Total Rewards KC upcoming events

Total Rewards Done Right: Avoiding Costly Mistakes in Plan Design, Documentation & Compliance (May 14, 2026)

Thu, 14 May 2026 13:00:00 GMT

An effective total rewards strategy is more than a collection of benefit offerings—it’s a carefully structured framework that supports talent attraction, retention, compliance, and financial sustainability. In this highly practical session, Robert West and Marsha Woodward of Haynes Benefits will share real-world insights into the most common—and most costly—mistakes they see in total rewards plan design and administration.

Drawing from years of experience reviewing plan documents and advising organizations, they will walk through best practices and critical pitfalls across key areas including 401(k) plans, pharmaceutical and health plan setup, overall benefits structure, and compensation guidelines. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how misaligned plan documents, compliance oversights, and inconsistent compensation practices can create risk and unintended consequences.

This session will equip HR leaders and Total Rewards professionals with actionable strategies to strengthen governance, improve plan design, ensure regulatory compliance, and align compensation and benefits programs with organizational goals. Participants will leave with a practical checklist of red flags to watch for—and a roadmap for building more effective, compliant, and competitive total rewards programs.

Registration Fees (includes beverages and breakfast):

$35 Members
$60 Non-Members/Guests

A special thank you to our sponsor:

NOTE: This session will qualify for SHRM and HRCI recertification credit; however, participants must manually enter the activity into their certification portal to receive credit.

Managing "Salty" Merit Increases (June 09, 2026)

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Handed a salty & sour merit budget? Sounds like Margaritas to me! How much of a merit increase would you consider sour enough to create a salty cycle for your company? Given that organizations consider themselves lucky to get a merit cycle in the 3-4% range, what happens when you are given 2%, the proverbial limes, and asked to deliver pay for performance, deal with compression, plus evaluate and tackle pay equity issues? Of course, all while dealing with the specific needs of teams; do they need it frozen or on the rocks? We won't disagree that the best option for a great Margarita might be to quickly head to Mexico for some "research and planning." Still upon your rested and recharged return, our panel's goal is to give you and your team insights and examples surrounding how organizations can start with some limes and a salty budget but create a top shelf beverage. Our panel will explore practical ways to reward top performers with plenty of well-aged agave, while keeping an eye on compression, and begin to evaluate and tackle pay equity issues during the compensation planning cycle - all while squeezing the most out of your budget. Most importantly, there will be time at the end for attendees' questions so that we can align the panel's thoughts with your real-world situations.

Registration Fees (includes beverages and breakfast):

$35 Members
$60 Non-Members/Guests

NOTE: This session will qualify for SHRM and HRCI recertification credit; however, participants must manually enter the activity into their certification portal to receive credit.

Community Service Activity - Heart to Heart (July 23, 2026)

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 21:00:00 GMT

Join the Total Rewards KC board and members as we assemble hygiene kits at Heart to Heart International. These essential kits are distributed in the immediate aftermath of disasters, support ongoing crisis response efforts, and serve under-resourced communities around the world. Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/totalrewardskc.

Leave with Confidence: Compliance for 2026 and Beyond (August 05, 2026)

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Join us for an engaging conversation exploring the rapidly evolving leave law landscape. We’ll dive into the latest developments in paid family and medical leave programs, shifting state- and local-level mandates, and key emerging trends nationwide. Gain valuable insights from Alliant’s extensive experience working with employers across industries – helping you stay informed, compliant, and ahead of the curve.

Presenters: Evan Schlack, Alliant & Ally Naes, SunLife

Registration Fees (includes beverages and breakfast):

$35 Members
$60 Non-Members/Guests

NOTE: This session will qualify for SHRM and HRCI recertification credit; however, participants must manually enter the activity into their certification portal to receive credit.

A special thank you to our generous sponsor:

Collaborative Roundtables (October 08, 2026)

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 20:30:00 GMT

Join us for an engaging and collaborative roundtable event designed exclusively for Total Rewards professionals! This interactive session offers a unique opportunity to connect with peers, exchange ideas, and share insights on the most pressing challenges and emerging trends in the world of Total Rewards.

This roundtable is all about you—your challenges, your priorities, and your questions. To ensure the conversation is both valuable and relevant, we want to hear from you! Send us topics that matter most to you and your organization, whether it’s innovative rewards strategies, DE&I initiatives, employee well-being, or any other area of interest to admin@totalrewardskc.org.

All Total Rewards KC meeting participants are expected to engage respectfully and professionally, fostering an environment for sharing ideas, expertise and experiences thoughtfully. We ask that conversations remain focused on sharing knowledge and building connections, with solicitation and aggressive promotion avoided. We are committed to maintaining a welcoming, inclusive space where By participating, you agree to uphold these principles and contribute to a positive meeting experience for everyone.

Registration Fees (includes beverages and breakfast):

$35 - Total Rewards KC Members
$60 - Non-Members/Guests

Total Rewards KC Members register a guest to attend with you and get your name entered into the drawing for a $150+ gift card that will be given away at the annual holiday party!

A special THANK YOU to our generous sponsor

Panel Discussion: Best Places to Work -- Investing in Employees for Success (November 12, 2026)

Thu, 12 Nov 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Join us for an insightful panel discussion featuring honorees from the Kansas City Business Journal’s Best Places to Work awards. This year’s honorees stand out for their innovative approaches to employee well-being and career development, offering unique perks like employee ownership, miscarriage leave, in-house chefs, and even a dream coach to help team members achieve personal and professional goals. Many also feature profit-sharing programs that align individual success with company growth.

Our panel will explore how these organizations are committed to investing in their employees' futures by prioritizing continuing education, leadership development, and opportunities for career advancement. While collaboration is highly valued in the workplace, these companies also recognize the importance of work-life balance, offering flexible and hybrid work options to meet the evolving needs of their teams.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from some of the top companies in Kansas City about what it takes to create a workplace culture that supports growth, work-life harmony, and employee satisfaction.

Registration Fees (includes beverages and breakfast):

$35 Members
$60 Non-Members/Guests

NOTE: This session will qualify for SHRM and HRCI recertification credit; however, participants must manually enter the activity into their certification portal to receive credit.

Save the Date - Annual Total Rewards KC Holiday Party (December 02, 2026)

Wed, 02 Dec 2026 22:00:00 GMT