NACS Human Resources Forum

As the labor market continues to evolve, it's critical to understand the key trends and shifts that shaped 2024. After years of unprecedented change—including historic unemployment rates, rising wages, and record-high quit rates—what's different this year? In this session, Jayme will explore macroeconomic labor trends, highlight the latest convenience-specific data from the recent compensation survey, and provide actionable insights to help businesses craft effective HR strategies for long-term success.

Think you know what the survey said? We asked 100 people about convenience retail to create a fun and interactive game show experience. Play along as attendees guess how consumers responded to a variety of questions about the industry. You’ll learn, laugh, and potentially walk away the winner in this fun look at what consumers say and think about our industry.  

In today’s competitive job market, attracting top-tier candidates starts with a well-crafted job description. This session will guide you through the essential components of an effective job description, including how to clearly define key responsibilities, qualifications, and performance expectations. You’ll learn best practices for writing descriptions that reflect your company’s culture, appealing to a diverse range of candidates, while also optimizing for search engines to increase visibility on job boards and platforms. By the end of this session, you’ll be equipped to create job descriptions that not only communicate the role but also engage and attract the best talent.

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform workplaces, it brings both opportunities and challenges for employers and employees alike. In this session, a representative from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will explore the legal implications of using AI in hiring, performance evaluations, and other workplace practices. Attendees will gain insights into current regulations, emerging legislation, and the potential impact of AI on equal employment opportunities and workplace fairness.

Generative AI is transforming HR by automating processes, improving decision-making, and enhancing employee experiences. In this session, learn how two leading companies have successfully implemented generative AI within their HR operations. From talent acquisition to employee engagement, these real-world examples will showcase the practical benefits and challenges of using AI to streamline HR functions, helping you understand how to integrate this cutting-edge technology into your own organization.

As technology evolves, so do the tools available to HR professionals. This session will explore the emerging apps and platforms that are set to reshape HR by 2025.

In this fast-paced session, three leading retailers will share their proven strategies for improving employee retention. Each speaker will have 10 minutes to present their unique approach, followed by 5 minutes for questions.

This panel will discuss innovative strategies for career pathing, including partnerships with universities and other initiatives designed to support employees in their learning journeys. Discover how structured career paths can boost retention, enhance skills, and prepare the next generation of leaders in the convenience industry.

A great business must now be endearing in order to be enduring. If you want loyal customers who become raving fans you need to create an emotional connection with them. Most leaders have been trained to lead with logic, despite customers and employees making most decisions with emotions. In this thought-provoking keynote, Kevin Scott shares why creating emotional connections leads to greater ROI for your business and how to do it in an authentic way. Attendees will walk away understanding:

• The four core emotions of your customers and how it impacts their buying decisions
• The relationships between emotions and logic and how to balance both in your sales and marketing
• How to use emotional connections with employees to create an enduring brands for customers

In this insightful panel discussion, industry leaders will explore the critical expectations HR departments have from CEOs in today's dynamic business environment. Panelists will share their perspectives on effective communication, strategic alignment, and the role of HR in shaping company culture and driving organizational success. Attendees will gain valuable insights into fostering collaboration between HR and executive leadership to enhance overall performance and achieve business objectives.