Anyone who owns or manages a business will know that payroll is a very cyclical area of work that undergoes large amounts of stress at certain points of the year and faces many fixed deadlines. Not only does it demand in-depth knowledge of local payroll laws, tax requirements and internal payroll processes, but it also requires intensive co-ordination within and outside the business; such processes can soak up company resources.
There can be many reasons for low morale in your payroll team. However, there are ways to streamline payroll processes and make the lives of your payroll team easier.
Time management
Prioritising tasks for your team is important to keep your employees from feeling overwhelmed. Payroll departments are often bombarded with queries from all directions, so to help decide which are the most critical tasks at hand, consider asking whether the problem will affect the whole business or a single department, whether it is related to a specific employee and how much money and time it will cost the business.
By prioritising tasks that are critical to fellow employees and the business as a whole, you are enabling the payroll team to resolve issues quickly and effectively whilst also avoiding an onslaught of stress. Consider enrolling the team in a training course so they can better understand and implement time management techniques.
Workload
Paying attention to individuals’ workload and taking action if they appear overwhelmed and stressed can boost morale and make the team feel valued. Staff are often reluctant to take time off during busy times or before payroll deadlines, but it’s important for managers to create a healthy culture where staff are encouraged to take time off and unwind.
Sometimes managers have to introduce mandatory leave to make sure their staff are having a break. Not only does it create a more balanced life for your employees, but it also helps you organise resources and workloads based on these fixed schedules.
Technology and tools
Up-to-date technology and equipment are designed to reduce workloads and make life easier for the payroll team. Payroll software systems can streamline payroll processes whilst also being more accurate and free-up resources to focus on other tasks. Made up of automated processes, it reduces admin, can be set up to meet certain deadlines, simplifies payslips, handles pensions and benefits and archives data should you ever need to refer to it in the future. What’s more, it’s all compliant with the latest legislation too.
Create the standard
Creating a standard payroll process will smooth out anomalies and bad practices in the department and create blanket policies that employees can refer to. A standard payroll manual is a great resource for the team and should include all the important processes. Think about including an emergency section too in order to guide employees through extraordinary situations.
Communication
Last but certainly not least is communication. By fostering a clear communication culture, employees will feel like they can be open about how they’re feeling and you will be able to see early signs of stress and address the problem, thereby boosting morale and reducing stress in the payroll department.
