooked skill in HR and leadership development, and why the gap between a good leader and a great one almost always comes down to how well they can communicate, influence, and connect.This conversation unpacks what it truly means to master the art of communication from the inside out. Nick and Michael discuss why talent is nothing more than practice in disguise, how preparation is the real source of confidence on stage, and why the spotlight effect is quietly destroying the impact of otherwise brilliant leaders. They explore why most professionals have never received a single hour of public speaking or presentation training, and why that gap is costing organizations more than they realize.They also explore how elite communicators listen just as powerfully as they speak, why reading the room is a skill that separates good presenters from exceptional ones, and how the deepest wounds in our personal story often sit right next to our greatest strengths. The discussion highlights why most presentations fail not because of poor content but because of poor emotional design, and how shifting the question from what do I want to say to how do I want them to feel changes everything.In a world where AI is rapidly commoditizing information and content, this episode examines why human communication has never been more valuable, why effort and personalization are the ultimate costly signals in business, and how HR and L&D professionals can invest in the one skill that touches every part of their role.A must-listen for HR leaders, L&D professionals, and anyone ready to stop leaving their communication potential on the table and start showing up with the presence, preparation, and emotional intelligence their message deserves.Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thepayrollpodcast for more great content!Connect with Michael Campion: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelxcampion/Michael Campion's website: www.michaelxcampion.comNick Day's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the HR L&D Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Stay tuned for the next episode of the HR L&D Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Timestamp:(00:00) Introduction and Welcome to the HR L&D Podcast(02:10) What Human Resources Means to Michael Campion(03:59) From Banking to Football to Executive Coach(08:46) Purpose, Curiosity, and Why "Follow Your Passion" Is Bad Advice(16:52) How to Nail Your Next Presentation: Strategies for HR Leaders(24:03) The Art of Listening in Public Speaking(29:11) Energy, Effort, and the Two-Way Street of Communication(36:48) What Michael's Corporate Workshops Actually Cover(41:46) AI, Human Connection, and the Costly Signal(47:09) Designing Emotion, Not Slides(51:47) HR Vault: Michael's Rapid Fire Advice(55:12) Michael's Greatest Skill and Its Dark Side

Most companies think payroll integration is an IT project. They build it, they test it, they go live. Done. But here is the truth nobody is saying out loud: payroll integrations rarely fail on day one. They fail on day 100, day 300, or the moment something in your organization changes and the integration that once worked perfectly stops being reliable, compliant, or predictable. In this episode of @thepayrollpodcast, Nick Day, CEO of JGA Recruitment, sits down with David Docherty, Chief Commercial Officer at Epicenter, to unpack one of the most important and consistently underestimated challenges in global HR and payroll today. With over 20 years of hands-on experience and hundreds of real-world deployments behind him, David is one of the most credible voices on why payroll integrations fail and what organizations can do to stop it from happening to them.Nick and David make the case that treating integration as a technical sideshow is one of the most expensive mistakes a business can make, unpacking why payroll integration ROI is so often left on the table, how poor data governance quietly derails even the best-planned HCM implementations, and why integration belongs in the boardroom. They also cover the most common integration mistakes, from starting too late and over-engineering solutions to relying on vendor interfaces that were never built for multinational complexity, and what payroll leaders need to get in place right now as AI begins to reshape what is possible.It is not a technology problem.It is not an IT problem.It is a business risk that most organizations are not treating like one.Whether you are planning a global HCM implementation, currently mid-project, or already live and not getting the results you expected, this episode delivers the honest, practical advice the payroll integration space has been missing.This episode is sponsored by DeelManaging 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/nickdayGuest and Host: Connect with David Docherty: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjdocherty/ Epicenter website: https://epicenter.eu Connect with Nick Day: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/ Find your ideal payroll candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9ea Sign up to the Payroll Podcast Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7 Stay tuned for the next episode of The Payroll Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon! Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content! Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction and Why Payroll Integration Is Underestimated (01:57) Meet David Docherty, CCO at Epicenter (04:20) What Payroll Really Means and Why It Cannot Fail (05:33) Why Integration Is Critical for Global Organizations (07:19) The Hidden ROI of Your HR and Payroll Tech Stack (09:16) Why 67% of HCM Implementations Disappoint (12:43) The Most Common Integration Mistakes and How to Avoid Them (17:12) Building the Business Case for Your Board (22:08) How Epicenter Acts as Your Integration Advisor (27:03) How AI Is Transforming Payroll Integration (34:29) About Epicenter and the Payroll Vault Hashtags: #PayrollIntegration #HRPayroll #GlobalPayroll #PayrollPodcast #PayrollLeadership #HRTransformation #OracleHCM #WorkdayHR #SAPSuccessFactors #HCMImplementation #DataGovernance #PayrollROI #AIinHR #EnterprisePayroll #PayrollStrategy #PayrollManagement #HRIntegration #PayrollProfessionals #FutureOfWork #PayrollInsights

This episode is sponsored by Deel. Hire, manage and pay – anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickdayhr/In this episode of @thehrldpodcast Nick Day is joined by Lara Milward, neuroleadership coach, speaker, and founder, with over a decade of experience helping leaders and teams build mental stamina, emotional regulation, and high performance without burning out. Blending neuroscience, physiology, psychology, and real world leadership experience, Lara brings a rare and refreshing perspective to what it truly means to lead at your best.Lara brings a powerful athletic background and science-backed coaching methodology into the world of leadership development. Together, Nick and Lara explore why the leaders who thrive are not the ones who push hardest but the ones who understand how their brain works and train it with the same discipline, intention, and care that elite athletes give their bodies.This conversation unpacks what the Leader Shift framework really means and how six practical tools can transform mindset and behaviour in any leader at any level. Nick and Lara discuss why mental conditioning for leaders is no longer optional, how the neuroscience of threat and reward state directly impacts team performance, and why emotional regulation and self-awareness are now non-negotiable leadership skills.They also explore why the brain needs off-task time to generate its best ideas, the critical role of rest and recovery in avoiding burnout, and how physical challenge builds the same neural pathways as professional resilience. The discussion highlights the importance of the mind-body connection in leadership, the dangers of back-to-back meeting culture, and how leaders can use the SCARF model to keep their teams in a reward state and performing at their peak.In a world shaped by complexity, distraction, and burnout, this episode examines the practical leadership performance tools every HR and L&D professional needs in 2026, including how to manage energy strategically, set boundaries with confidence, and build a high-performing mindset from the inside out.A must-listen for HR leaders, L&D professionals, and anyone ready to stop surviving and start thriving in both their professional and personal lives.Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thepayrollpodcast for more great content!Connect with Lara Milward: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lara-milward/Lara Milward's website: www.laramilward.comNick Day's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the HR L&D Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Stay tuned for the next episode of the Payroll Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction and Welcome to the HR L&D Podcast (02:04) What Human Resources Means to Lara Milward (02:43) The Biggest Leadership Challenges Facing Leaders Today (05:17) The Leader Shift Framework Explained (11:39) Lara's Journey From Athlete to Neuroleadership Coach (18:46) How to Help Leaders Thrive Rather Than Just Survive (22:46) The Neuroscience of Performance and Reward vs Threat State (27:26) Emotional Regulation as a Leadership Superpower (32:28) Avoiding Burnout and Sustaining High Performance (36:59) Why Rest and Recovery Are Critical for Peak Performance (43:42) About Lara's Brand and What She Offers (44:07) HR Vault: Lara's Rapid Fire Leadership Advice

Imagine attending Payroll Congress for the very first time and within a year becoming part of the PayrollOrg team responsible for training payroll professionals across the world. That is exactly what happened to Christina Ruderer, CPP, and her story perfectly captures what makes Payroll Congress unlike any other event in the profession.In this episode of @thepayrollpodcast, Nick Day, CEO of JGA Recruitment, sits down with Christina Ruderer, CPP, Director of Payroll Training at PayrollOrg, to unpack one of the most inspiring career stories in payroll today. From passing her CPP exam in tears to being selected on stage at Congress, to landing a leadership role at PayrollOrg within months, Christina's journey is living proof of what happens when preparation meets opportunity. The conversation also dives deep into what attendees can expect at Payroll Congress 2026 in Nashville, why the connections made at Congress have a compounding effect on your career, and why showing up, even alone and for the first time, could be the single best decision you make this year.It is not luck.It is not timing.It is showing up with intention.Christina shares how a clear mission, a willingness to step outside her comfort zone, and the right connections at Congress unlocked a career opportunity she had only dared to imagine. Whether you are a first-timer on the fence or a seasoned Congress veteran, this episode will remind you exactly why Payroll Congress remains the most powerful event in the global payroll profession.This episode is sponsored by DeelManaging 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 and Host: Connect with Christina Ruderer, CPP: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-ruderer-cpp-35632032b/Get your Payroll Congress 2026 tickets here: www.payrollcongress.comConnect with Nick Day: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/691ee4537eStay tuned for the next episode of The Payroll Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content! Timestamps: (00:01) Introduction: Christina Ruderer's remarkable Congress-to-career story (02:14) What does payroll mean to you? (02:33) From member to certified: Christina's FPC and CPP journey (05:09) Attending Payroll Congress alone for the very first time (08:21) The Congress connection that changed everything (09:20) From first-time attendee to PayrollOrg Director (11:40) How Congress welcomes introverts and first-timers (15:26) What Christina is presenting at Congress 2026 and the education lineup (21:46) Congress traditions: the themed Fête party and what to expect (27:18) The moment that made the whole trip worth it (35:11) The Payroll Vault: rapid-fire career advice for 2026Hashtags: #PayrollCongress #PayrollPodcast #PayrollOrg #CPP #CertifiedPayrollProfessional #PayrollCareers #PayrollProfessionals #PayrollTraining #Nashville2026 #PayrollCommunity #PayrollLeadership #PayrollIndustry #PayrollConference #PayrollGrowth #FutureOfPayroll

Nick Day was driving his car half a mile from home.On his way to pick up his daughter. Half a second later, everything changed and his whole life turned upside down. The person who showed up after the accident was someone he didn't recognise. Nick, an extrovert with a theatre degree. Loud. Social. Full of life. He closed the curtains and didn't leave his house for months.He told himself it was out of respect. But when he got really honest, it was fear.That was the beginning.Years of struggle followed. His daughter was diagnosed with an eating disorder. His father, his hero, passed away. And through every one of those moments, fear showed up again. Different shape. Same game.What Nick discovered is this: fear isn't the enemy. It's a signal.  It points directly at the things that matter most.And fear's greatest disguise? Wisdom. It's that quiet voice telling you to keep your distance. To play it safe. To play it small.That voice isn't wisdom. That's fear in a suit.Failure you can heal from. But regret lingers forever.Where are you paying “The Fear Tax” in your life?This is one of the most vulnerable and moving conversations I've ever had on this show. I hope it resonates with you the way it did with me.Apply to work with me: https://www.michaelxcampion.com/Guest - Nick Day (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/)Connect with me: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelxcampion/Nick Day is the CEO and founder of JGA Recruitment Group, a B-Corp certified executive search firm specializing in Payroll and HR. An ILM Level 7 certified executive coach, author, speaker, and podcast host, he is the #1 Global Thought Leader in Payroll and one of the Top 10 HR Voices. His work focuses on the intersection of leadership, talent, mindset, and performance. Host of: The Payroll Podcast, The HR L&D Podcast, and The Mindful Paths Podcast. As the creator of The Fear Equation™ and B.O.L.D.™, he helps leaders transform fear and uncertainty into purposeful action. His book, The Payroll Pivot: From Invisibility to Influence was released in March. (00:00) Opening proverb: the secret to lasting happiness(02:18) The accident that changed everything(07:05) Fear as a signal, not a stop sign(09:37) The three-part fear equation explained(14:50) The fear paradox and success anxiety(21:01) The BOLD framework: a practical tool for courage(26:52) Dealing with fear during a family crisis(44:08) The fear tax: what inaction really costs you(47:36) Finding joy in the struggle(50:04) Nick's life philosophy: be more kind(55:45) What Nick would regret most(57:05) His father's final words: keep opening new doors

This episode is sponsored by 'Deel. Hire, manage and pay – anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickdayhr/In this episode of the HR L&D Podcast, Nick Day is joined by Dr. Hamira Riaz, chartered psychologist, clinical neuropsychologist, and behavioural strategist with over 25 years of experience, to challenge everything you think you know about HR, leadership, and what it means to truly evolve as a professional.Dr. Hamira brings a rare outside-in perspective, having moved from clinical neuropsychology and high-performing executive coaching into the heart of global corporate HR functions. Together, Nick and Dr. Hamira explore why HR as a profession may be overdue for its most uncomfortable conversation yet and why facing that discomfort is the only path forward.This conversation unpacks what meta-modern HR actually means and why the profession needs a paradigm shift, why behavioural science must underpin the HR function, how metacognition and self-awareness are the skills most HR leaders are missing, why tolerating darkness and uncertainty is a prerequisite for original thinking, the case for defensive pessimism over blind optimism, what makes us uniquely human in an age of AI, and the psychological tips every HR leader needs to thrive in 2026.A must-listen for HR leaders, L&D professionals, and anyone who wants to think more boldly, lead more honestly, and show up better, even when the path forward isn't clear.Connect with Dr. Hamira Riaz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamirariaz-innovativehr/HRiazConsults website: www.hriazconsults.comNick Day's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the HR L&D Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Stay tuned for the next episode of the Payroll Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!(00:00) Introduction and Sponsor Message(03:06) Why "Human Resources" Feels Outdated(04:46) From Neuropsychology to Corporate HR(10:38) Meta-Modern HR and Metacognition Explained(17:51) Managing Paradox and the HR Identity Crisis(23:00) Where Behavioural Science Fits In(29:33) Constructive Tension in Coaching Leaders(36:14) Defensive Pessimism vs Blind Optimism(44:08) Being the Antibody Inside Organisations(48:26) Three Psychological Tips for Thriving in 2026

In this episode: April 2026 Payroll Changes | Tax, SSP, NMW & EV Salary Sacrifice ExplainedPayroll Question Time is brought to you by SD Worx. SD Worx offers smart, tailored and integrated HR and Payroll solutions, along with the local expertise, global reach and reliable service you need to grow your business today!The new tax year is here. Is your payroll ready for everything April 2026 brings?In this March edition of Payroll Question Time, host Steve Yardley and our expert panel break down the most critical changes hitting payroll teams right now, from fiscal drag and frozen thresholds to the landmark overhaul of Statutory Sick Pay, the launch of the Fair Work Agency, and the often-misunderstood world of EV salary sacrifice schemes.With the end of the tax year upon us, we cut through the complexity so HR, payroll, and finance professionals can head into the new financial year with clarity and confidence.We cover:Fiscal drag and frozen thresholds: what the rise in tax revenue to 37-38% of GDP means for employees and employersScottish income tax band changes and what payroll teams need to updateStudent Loan Plan 5: the new starter checklist rules and how to apply them correctlyStatutory payment rate increases for SSP, SMP and parental payPayrolling benefits in kind: voluntary registration deadline and preparing for mandatory payrolling in 2027Fair Work Agency launch on 7 April: enforcement powers, naming and shaming, and what it means for complianceNational Minimum Wage pitfalls: unpaid working time, salary sacrifice traps, apprentice rates and the 389 employers named and shamedHoliday pay complexity: average pay calculations, audit risk and Fair Work Agency enforcement aheadStatutory Sick Pay overhaul: day one rights, two-tier rates, transitional protections and software readinessPensions update: frozen auto-enrolment thresholds, pensions dashboard progress and tax relief confusionEV and hybrid car salary sacrifice: myths debunked, NMW risks, company car tax increases through to 2028-29 and maternity leave trapsDon't forget to subscribe and turn on notifications to stay updated with every Payroll Question Time.Learn more about SD Worx Academy training courses: https://www.sdworx.com/en-enFind your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/691ee4…Nick Day's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Our Panel:Simon Parsons, Director of UK Compliance Strategies at SD WorxRichard George, Payroll LeaderSteve Yardley, Managing Director, JGA RecruitmentSam Mann, Payroll Consultant, Armstrong Watson LLPHashtags: #PayrollQuestionTime #EmploymentRightsBill #NMW2026 #UKPayroll #PayrollCompliance #HRCompliance #SSPChanges #PayrollingBenefits #HolidayPayRules #PayrollUpdates #TroncAndTips #TaxAdvisory #PayrollRiskManagement #PayrollLeadership #SDWorx #PayrollProfessionals #HRandPayroll #PayrollTraining #UKEmploymentLaw #PayrollAccuracy

This episode is sponsored by Deel. Hire, manage and pay – anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickdayhr/In this episode, we go behind the scenes of a real B Corp transformation with Ros Winchester, Sustainability & Operations Director at JGA Recruitment. This isn't theory or surface-level culture talk - this is what happens when a company decides to measure, validate, and prove its values.Most businesses claim to care about purpose, culture, and impact. But very few are willing to go through the rigorous process of external validation, operational change, and continuous improvement that it actually takes.Connect with Ros: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ros-winchester/Nick Day's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the HR L&D Newsletter - https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7(00:00) Why Purpose & Values Matter in Business(00:35) The Problem: Most Companies Don't Prove Their Values(02:50) Meet Ros & What This Episode Covers(04:05) Why We Started the B Corp Journey(06:40) Why Measuring Impact Changes Everything(08:25) What B Corp Actually Is (Simple Breakdown)(11:24) Why Purpose Matters for Talent & Hiring(14:00) Behind the Scenes: A Real Business Transformation(17:26) Biggest Challenge During the B Corp Process(22:02) From Values on Paper to Real Behavior(26:07) The Impact: Culture, Engagement & Pride(30:45) Final Advice: Should You Become a B Corp?

Trust and Inspire is the leadership model redefining how great leaders unlock the best in their people — so why are so many organisations still stuck in command and control?This episode is sponsored by Deel. Hire, manage and pay – anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickdayhr/In this episode of @thehrldpodcast Nick Day is joined by Stephen M.R. Covey, bestselling author of The Speed of Trust and Trust and Inspire, and former President and CEO of the Covey Leadership Center, to explore why the old model of leadership has reached its expiration date and what it takes to build the kind of high trust culture that attracts, retains and inspires the best people.Drawing on decades of research and work with organisations across 55 countries, Stephen breaks down why trust is a learnable skill and not a personality trait, what it actually looks like to extend trust in remote and hybrid teams without losing control, and how leaders can move from merely motivating people to truly inspiring them.This conversation explores how inspired employees outperform engaged ones by 56%, why the shift from command and control to trust and inspire is the most important leadership move of our time, and what Warren Buffett, Satya Nadella and Eric Yuan all have in common as leaders.A must listen for HR leaders, people managers, L&D professionals, and anyone responsible for building culture and developing leadership capability inside their organisation.Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thepayrollpodcast for more great content!Connect with Stephen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-m-r-covey-6400191a5Nick Day's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/ Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9ea Sign up to the HR L&D Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Timestamps:(00:00) Preview(01:02) Introduction and Guest Welcome(03:43) What Human Resources Really Means(05:21) Is Trust a Learnable Skill(08:54) Why Leadership Styles Have Not Kept Up With the World(12:51) The Two Epic Imperatives of Modern Leadership(15:18) How to Extend Trust in Remote and Hybrid Teams(19:07) The Stewardship Agreement and Clarifying Expectations(22:04) What Being Trusted Does to Human Performance(26:33) The 3M Post It Note and the Reciprocity of Trust(29:12) Inspiration vs Motivation and the Highest Form of Human Drive (36:40) See Communicate Develop Unleash(43:15) How to Restore Trust After You Have Lost It(48:20) What Trust and Inspire Is Not(54:10) Where Leadership Is Going Next

This episode is sponsored by 'Deel.Hire, manage and pay – anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickdayhr/In this episode of the HR L&D Podcast, Nick Day is joined by Alex Rashkovan, Chairman of Filuet and CEO & Co-Founder of Atalef, to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing HR leaders today: hiring engineers when you are not a tech company.Drawing on more than two decades of building and scaling operational and technology-enabled businesses across the globe, Alex breaks down why CV-first hiring fails for technical roles, what evidence-early screening actually looks like in practice, and how companies can move from guesswork to skills-based hiring that identifies real capability and team fit.This conversation explores how to turn vague requests like "we need a senior developer" into clear role profiles with measurable success criteria, why a 30-minute real-work assessment gives a cleaner signal than three interviews, how AI is reshaping both the work engineers do and the way companies evaluate talent, and what it really means to hire for your company's DNA.A must-listen for HR leaders, talent professionals, L&D teams, and anyone responsible for hiring technical talent in non-tech organisations.Connect with Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-rashkovan/Atalef: https://atalef.ai/Nick Day's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the HR L&D Newsletter - https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7(00:00) Preview(01:16) Introduction and Guest Welcome(03:14) What Human Resources Really Means(05:51) Defining the Right Engineer vs the Best Engineer(08:50) Why CVs Are the New Fax Machine(11:18) The COVID Hiring Failure That Changed Everything(15:11) Evidence-Based Screening and the Role Definition Gold Mine(17:58) Why Companies Struggle to Find Engineers(22:04) Turning Vague Requests Into Real Success Criteria(26:33) Why Synthetic Coding Tests Are Losing Integrity(29:12) The Birth of Atalef and Solving the First Mile of Tech Hiring(39:10) Hiring for Your Company's DNA and Work Style Match(42:26) The HR L&D Vault(48:12) The Future of Hiring and Walking Away From CVs

This episode is sponsored by Deel – hire, manage, and pay anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickdayhr/AI is transforming the workplace faster than most organizations can adapt. But according to Annabelle Vultee, CEO of GoodHabitz, the real competitive advantage in the AI era isn't technology. It's human skills.In this conversation with Nick Day on the HR L&D Podcast, Annabelle explains why the global workforce is facing a growing skills crisis and why traditional training programs are no longer enough. As AI lowers the barrier to entry for technical work, capabilities like curiosity, adaptability, critical thinking, and communication are becoming the skills that truly set people apart.Annabelle shares why learning must move beyond one-off training sessions and become a continuous habit inside organizations. She also explores how AI is democratizing access to technology, why leaders should approach it with opportunity rather than fear, and what companies must do now to build future-ready teams in a world where skills are evolving faster than ever.Nick Day's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the HR L&D Newsletter - https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thepayrollpodcast for more great content!Annabelle's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annabellevultee/GoodHabitz Website: https://www.goodhabitz.com/(00:00) Setting The AI Context(01:20) The Case For Continuous Upskilling(01:24) Welcome And Guest Introduction(03:00) Defining Modern HR's Strategic Role(04:05) Leading Globally And Culturally(08:10) The Global Skills Crisis Explained(12:05) Human Skills As Competitive Advantage(16:20) Habit-Building That Makes Learning Stick(20:35) Designing Joyful Micro-Learning Journeys(25:20) From Swiss Army Knives To Skills Maps(28:40) Five Timeless Human Skills(33:45) Democratising Learning: Role Of Leaders(39:10) Diversity As A Performance Engine(44:00) A CEO's Own Learning Path(49:00) Embracing GenAI: From Fear To Utility

In this special *Enter The Vault* episode of the HR L&D Podcast, we bring together powerful insights from some of the most influential HR, leadership, and learning experts shaping the future of work.You'll hear distilled wisdom on AI in learning and development, leadership vulnerability, employee wellbeing, resilience, burnout prevention, emotional intelligence, and what it truly takes to unlock workforce potential.From practical advice on AI readiness and L&D strategy to deeply human lessons on trust, belief, and authenticity, this episode captures the mindset shifts that separate good HR leaders from transformational ones.If you're an HR professional, CHRO, L&D leader, talent strategist, or people manager navigating digital transformation and culture change, this episode is packed with timeless leadership insights you can apply immediately.Subscribe for more conversations redefining HR, leadership, and the future of work.Nick Day's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the HR L&D Newsletter - https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7