In 2022, ErsteGroup launched WeShare by ErsteGroup, an annual employee share plan with a five-year holding period that achieved an impressive 88% participation rate across seven countries. This session will explore the strategies behind the programme's success, including creative plan design, effective financial education, and approaches to addressing challenges during its multi-country rollout.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Explore how well-structured plan design, including an annual offering model and a five-year holding period, boosted participation rates.
• Understand how targeted financial education campaigns improved employee knowledge, engagement, and confidence in the programme.
• Gain insights into tackling cross-country implementation challenges and fine-tuning post-launch processes to enhance programme outcomes.

Discover how Sage transformed its global Save & Share plan by tapping into the power of its people. This session explores how Sage revitalized its communications strategy, enhanced the colleague experience, and implemented a financial education and wellbeing program that empowered employees to make informed decisions at maturity.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Strategies to boost participation and engagement in employee share plans
• The role of financial education in driving confidence and informed decision-making
• How to measure success beyond numbers—real stories and testimonials from employees

This session will dive into the unique landscape of equity compensation in India, examining best practices and emerging trends that are shaping the market. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities companies face when structuring equity plans, including tax implications, legal frameworks, and employment laws specific to India.

The session will also explore how cultural factors influence plan adoption and participation, offering insights into how global companies can effectively tailor their equity compensation strategies to the Indian market.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Understand the tax, legal, and employment law considerations unique to India in equity plan design.
• Explore cultural factors and their impact on plan adoption and employee participation.
• Learn how to align global equity strategies with India's evolving corporate and regulatory environment.

In a globalised business environment, offering equity plans that cater to diverse workforces across multiple jurisdictions presents unique challenges. While global share plans provide a consistent framework, many companies adopt local tax-approved sub-plans to align with regional tax incentives and regulations. This dual structure offers significant benefits but also introduces operational complexities.

This expert panel will delve into the intricacies of implementing global equity plans alongside local sub-plans, offering practical strategies and tools to help organisations strike the right balance between global consistency and local relevance. Attendees will gain actionable insights and tools, including frameworks for aligning objectives and managing complexities.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Understand the benefits of local tax-approved sub-plans in enhancing participation, delivering tax efficiencies, and boosting engagement by tailoring benefits regionally.
• Explore strategies for harmonising global equity plan objectives with local regulations, tax laws, and cultural considerations.
• Learn practical approaches to managing the operational impacts of running global plans with local variants, including streamlined administration, effective communication, and accurate reporting.

As global companies continue to compete for top talent, equity compensation has become a key tool in attracting and retaining employees.

This session provides a unique opportunity to explore how equity incentives are structured and implemented across Central and Eastern Europe, with a special focus on the Czech Republic, Ukraine, and Poland. The session will also address considerations specific to private companies, providing insights into how they can effectively leverage equity compensation in competitive markets.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

• Gain an understanding of the legal landscape for offering equity compensation in the Czech Republic, Ukraine, and Poland, including common pitfalls and red flags.
• Explore the practical implications of managing equity awards for employees working across multiple jurisdictions, including the unique case of Ukrainian employees relocating throughout Europe.
• Learn about current trends in equity compensation, including stock options, RSUs, and strategies tailored for private companies to optimise employee engagement and impact.