Encore, a global event technology and production services provider, launched its Overtime Savings Program in the United States, along with additional people-first programs to further support its ongoing workforce in a seasonal industry. Powered by UKG’s payroll technology, the program is aimed at enhancing financial wellness and stability for Encore’s frontline employees, many of whom work in markets that experience seasonal ebb and flow of business volumes.
With a team of 12,000 members providing event technology and production services at 2,200 hotels and conference venues in 20 countries, Encore faces the challenges common in the hospitality industry. Seasonal fluctuations often result in workers’ hours varying from ample overtime during peak times to reduced schedules in off-season periods. This seasonality makes it difficult for workers to maintain consistent earnings and creates challenges for companies aiming to retain talent.
“Encore has always believed its team members are the heart of our story. This people-first mindset motivates us to constantly evolve our team member experience and innovate around challenges, like the impact of seasonality, that the industry previously viewed as immutable,” Ben Erwin, president and CEO of Encore, said in a statement.
Leave of Absense
In addition to the Overtime Savings Program, the Seasonal Leave of Absence Program lets team members take time off during slower seasons while retaining full benefits, accruing paid time off and maintaining their tenure. This program lets employees to explore other work opportunities, pursue education, or focus on personal goals without sacrificing benefits or career progression. Both the Overtime Savings and Seasonal Leave of Absence Programs have been rolled out nationwide, with plans for global expansion.
“We established the program as another way to support our team members so that they can be at their best in delivering for our customers,” Erwin added. “With this innovation, they can better plan and save their premium overtime pay for periods of the year when they might not work as many hours. Providing this capability and funding a company-paid match for a portion of the savings should motivate financial wellness and enable them to continue to build their career with Encore. Team member reactions tell us we are onto something.”
Upon early launch of the program, usage of the UKG Wallet increased tenfold compared to the prior year’s period. A 15-year customer already leveraging the AI-powered UKG Pro suite, Encore added UKG Wallet to its UKG portfolio in 2023 to provide access to earned wages when and where they are needed, along with financial wellness tools. Nearly 30 percent of Encore employees adopted UKG Wallet, and the organization advanced $10 million in earned wages during the program’s first year.
Encore’s success with UKG Wallet builds on a long history with UKG. An ROI study conducted by third-party analyst firm Nucleus Research in 2018 found that the company achieved annual savings of more than $20 million with the UKG Pro Suite’s data and reporting capabilities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Encore leveraged UKG’s people analytics to recover $48 million in tax credits and subsidies from the U.S. and Canadian governments, which helped to keep hundreds of employees on active status.