REWARD
Understanding the true value of payroll
Hayley Paterson MCIPP, Author, The Value of Payroll , shares what inspired her to write the book and her hopes for how it will empower payroll professionals and help raise the profile of the industry
W hen people ask why I wrote The Value of Payroll , the answer is simple: frustration. Not with payroll itself (although the frequent updates and changes of direction can be difficult to cope with), but with how it’s so often misunderstood, overlooked and undervalued. I’ve worked in payroll for over 22 years, having worked in the oil and gas sector and several payroll bureaux, before setting up my own over seven years ago. Time and time again, I’ve watched employers treat payroll as little more than a tick box exercise to fulfil compliance requirements; something that’s crucial, but unremarkable. I kept thinking about what would happen if they could have seen what I saw. What if they realised payroll holds the key to not just smoother operations, but to stronger businesses, happier teams and healthier profits? But payroll’s not easy to explain. Its value isn’t something you can sum up in a sentence or two. That was my ‘why’. I wrote this book to shine a light on what payroll really is, and more importantly, what it could be, if only employers gave it the attention it deserves. A silent powerhouse For years, I’ve worked with businesses large and small, and with each, the story is remarkably similar. Payroll is essential but misunderstood. It’s seen as a cost, a chore or a compliance trap. But buried under all those assumptions is something
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | September 2025 | Issue 113 40
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