My first book: The Payroll Pivot book is out now!

https://shorturl.at/rXBXP

Payroll has long been seen as a “back office” function but what if that’s the biggest myth holding the industry back?

In this episode, Anita Lettink steps in as host to interview Nick Day, CEO of JGA Recruitment and author of The Payroll Pivot, to explore why payroll professionals struggle with visibility and influence and how fear, self-perception, and mindset are holding the industry back from stepping into a more strategic role.

It’s not technology.

It’s not AI.

It’s something much deeper: fear.

Nick introduces his powerful “Fear Equation” (Anxiety + Uncertainty × Imagination) and explains how it silently shapes decision-making, confidence, and career growth across the payroll profession.

This episode is sponsored by Deel

Managing 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

Connect with Anita: https://linkedin.com/in/anitalettink

Nick Day’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/

Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/691ee4537e

Stay tuned for the next episode of The Payroll Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!

(00:00) Fear, uncertainty, and how payroll professionals perceive their role

(01:29) Anita Lettink takes over as host and introduces Nick Day as the guest

(02:40) Why Nick wrote The Payroll Pivot and the gap in the industry

(03:32) How fear, anxiety, and uncertainty hold payroll professionals back

(08:00) Nick’s writing journey and finding his authentic voice

(13:55) Why the “back office” label is damaging payroll’s perception

(22:35) The shift from invisibility to influence in payroll

(23:41) Why payroll professionals struggle to speak up and be heard

(29:41) Leadership, resilience, and navigating challenges with “true north”

(33:49) The Fear Equation explained and how it impacts decision-making

This episode is sponsored by Deel

Hire, manage and pay – anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickday/

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) reform is one of the most significant payroll changes in years. Yet most of the complexity isn’t in the headline changes. It’s in what happens beneath the surface.

In this episode of the Payroll Podcast, Nick Day is joined by payroll software expert Jason Sweby to break down exactly what’s changing, why it matters, and how payroll teams can prepare for the transition.

The reform aims to expand access to sick pay, bringing over a million lower-paid workers into eligibility while removing waiting days and introducing new calculation rules. On paper, it sounds simple. In practice, it introduces one of the most technically complex transitions payroll professionals have had to navigate.

Nick and Jason unpack the biggest challenges, including how transitional protection works across the tax year boundary, why payroll systems need to track historical data, and where employers are most likely to get caught out.

They also explore the broader impact of the reform. From increased employer costs to potential shifts in employee behaviour, this episode gives you the context you need to understand not just what is changing, but what it means for your organisation.

If you are responsible for payroll, compliance, or people operations, this conversation will help you approach SSP reform with clarity and confidence.

Topics covered in this episode:

1. What SSP reform is trying to achieve
2. Key changes to eligibility and waiting days
3. How the new SSP calculation works
4. Transitional protection explained simply
5. Payroll system and compliance challenges
6. Employer cost implications
7. How to prepare for April implementation
8. Future payroll trends including payrolling of benefits

Subscribe to the Payroll Podcast for more insights on payroll, compliance, and the future of work.

Jason’s previous appearance on The Payroll Podcast: https://youtu.be/ty3qv1F1sP0

Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content!

Connect with Jason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-sweby-6753bb1/

Nick Day’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/

Payroll Talent Recruitment: www.jgarecruitment.com

Advertise Payroll Roles: www.payrolljobsboard.com

Know Your Worth in Payroll: www.payrollhrsalary.com

(00:00) Introduction to SSP Reform

(02:51) What the Reform Is Trying to Achieve

(04:03) Why SSP Is Changing Now

(05:55) Policy vs System Change Explained

(07:13) Key Changes to SSP Rules

(09:46) Why Transitional Protection Matters

(10:26) Inside HMRC Guidance & Developer Insights

(13:05) Technical Challenges for Payroll Systems

(17:58) Biggest Risks for Employers

(18:44) Is the Payroll Industry Ready?

(19:55) Impact on Employees & Behaviour

(22:22) How Payroll Leaders Should Prepare

(24:32) Edge Cases & Transitional Nuances

(25:59) Future Payroll Changes to Watch

(30:42) The Role of Payroll Software Moving Forward

(33:23) Final Thoughts & Key Takeaways

#Payroll #SSP #PayrollPodcast #HR #Compliance #PayrollManagement #EmploymentLaw #HRTech #PayrollReform #FutureOfWork

This episode is sponsored by Deel

Hire, manage and pay – anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickday/

The EU Pay Transparency Directive is one of the biggest regulatory changes facing payroll, HR, and reward leaders across Europe. With the June 2026 deadline approaching, many organizations are still figuring out what the legislation requires and how to prepare their pay structures, reporting processes, and reward frameworks.

In this special Payroll Podcast panel discussion, Lewis Roskilly (Global Reward Lead at JGA Recruitment) leads a conversation with experts in employment law and reward strategy to break down the real implications of pay transparency.

The panel explores gender pay gap reporting, job evaluation, pay architecture, and the risks of manager discretion in compensation decisions, while sharing practical guidance on how organizations can prepare before the directive goes live.

If you work in payroll, HR, reward strategy, or compliance, this episode provides clear insights on how to prepare for the EU Pay Transparency Directive.

Subscribe to The Payroll Podcast with Nick Day for more conversations shaping the future of payroll and reward.

Connect with Lewis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lewis-roskilly

Nick Day’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/

Payroll Talent Recruitment: www.jgarecruitment.com

Advertise Payroll Roles: www.payrolljobsboard.com

Know Your Worth in Payroll: www.payrollhrsalary.com

(00:00) Methodology And Audit Trails In Pay Reporting

(00:52) Why The EU Pay Transparency Directive Matters

(03:54) Panel Introduction: Reward, Law And Pay Transparency Experts

(09:22) Gender Data And Reporting Without Forced Disclosure

(14:37) Equal Value Work: Job Descriptions vs Real Duties

(22:07) EU Implementation Timelines And Possible Delays

(27:52) Building A Cross-EU Pay Transparency Strategy

(34:31) Using Pay Transparency To Build Trust And Culture

(40:01) Building Pay Architecture And Fixing Legacy Pay Systems

(43:12) Who Is Responsible For Accurate Job Descriptions?

(46:33) Why Manager Discretion Creates Legal Risk

(48:28) The Four-Step Framework To Prepare For Pay Transparency

(51:52) Why UK Employers Will Still Be Impacted

(55:09) Unexpected Benefits Of Pay Transparency

(58:28) Final Takeaways And Next Steps For Employers