Within a business, payroll departments are regarded with caution. Their efficiency of operation is paramount and, without due caution, even minor issues can lead to significant risk or financial cost. Payroll is, however, essential for every business, regardless of its size, with business leaders tending to focus on ways in which processes can be made more secure and swift.
There are a number of methods by which most businesses can successfully improve their payroll department efficiency. While there may be a certain cost or learning curve involved with such changes, the benefits are great, resulting in less stress and risk. To show you how such improvements can be made, we’re sharing five ways to make your payroll more efficient.
Update Software
Payroll software is constantly improving, becoming more efficient and, often, more user-friendly, as developers learn from the feedback of users. However, businesses are often inclined to stick with what they know, leading to stagnation within payroll departments.
When choosing software for your business’ payroll, a decision should be made not on the immediate value of a program but on the ongoing benefits and developments it affords, including correspondence from support staff and regular updates.
Improve Communication
A significant number of issues occur within payroll departments due to errors in communication. Channels between departments, especially those that handle employee queries and invoices, should be clearly defined and regularly checked to ensure that misunderstandings are avoided and teams remain informed of changes.
Outsourcing Payroll
There are a number of expert payroll services that operate on behalf of businesses. The benefits of outsourcing payroll are being noticed by an increasing number of businesses, which is why it is a decision growing in popularity.
Dedicated payroll services maintain and ensure legal compliance and eliminate the risks involved with in-house payroll processes. Additionally, they allow payroll and HR teams to focus on other tasks within a business, improving supporting internal operations.
Regular Training
As legal obligations of tax change and software upgrades, staff who manage tasks within a payroll department should be informed of and trained to handle new developments. These changes are regular and annual training schedules should reflect this, with employees being given the opportunity and support they require to maintain security and efficiency within their department.
Training can be offered both internally and externally, with pros and cons being associated with both. Typically external training is more expensive but can often be certified and even become a team-building exercise too.
Digitise & Self-Service
Payroll departments across the country are now turning to digital applications and self-service payroll options to help expedite their processes. These options allow employees to navigate their payroll needs, from obtaining pay slips to updating their details, and relieving payroll staff members of such duties.
Self-service payroll, such as an employee portal, also allows employees to manage their own time cards, ensuring more accurate and reliable information regarding schedules and timekeeping. Each digital process allows payroll to access information easily without the need of obtaining it themselves, enabling them to focus on more pertinent tasks.