This audio conference was recorded on Tuesday - February 24, 2009

Credits:

This program has been approved for 1.5 recertification credit hours toward PHR and SPHR recertification through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HRCI homepage at www.hrci.org. The use of this seal is not an endorsement by HRCI of the quality of the program. It means that this program has met HRCI’s criteria to be pre-approved for recertification.

Description:

Payroll costs represent a prime target for many employers eager to slash their expenses in a down economy. Beyond the savings realized by layoffs and hiring freezes, they're seeking ways to reduce their payroll processing costs as well.

That's why more organizations have turned to payroll cards as a solution. These prepaid cards can eliminate 50 percent to 75 percent of your payroll overhead, while reducing bank service fees and account reconciliation chores and minimizing your risks of payroll fraud. Plus, they're popular with many employees - especially workers who may not have personal bank accounts.

Planning and implementing a new payroll card system, however, may sound easier than it is. Longtime employees could resist losing their paper checks, while some workers may not really understand how the cards work. If you pick the wrong types of payroll cards, your workers may find them difficult to use locally, or they may be surprised with unexpected fees. And, given the current state of the economy, your employees may be suspicious about any changes you make in how they’re paid!

During this practical 90-minute audio conference recording, our expert speaker – an experienced industry executive who's helped hundreds of employers plan and roll out these systems for their workforces - will explain the pros and cons of using payroll cards. He'll discuss the steps required to select the vendor that's the best fit for your organization, as well as the best practices for setting up and introducing these cards to your workers. He’ll also describe common pitfalls encountered by other employers who've gone the payroll card route, with advice that will help you sidestep them.

Speaker(s):

Jerry Uffner serves as chief marketing officer at TransCard, one of America's largest stored-value processing firms and a global provider of transaction-based processing services. He works with employers around the country to plan and implement payroll card programs and other prepaid card services for their employees. TransCard handles $1.4 billion in electronic transactions annually, from payroll cards and gift reward cards to fleet services and retail programs. Before joining TransCard, Uffner held senior management positions in several nationwide financial services firms. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

You and your colleagues will learn:

• The basics of today's payroll card systems, with a simple explanation of how they work
• The pros and cons of adopting payroll cards in your organization - and what types of workforces are usually the best fit for them
• How to search for and select the best payroll card vendor for your needs
• What fees you should expect as the employer, and what fees your employees may face
• Which questions you should ask as you consider designing a payroll card program for your employees
• How to ensure that your payroll card program complies with federal and state wage and hour laws
• What steps you should follow in introducing payroll cards in your workplace for a smooth transition from paper checks
• The most common mistakes employers make in using payroll cards - and how you can avoid repeating them