REWARD
A helping hand: tips to make sense of payslips
Stacey Lowman, co-founder and director of Money First Aid, outlines five ways to help employees understand their payslips
U nderstanding payslips is sense of the various figures, codes and deductions presented each month. The CIPP’s Payslip Statistics Report 2024 reveals a growing trend: more employees are seeking help to make sense of their payslips. This increase in queries, absent from the 2023 report, highlights the need for payroll professionals to offer support and education in this area. By doing so, payroll can significantly contribute to employees’ financial wellbeing. Here are five effective ways to assist your team in understanding their payslips and highlight the vital role of payroll in supporting wider financial literacy. fundamental for employees, yet many find it challenging to make Organise payslip workshops Scheduled workshops or webinars are an excellent way to educate employees about their payslips. These sessions can cover: l basic payslip components. Explain the fundamental parts of a payslip, including gross pay, net pay, tax deductions, National Insurance contributions, and pension contributions. Bring them to life with different examples l common queries. Address frequent questions and concerns, such as understanding tax codes, what benefits are included and how deductions are calculated l where to go for support. Share contact details for where to go when people have questions about their payslip, need to make changes, or spot mistakes that need
to be corrected. Introduce the humans who make up the payroll team so people feel a personal connection. Interactive tools, like the one provided by the CIPP (see https://ow.ly/ ks9T50Th5y2), can be invaluable in these sessions to help demystify the payslip. By offering these workshops regularly, you create a platform for continuous learning and engagement. Identify key times of the year when uptake of these sessions might be highest, for example the new tax year, around pay review cycles or new starter dates. These workshops can also serve as a proactive approach to reduce the volume of individual queries payroll professionals receive, allowing them to manage their workload more efficiently. Create clear and simple guides Straightforward, written guides or frequently asked questions can be a valuable resource for employees. These guides should be easily accessible, both online and in print, and cover: l detailed explanations. Provide a breakdown of each section of the payslip, what each figure represents and why it’s important l visual aids. Use diagrams and annotated payslip examples to illustrate points clearly l common terms glossary. Include a glossary of terms and acronyms often found on payslips. These guides can also be incorporated into employee onboarding processes. Additionally, updating these guides
regularly ensures they remain relevant and accurate, reflecting any changes in payroll legislation or company policies. The use of clear and easy to understand language should be a priority when designing any communications. There are organisations that can support you with this. Some partner with companies to help them communicate numbers, and the words around them, more clearly. Offer one-on-one support Personalised assistance can make a significant difference for employees struggling with their payslips. This support can be offered through: l dedicated helplines. Establish a helpline, internal messaging channel or email support where employees can ask specific questions about their payslips l scheduled appointments. Allow employees to book one-on-one sessions with payroll professionals to discuss their payslip in detail l training payroll staff to handle these queries effectively is crucial. This training should cover not only technical knowledge, such as understanding changes in tax codes or implications of salary adjustments, but also soft skills for handling sensitive financial discussions. Being able to communicate clearly and empathetically can ensure employees feel confident asking questions, feel informed about their financial status and ensure that everyone is on the same page to avoid errors.
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | October 2024 | Issue 104 46
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