It's About Payroll

In Episode 198 of It’s About Payroll, Brian Escobar and Walt Duncan III welcome Christopher Bylone, founder of Innovation Unbiased and host of I Know I Belong When, for a practical conversation on pay equity, belonging, and the role data plays in both. Christopher explains that pay equity is often misunderstood as only a men-versus-women issue, when in reality it must also account for race, ethnicity, disability, tenure, job level, and equivalent work. He breaks down concepts like pay transparency, the “unexplained gender pay gap,” and why companies can create inequity through new hires, promotions, and poor compensation practices.

The conversation also expands beyond compensation into culture. Christopher argues that belonging can and should be measured through attrition, engagement, promotion patterns, and employee trust. One of the biggest takeaways: organizations should stop relying only on exit interviews and begin doing stay interviews regularly. For payroll, HR, and business leaders, this episode connects data, employee experience, and accountability in a way that is practical, human, and immediately actionable.

Join us for an incredible conversation with Hayley Paterson, founder of The Payroll Guide and author of "The Value of Payroll"! Hayley shares her mission to transform how businesses view payroll—from a mundane transaction to a strategic business asset.

In this episode, we dive deep into:
✅ Hayley's journey from accidentally falling into payroll to becoming a leading voice in the industry
✅ The Three Ps of Payroll: Process, People, and Profit—and why they matter
✅ Real payroll crime stories and lessons learned from embezzlement cases
✅ Why payroll deserves a seat at the leadership table
✅ How to shift from seeing payroll as a cost to viewing it as an investment
✅ Practical systems and habits to prevent payroll chaos
✅ Advice for new payroll professionals on avoiding perfectionism while maintaining excellence

Hayley brings both boots-on-the-ground experience and big-picture leadership insights that every payroll professional and business owner needs to hear. Whether you're new to payroll or a seasoned pro, this episode is packed with wisdom, practical frameworks, and inspiration.

📖 Get Hayley's book: "The Value of Payroll" https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-value-of-payroll-hayley-paterson/1147355300

https://www.amazon.com/Value-Payroll-Turning-biggest-asset/dp/1068447605

🔗 Connect with Hayley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayleypaterson/

#Payroll #PayrollProfessionals #TheValueOfPayroll #HayleyPaterson #PayrollStrategy #BusinessStrategy #PayrollLeadership #PayrollPodcast #PayrollCommunity #HRPayroll #PayrollCompliance #PayrollTips #SmallBusinessPayroll #PayrollManagement #PayrollExperts #PayrollIndustry #PayrollEducation #PayrollBook #ThreePs #ProcessPeopleProfit #PayrollGuide

https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/its-about-payroll
itsaboutpayroll.io
https://youtu.be/Y88aNvzTXG4

Episode 196 of It’s About Payroll features Terrence Wright, founder of Wright People Solutions and a people-first HR leader with 20+ years of experience, including leadership roles supporting global brands like Google, Synchrony, and GE Capital. Terrence shares his origin story starting as a fifth-grade teacher until a parent challenged him with a simple question: “What are you doing here?” which pushed him to pivot into HR.

The conversation blends payroll news with HR strategy, from NFL referee compensation and “jock tax” concepts to big operational numbers like USPS payroll spending. Terrence explains how he helps organizations move from “policing” HR to true partnership through assessment, design, activation, and ongoing support bringing enterprise-level people strategy to small and mid-sized businesses. Listeners walk away with practical insights on hiring, onboarding, culture vs skills, workforce expectations (flexibility and growth paths), and how AI can boost productivity if leaders train teams to use it well.

Payroll isn't just about cutting checks—it's one of the riskiest areas in your organization. In this episode, we sit down with Jennie Wallace, CPA, CISA, CGMA, and founder of Melody Advisory Services, to uncover the hidden risks that could land you in serious trouble.

Jennie shares real stories of payroll chaos, from reports with mismatched headcounts to the dangers of under-resourced teams managing highly regulated processes. Learn why "efficiency without controls is just faster chaos" and how to build audit-ready operations that actually work.

Key Topics:
✅ Why payroll is where you go to jail (seriously)
✅ The difference between process problems and control problems
✅ How to right-size controls without creating red tape
✅ The power of audit trails and cross-functional collaboration
✅ Why every payroll pro needs a champion, not just a mentor
Connect with Jennie Wallace:
🌐 melodyadvisory.com
📧 [email protected]
💼 LinkedIn: Jennie Wallace

#podcast #PayrollRisk #JennieWallace #payrollcompliance #riskmanagement #processimprovement #internalaudit #PayrollProfessionals #HRPayroll #PayrollData #AuditTrails #PayrollControls #ItsAboutPayroll #payrolltips #PayrollExperts #risk #expert

https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/its-about-payroll
itsaboutpayroll.io
https://youtu.be/BJ9gAdVuQIQ

In Episode 194 of It's About Payroll, hosts Brian and Walt welcome two guests Brian Smith Jr and Eric Boling for a “two for the price of one” conversation focused on payroll-driven savings and employee support.

The discussion centers on a payroll-integrated strategy built on a Section 125 plan (a long-standing tax provision) that can increase employee take-home pay while creating savings for employers without adding net cost. Guests explain why this approach resonates in today’s competitive environment: payroll providers and business leaders need more than “same old” services to retain clients and talent.

They also break down what employees value most (cash in their pocket), highlight real-world benefit features (like no-cost prescriptions and mental health support), and discuss earned wage access and identity theft awareness as timely leadership topics.