“What is never the same but always the same? Payroll,” says Christine Stolpe, the inaugural guest on Neeyamo’s podcast, HR Cookbook.
Those in the payroll sector understand how complicated payroll can get, and it may appear to be a no-brainer for the rest of us. While payroll may be the same in a few organizations and nations, it may be substantially different in the majority.
For the most part, payroll has only three stages: Input, process, and output. Sounds simple. However, more than anything though, the intricacies involved in collating information and processing them to arrive at accurate results make it one of the most challenging functions of all time. The process sounds undemanding compared to the input and output delivery stage for the very two reasons:
– Input collation is tedious as it involves a variety of items
– The output requirements of companies and nations are very different and usually poles apart
There are several myths regarding practically everything in this world, and payroll is no exception: Payroll can never be done remotely.
What contributed to proving this incorrect? The global pandemic.
While payroll was thought to be a process that required dealing with something tangible, the epidemic demonstrated otherwise. While it was previously assumed that a payroll processor was needed to be there to accomplish a task as tricky as payroll, work from home demonstrated beyond doubt that payroll works just as well, if not better when performed from home.
However, whether work from home or the office, payroll still evinces its weather changes, which was evident in Christine’s life. Though the process demands more during January and February, the same goes for her children because of the holiday season. Work or family? Balance is the key. about family needs are one, while aptly paying your employees is another.
We have repeatedly heard that workplace relationships are vital, but why?
Building, strengthening, and sustaining workplace relationships is one way to ease work. To work efficiently from home, one doesn’t have to be a zoom pro but rather someone with an ‘open-door policy. In Christine’s case, those who got her what she needed and did work and life easier were those with whom she had the rapport. Building relationships with managers and employees is the ultimate secret to winning the war against payroll complications.
A lot of time and attendance fraud happens at the employee level. One way to combat time and attendance fraud is by processing payroll only when you BELIEVE the data is 100% accurate. Showing them the consequences is another way to solve it and eradicate fraud once and for all. Yet another way is to nurture relationships with managers. A simple self-invitation to their desks and orientation should do the magic.
Payroll processors are usually the ones with targets on their backs. Employees and managers need to understand is that payroll is their ally – ‘Make payroll your pal; not your pill.’
If you are someone prowling for a yummy payroll recipe, visit our HR Cookbook podcast, where Christine reveals the secret weapon to win the payroll war. Read Christine’ blog here and listen to the podcast here.
To know more about payroll and how to leverage it for an efficient payroll process, click here.
