There’s plenty of HR events you can attend every year – whether they’re big in-person events at large convention centers in Vegas, or small local 20 person events, or even virtual events where the number of attendees is irrelevant (for you at least). But how do you pick the one that’s best for you? With the right content? The right speakers? The most meaningful take-aways? Well, we’ve put together a list of some of the best HR events of the year, with a diverse offering for different levels of employee and decision-maker — options to help you grow your career or find the right technology solution for your business.
Without further delay, here’s our top list for 2024!
1 – Transform HR
- When: March 11-13, 2024
- Where: Las Vegas, NV
- Attendee Cost: $1,395
- Expected Attendees: 3000+
- Speakers: 300+
- Website: https://transform.us/conference/
- Focus: hands on learning, networking, interactive small group breakouts, HR tech vendors/solution providers
- Target Audience: Anyone involved with HR
- Description: Transform sits at the intersection of technology and the people transforming the workplace. The event brings together people-driven executives, future of work entrepreneurs, and workforce tech investors for three days of progressive programming, curated connections, innovative technology, and energizing after-hours networking.
2 – HRwest
- When: March 5-6, 2024
- Where: Oakland, CA
- Attendee Cost: $449
- Expected Attendees: 1500+
- Sessions: 75
- Website: https://www.hr.com/en/webcasts_events/live_events/hrwest/hrwest-hr-conference_laapwgci.html
- Focus: hands on learning, networking, interactive small group breakouts, HR tech vendors/solution providers
- Target Audience: Anyone involved with HR
- Description: The HR conference that reveals the top human resources trends and strategies for 2024. Being asked to do your job with less budget or personnel? You’re not alone. HRWest expert content will help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
3 – Workhuman Live
- When: April 15-18, 2024
- Where: Austin, TX
- Attendee Cost: $1,795
- Expected Attendees: 1800+
- Sessions: 58+
- Website: https://www.workhumanlive.com/americas/
- Focus: hands on learning, networking, interactive small group breakouts, HR tech vendors/solution providers
- Target Audience: Anyone involved with HR
- Description: Pioneer the future of work alongside fellow leaders, researchers, and futurists. Get ready to narrow your focus on a few key topics with targeted sessions and workshops featuring the industry’s top speakers, researchers, and futurists. You’ll walk away not just with a plan, but with countless new connections doing just the same.
4 – HR Tech 2024
- When: September 24-26, 2024
- Where: Las Vegas, NV
- Attendee Cost: $1,295
- Expected Attendees: 10,000+
- Sessions: 175
- Website: https://www.hrtechnologyconference.com/inperson
- Focus: hands on learning, networking, interactive small group breakouts, HR tech vendors/solution providers
- Target Audience: Anyone involved with HR / Senior HR decision-makers
- Description: The HR Technology Conference & Exposition® is the world’s leading and longest-running event on HR innovation. Hailed as the industry’s “Town Hall Meeting,” the HR Technology Conference is where all the leading analysts, thought leaders, industry innovators, HR and business leaders — anybody who cares about HR and work technology — from around the world come together as a community to exchange ideas, learn and make long-lasting connections.
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5 – People Analytics Summit
- When: May 14-15, 2024
- Where: Toronto, ON
- Attendee Cost: $1,05 in-person, $895 virtual
- Expected Attendees: 200 senior-level
- Website: https://www.peopleanalyticscanada.com/
- Description: Harnessing PA to Enable HR to become game-changers and drive business growth. Discover how people analytics is not another reporting mechanism, but a strategic function leading operational excellence. Harness your data to facilitate a smooth transition into the future of work by forecasting workers’ engagement and retention. Become a People Analytics Pioneer by managing data in one streamlined, successful unified best practice. Leave with best practices from 40+ HR and people analytics progressives.
6 – Connect HR Leadership Summit
- When: April 28-30, 2024
- Where: Las Vegas, NV
- Attendee Cost: $0 — you will be required to meet with event sponsors/solution providers based on your identified areas of need/interest
- Expected Attendees: 500-600
- Website: https://quartznetwork.com/event/connect-hr-spring
- Description: CONNECT HR is a peer-led leadership-focused event that is complimentary for qualified professionals. Discover strategies from field experts, research new solutions, and meet like-minded peers on your path for professional growth. Reserved for executives and tailored to support your professional and departmental goals.
7 – Future of Work
- When: June 3-4, 2024
- Where: New York, NY
- Attendee Cost: $650+
- Expected Attendees: TBD
- Website: https://futureworkseries.com/usa-2024/
- Description: The Future of Work USA Event launched in 2019 with the core mission to focus on the latest trends & strategies within the Future of Work landscape including: the role of the HR and People function, Talent Management, Workforce Planning, Frontline Workers, Workplace Transformation, HR Technology, Culture, DEI, Employee Engagement, Digital Workplace, Learning & Development and Office Space & Design.
8 – ReThink HR Tech
- When: March 20-22, 2024
- Where: Long Beach, CA
- Attendee Cost: $25,49+ in-person, $895 virtual
- Expected Attendees: 100+
- Website: https://www.rethink-hrtech.us/
- Description: Rethink! HR Tech is home to forward-thinking pioneers shaping the Future of Work and Technology. The benchmark calendar event in the US brings together more than 100+ CHROs & HR decision-makers to discuss newest HR Technologies, New Work, People Analytics & Recruitment tech among other topics. Discover inspirational stories and know-how through real live best practices and mind breathing innovation that will change the way you think about HR and innovation.
9 – LeapHR (Retail + Higher Ed)
- When: February 26-27, 2024 (Retail) & February 26-28, 2024 (Higher Ed)
- Where: Austin, TX (Retail) & Denver, CO (Higher Ed)
- Attendee Cost: $1,699+ (Retail), $2,049+ (Higher Ed)
- Expected Attendees: 200+ in-person
- Website: https://leaphr-retail.com/ & https://leaphr-highereducation.com/
- Description: LEAP HR: Retail is your chance to uncover how fresh approaches to HR strategy are enabling the most agile and people-centric retailers to deliver a quality consumer experience while empowering their retail workforce with re-imagined people strategy. LEAP HR: Higher Education is your best opportunity to uncover how brand-new, non-traditional HR is enabling the most forward-thinking universities to transform the new era of work, find and retain top talent, streamline processes and cost efficiencies.
Tips to maximize any HR conference experience
With so many options to pick from, and a variety of event types, here are some broad pieces of feedback for conference goers to keep in mind to get the most out of your experiences at these events (and others).
Research ahead of time
Make sure you research each event to get an idea of what you may be able to takeaway, know if there are multiple tracks and specific focuses of the event where you may need to divide your time or pick one path and follow it fully. Also research the all-in cost (event ticket, airfare, hotel, food, transportation to and from the event or airports — so you can budget accordingly whether you’re expensing it or covering it yourself). Look at the vendors and see if they align with what your needs may be or what solutions you might want to explore. And finally – check if the local area may be fun to go out an explore when you’re not at the event!
Know your budget and plan accordingly
It’s a good idea to determine your all-in budget regardless if you’re getting it expensed by the company, or covering it out of your own pocket. Some key considerations to consider: flight, hotel, daily food expenses not covered by the event, transportation to and from the airport, transportation to and from the event if you’re not staying on site, potential personal costs if you plan to sight-see at all in the area or go out on your own after the event. Getting your all-in amount can help you prioritize events and figure out which ones make the most sense.
Map out the conference experience and your preferred experiences
Take a look at the event programming guide, who is talking, if there is a single track or multiple tracks, if there are round tables or small breakout events and come up with a plan so you can make the most out of your time and money-spent. Figure out when you can explore the vendors and sponsors of the event to look at new or alternative solutions, determine when you want to network and how you feel most comfortable (over drinks at after parties, over lunch, before or after sessions, etc).
Have a teammate join (for discounts or covering more ground)
If possible, have another teammate join from your company to be able to divide and conquer! Especially if there are multiple tracks, it can help ensure you get the most information and value from the event. In some cases, you can get discounts if you have multiple team members attending – especially if you get key stakeholders to come as well as the event company hosting will be excited about this prospect for their sponsors! It’s also a nice growth experience and team bonding experience as well.
Network
Networking has limitless potential in terms of what it can mean for your career overall. Whether it’s finding a new job, finding colleagues in the field who can share information and experience, finding mentorship opportunities, or just being able to commiserate about shared experiences and common bonds – networking is a great positive social experience offering a greater sense of community in the HR space.
Take notes on key takeaways
Finally, make sure you take some notes (whether detailed or high-level) on what you found most appealing, interesting, insightful, or impactful. The conference company will always be excited to hear about these items to help inform their future events, your company or colleagues who did not attend will likely be excited to see what’s happening on the cutting edge of the industry, and it will also help show that there was value in sending team members which can help ensure future training and event budgets! But also, for yourself and your own goals it can help ensure that you prioritize the right actions to take post-event to continue to improve both yourself and your company.
