Employment
a particular task before moving on to the next challenge. It allows me to finish one task and begin to focus on the next one. A problem shared Talking is another way of alleviating the stress which sometimes comes with pay and reward. Within the payroll industry, stress levels will increase around the time the payroll needs that final processing day and around payday when the queries come in. If you work within a team, talking can help to put a different perspective on things. Being able to share knowledge and experiences with each other will support how we all work. I always find that around the busy payroll processing times, the team will pull together and get the work done. There’s always a great sense of camaraderie within payroll teams; a sense that we are all in this together. It’s amazing how much better it feels when you’re all working towards the same goal. Sharing supports individuals and the team. Having more people involved with the juggling act of pay and reward means that there are fewer things for one person to juggle. It’s also important to take time out as a whole team. Once a year, I hold a team away day, which provides an opportunity for me to thank my team for everything they do every day. We can focus on what’s important to the team for example, one year we focused on health and wellbeing. This year, we have focused on team engagement and development. An away day should be positive, focusing on what we have achieved as well as what we want / need to achieve in the future. Celebrating success is so important. No matter how small the success may seem, to be recognised makes staff feel good about what they do and drives them to do more. If work doesn’t feel like a chore but gives you a purpose, you are naturally likely to want to get more done each day. Forward planning Working in pay and reward, I am definitely a list person. I make sure I know what is coming up and I list the current tasks that need to be completed. Completing a task and being able to cross it off the list is very satisfying. It’s also a way to identify what you have achieved when it comes to your appraisal time. Payroll is deadline driven and I like to know what the deadlines are for providing
information and producing papers. Don’t be afraid to ask someone for their deadline. If you’re unable to provide it within the timeline, say so. That way you are managing expectations and are in control of the work you need to do. “Asking for help is not a weakness. In fact, it’s a strength because you can free yourself up and Pay and reward professionals are dedicated to the role they play in their organisations and are proud of what they do. There is a sense of responsibility as their work has a massive impact on every person they pay. However, as human beings, we all have a life away from pay and reward. What we do in our home lives will impact what we do at work. It’s essential that we spend time with family and friends and participate in the hobbies we enjoy. Along with exercise, each plays an important part in our lives and helps us provide the important service of pay and reward. Remember, we are not invincible and sometimes stress will creep in. It’s important to recognise the signs of stress which fall into four categories: physical, behaviour, emotional and thought. Working as a team can help alleviate this stress. It’s important to look after yourself and remember that thinking only you can do the job that needs doing isn’t always true. If you do think that way, you will put yourself under additional pressure and develop other people in their roles”
you won’t provide the best result, as you’ll always be tired and unfocused. Asking for help is not a weakness. In fact, it’s a strength because you can free yourself up and develop other people in their roles. People feel valued if you ask them for help or to do a different piece of work. Seeking support Look for ways in which you can start succession planning within your team. Who is likely to be a payroll manager of the future? You shouldn’t feel that it undermines you to hand out work; I would say it’s the opposite. The feeling of being part of someone’s development so that they can take the next step in their career path is invigorating and it helps you to get the work done! Stress will always be part of pay and reward and in the right context it can be good. However, when it gets to a point where you feel the work is too much, it’s important to reach out for help. There are several free NHS apps to support better health, such as NHS Weight Loss Plan, NHS Drink Free Days and NHS Active 10 Walking Tracker. There are also many resources on the NHS website. Better Health supports weight loss, getting active, drink less and quit smoking. NHS Live Well is a useful resource for sleep and stress, diet, exercise and alcohol advice. In addition, there are free wellbeing audio guides to support health and wellbeing, including meditation and ways to relax. Other organisations such as Mind and Headspace also provide support. Working in the pay and reward industry is amazing but it isn’t for everyone. Certain attributes are needed, and one of them is being able to multitask. It’s a skill and each of us must find our own ways to manage that skill. Once you do, working in pay and reward is great. It provides you with the satisfaction that every day you are making a difference to people’s lives. n
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| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward |
Issue 103 | September 2024
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