Food Menu

• Assorted Local Pastries (vegetarian) | Danishes, Croissants (May Contain Traces of Nuts)
• Fresh Baked Muffins (May Contain Traces of Nuts)
• Individual Greek Yogurt (vegetarian)
• Whole Fruit Display (vegan/ gf/ nf) | Bananas, Assorted Apples, Clementines
• Breakfast Burrito | Free Range Eggs, Smoked Bacon, Pepper & Onion, Hashbrown, Cheddar, Chipotle Scallion Aioli
  • Vegetarian Burrito option available

Beverages

• Cold Pressed Orange Juice
• Starbucks Regular Coffee
• Assorted Selection of Teas

Pick up your badge at the registration desk located right outside Room 206.

With Scott’s presentation, Arriving at Work, we’ll explore why work suddenly “doesn’t work”—why the work landscape has changed, and how we got here. Through a short exploration of how and why work has changed, Cawood introduces the importance of putting people back at the center of work, which is in many ways the greatest human capital and total rewards challenge defining our time. The exchange between person and organization has never been what it is in this moment. While we’ve gone through generations that defined “work” a particular way, how we see and experience work now and into the future will change more quickly, more drastically than ever before. To be ready for it, and reward for impact, we must understand the contemporary exchange between employee and organization.

The research is clear that the more frequently an employee is recognized at work, the better they feel about their well-being, engagement, belonging, manager and even their take-home pay.

Research from Achievers Workforce Institute (AWI) also demonstrates that frequent recognition is a protective factor against job hunting, productivity and salary freezes. And yet just 40% of HR leaders report their approach to recognition is strategic.

In this interactive discussion, David Bator, Managing Director of AWI will share research-based approaches on:

• The impact recognition and reward strategies are having fostering cultures of belonging
• How to connect recognition to business outcomes
• Tactical, practical advice for HR and Total Rewards leaders

Join this roundtable working discussion to gain a deep understanding of the current challenges and nuances related to successfully supporting pay equity and workplace diversity. Through a brief overview of industry insights, practical tools, and peer discussions, you’ll have a path forward for creating a diverse workplace and a pay equity structure.

This is where the rubber hits the road. Are you going to be bold enough as an employer to dig deep to identify biases and commit to raising the bar?

Key Questions:

1. What does success look like when using pay equity and workplace diversity to build healthy work cultures and business success? 
2. What practical strategies and tools can your organization use to identify and rectify potential disparities in the workplace, fostering a more equitable environment?
3. What are additional resources you can use?

Roundtable discussions are intimate and highly participatory. Be prepared to share and build connections with your fellow attendees. 

The transformative implications of GenAI are unprecedented. As AI revolutionizes the world of work, Total Rewards practitioners are now poised to unlock data that can drive remarkable results within their organization. Some rewards teams are already using AI for smarter analytics, lighter processes, deeper listening, simplified content creation, and highly personalized communication. All of this will fuel unimagined benefits to businesses and people, but are our leaders, functions and workers ready? ARE YOU AND YOUR TEAM READY? Join us as we share real world examples of GenAI innovations in the Total Reward space, and their positive impact on organizations.

During this session, you will:

• Gain a deep understanding of the impact of AI on the Total Rewards function.
• Discover the current state, with a deep dive into hands-on AI applications currently in-use today, as well as those on the horizon.
• Uncover strategies for Canadian organizations to leverage AI in compensation and benefits to enhance their business outcomes while upholding AI-ethics.
• Identify the essential steps, processes and tools required to successfully implement AI-driven solutions.

Steer your career in the right direction with our dynamic panel discussion designed to empower Total Rewards professionals at all stages of their career journey—from new to the role to the seasoned leader. 

Accomplished Total Rewards leaders from diverse industries will provide valuable insights into identifying your career objectives, aligning them with your personal goals, and successfully navigating the often complex professional landscape. They will share their own experiences and strategies, revealing how they kept their career on the right track even amidst challenges. This comprehensive session will delve into topics such as understanding your career potential, establishing career milestones, continuous learning, adapting to industry changes, and maintaining a work-life balance. Interactive Q&A segments will give participants the opportunity to directly engage with the panel and gain personalized advice.

Whether you're questioning your current career trajectory or planning your next move, this panel's collective wisdom is sure to guide you towards achieving your professional aspirations.

Key Takeaways:

1. Develop a robust career action plan.
2. Identify your personal strengths and opportunities for development.
3. Internalize the importance of having a clear career goals and career sponsors.

We all know that compensation goes well beyond an employee’s base salary. The concept of Total Rewards and the importance of communicating it effectively has been around for decades now. 

How about giving employees the agency to select the makeup of their Total Rewards? Specifically - the flexibility to choose how much of their pay is made up of cash compensation vs. equity compensation, such as stock options or RSUs. Implementing Flexible Compensation takes the decision of an employee's Total Rewards mix from the company and empowers the employee to make their own decision based on their needs and circumstances. 

Key Takeaways: 

1. Explore the innovative concept of Flexible Compensation.
2. Determine how it can work for your organization and serve as a competitive edge.
3. Identify when you should steer clear of Flexible Compensation based on organization characteristics.

Join us for an insightful discussion on navigating the complexities of compensation decisions and enhancing employee communication beyond the paycheck. In today's dynamic workplace landscape, attracting and retaining top talent requires more than just competitive salaries. It demands a strategic approach to compensation that aligns with organizational goals, fosters employee satisfaction, and promotes long-term engagement.

In this session, Kim Conti, compensation industry expert, delves into the intricacies of compensation optimization, exploring innovative strategies to create value beyond monetary rewards. From understanding the strategy behind compensation to implementing effective communication, attendees will gain actionable insights to drive meaningful change within their organizations.

Key topics include:

• The evolving role of compensation and total rewards in retention.
• Leveraging non-monetary incentives to enhance employee motivation and loyalty.
• Educating employees on the perceived value and actual value of employment.
• Harnessing technology to streamline compensation management and total rewards communication. 

This session offers valuable perspectives to optimize your compensation strategy and cultivate a workplace culture that values and rewards employees beyond the paycheck.

Pay transparency aims to facilitate the journey towards fair and equitable compensation and program design, but its implementation demands thoughtful consideration and planning. How prepared is your organization? Join this session to answer that question and determine where you will head next.

Key Takeaways: 

1. Assess where your organization lands on the pay transparency spectrum.
2. Explore design features, people considerations, and business risks associated with each area of the spectrum.
3. Brainstorm other elements beyond pay that should be included in your Total Rewards transparency strategy.
4. Determine where you want to be on the spectrum in the future.

Food Menu

Southern Tex-Mex

• Cheddar & Jalapeno Cornbread (vegetarian)
• Mixed Baby Greens (vegan, gf, nf) | Carrots, Cucumber, Radish, Avocado, Poblano Ranch Dressing
• Black Bean & Quinoa Salad (vegan, gf, nf) | Roasted Squash, Roasted Pepper, Peas, Smoked Pepper, Lime Vinaigrette
• Curried Spiced Tofu and Vegetable Stew (vegan)
• Cajun Spiced Chicken Breast (nf, df) | Corn & Black Bean Succotash, Chipotle Tomato Sauce
• Ancho Chili BBQ pulled Beef (gf, nf) | Caramelized Onions, Cilantro Sour Cream
• New Soul Creole Rice (vegetarian) | Peppers, Onions, Celery, Corn, Peas, Long Grain Rice
• Sweet Potato Fries (vegan) | Lime Chive Aioli (on side)

Desserts

• Bourbon Chocolate Tarts (vegetarian)
• Apple Crumble Squares (vegetarian)

Beverages

• Starbucks Regular Coffee
• Assorted Selection of Teas

Don’t communicate about your well-being benefits. It’s time to abandon so-called best practices. Instead of talking about how competitive your benefit plan is or about coverage amounts, start conversations about well-being goals. Health. Mindfulness. Financial goals. 

In this session you’ll understand exactly why a different approach will yield more effective utilization, a more engaged employee base that wants to start a dialogue and a culture of well-being, and most importantly, you’ll have a chance to have the value of how you support your employees’ well-being be fully appreciated. Your plans will play a role in helping you attract and retain top talent, help your employees be the best versions of themselves, and view your programs as a vital part of their personal well-being.

Key Takeaways:

1. Build a memorable identity and narrative for your organization’s overall well-being program.
2. Develop resonant categories of well-being specific for your organization that your employees will recognize over time as an invaluable part of their personal well-being.
3. Translate your well-being program into the ability to attract and retain talent.

Curious about the real impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the Total Rewards landscape? Lack of understanding and media hype has made many people afraid of AI. The truth is, AI is not here to replace, but to enhance the capabilities of Total Reward professionals. Among the array of AI tools, ChatGPT stands out as an accessible and empowering tool that you can leverage on a day-to-day basis to make the most of the precious hours you have. In this session, you will learn how ChatGPT can be used to re-shape the future of total rewards, empowering you to embark on your own ChatGPT journey.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand how to leverage AI for Total Rewards.
• Consider the immediate use cases for Generative AI in the total rewards plan that can be implemented right away and how to get started.

As Total Rewards professionals, how can we leverage our knowledge of Total Rewards principles and best practices to support women in closing the pay gap? What knowledge is needed for women to understand an organization's Total Rewards strategy, and how does that interact with where an organization is at on its pay transparency journey? Join this discussion to uncover ways to equip women with the tools to negotiate offers and promotions, as well as maximize internal opportunities for growth.

Key Questions:

1. Where is your company on the pay transparency spectrum? Given where you are on the range, what can you do?
2. Who do you need to partner with at your organization to increase the percentage of women who understand why they are compensated as they are?
3. How can you use your knowledge of Total Rewards and Compensation to educate women outside of your organization?

Roundtable discussions are intimate and highly participatory. Be prepared to share and build connections with your fellow attendees. 

Do you think you have an excellent Total Rewards program, but your employees don’t seem to agree? As Total Reward professionals, we understand the value of the programs we design and deliver to the employees in our organization. However, our employees don’t always perceive that same value. We will discuss seven practical tips on how to effectively communicate your Total Rewards program and get the best return on your investment.

Key Takeaways:

1. Explain the importance of effectively communicating total rewards program. 
2. Create a plan to implement one or more of the tips in their own communications.

Don't let your valuable long-term employees quit because your competitor will pay them more! Recent research suggests that one in three long-term employees are currently searching for a new job, and not getting the salary they believe they deserve is the number one reason why. Join this session to review the foundations of developing a market-competitive compensation program that will enable your company to attract the right new talent and retain the talent that's already working for you. Going beyond theory, we'll share a case study of how a leading North American Energy Services company developed and implemented a compensation approach that reduced turnover and made STEP Energy a Great Place to Work in both Canada and the US.

Key Takeaways:

1. Identify which employees may be tempted to leave for more pay—and what the gap is between what they're currently being paid and what they are worth.
2. Learn from a real-life example of how an organization addressed compensation inequities, high turnover, and attraction issues through the development of a fair and equitable compensation program.

Would you like to hear about how you, as a compensation professional, can learn to “take the W” and put some “rizz” on compensation – “no cap”?  While we might not need to adopt the lingo of each generation, the value of how we communicate Total Rewards can make a big difference—and considering generational diversity is critical for many workplaces. Join this roundtable lead by an elder millennial and Gen X as they share their variety of consulting and in-house experiences–including with one of the biggest employers in Canada, the City of Toronto— and facilitate a discussion.

Key Questions: 

1. What are your existing communication practices? 
2. How would personalization or customized compensation impact your organization? 

Roundtable discussions are intimate and highly participatory. Be prepared to share and build connections with your fellow attendees. 

In response to today's competitive labor market, companies are refining their Total Rewards programs to attract, engage, motivate, and retain top talent. Join this session as we delve into the successful strategies of companies promoting the 'Golden Thread'—connecting the 3 Ps: pay, performance, and professional growth. Explore the tangible results in talent and culture achieved by these organizations.

Key Takeaways:

• Learn actionable steps to enhance your organization's ability to attract, retain, motivate, and engage employees.
• Discover insights to distinguish your company as an employer of choice by aligning the crucial elements of pay, performance, and professional growth.

In this transformative session participants are invited to explore the indispensable role of a digital mindset in redefining HR for today's complex business landscape, with a special focus on the art of unlearning and embracing change. As organizations Total Rewards professionals navigate rapid transformations and unprecedented challenges, this session goes beyond traditional discussions, and encourages to not only rethink but also consciously unlearn outdated HR practices.

The interactive nature ensures active engagement, challenging preconceptions, and driving an environment where obsolete methods are dismantled in favor of innovative, change-oriented thinking. It emphasizes the importance of integrating digital strategies in HR Total Rewards as the cornerstone for transformation, highlighting the significance of shedding old paradigms to revolutionize HR practices.

The session guides through practical implementations of a digital-first approach, coupled with a mindset open to unlearning and adaptability, demonstrating how this can enhance workforce engagement, streamline processes, and drive organizational success. This session is designed for those committed to navigating today's digital complexities including Generative AI, transforming their HR functions, and leading their teams into a new era of digital empowerment, agility, and strategic HR and Total Rewards innovation.

Light Bites

• Cheese Platter (vegetarian) | Variety of Cheeses, Berry Compote, Dried Fruit, Grapes, Flatbread, Crackers
• Crudité Platter (vegan, gf, nf) | Assorted Vegetables, Hummus

Beverages

• Rewards Mocktail | Pineapple Juice, Lemon Juice, Blood Orange San Pellegrino, Garnished with Lemon Wheel
• Assorted Soft Drinks
• Assorted Beer and Wine