REWARD
Emily Sivey, Community Success Manager, PayCaptain, explores why it’s so important to provide flexibility for payroll professionals and how that will play a crucial part in helping to attract new generations to this wonderful industry
T he workplace has transformed dramatically in recent years. Remote working, hybrid schedules and flexible, compressed and part-time hours are all hot topics which have reshaped how we view productivity, collaboration and employee satisfaction. Yet, amid these changes, payroll professionals remain the backbone of business operations. How do we balance this evolving work culture with the unique pressures of payroll? More importantly, how do we attract and retain top payroll talent in an economic climate that demands both stability and innovation?
“How do we balance this evolving work culture with the unique pressures of payroll?”
own productivity. This leads to better job satisfaction, higher engagement and a deeper sense of loyalty to the company. Take, for example, a payroll specialist who is also a parent. Having the flexibility to start their day early and finish in time for school pick-up can be life-changing. Instead of being forced into a rigid 9-to- 5 schedule, they can meet deadlines without sacrificing family responsibilities. This kind of trust-based culture not only reduces stress but also increases retention rates, as employees are less likely to seek out alternative workplaces that better fit their personal needs. Work-life balance vs. payroll peaks and troughs Let’s be honest: payroll isn’t a job with a steady, predictable workload. There are peaks, month-ends, year-ends and tax deadlines, all of which demand long hours and intense focus. But there are also troughs and moments when things slow down, which allow teams to catch their breath. The best workplaces recognise this natural rhythm and design their policies accordingly. Instead of enforcing rigid schedules, organisations should empower payroll teams with tools and processes which
enable them to manage their workload effectively. One way to do this is through workload forecasting, allocating resources effectively during peak times and ensuring that quieter periods allow for professional development, additional training or even taking well-earned time off. Modern and flexible workplaces are leaning into artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, to remove the manual interventions payroll professionals face and replace that with quality, meaningful and fulfilling work. This is helping to retain team members by removing the stress of laborious tasks and empowering employees to focus on impact and expertise. This encourages learning and growth, which we know is important to the next generation. The next generation of payroll professionals Payroll might not, yet, have the glamour of social media start-ups or creative industries, but it’s an incredibly dynamic field with real-world impact. Companies like PayCaptain are leaning into social impact and financial wellbeing alongside cutting edge technology, to entice talent into their business. The wider challenge? Getting younger
Flexibility and trust: the foundations of a modern payroll team
Payroll is a high-stakes profession. When mistakes happen, they have real consequences financially and emotionally. And yet, the reality is that errors are more likely when people are overworked, burnt out or simply not feeling their best. The modern workplace must acknowledge this truth and prioritise flexibility to support payroll professionals in doing their best work. Flexibility doesn’t mean a lack of structure. It means allowing professionals to work at their most productive, whether that’s from a quiet home office, a buzzing co-working space or a team get-together designed to re-energise collaboration. By offering choices, businesses show they trust their teams to manage their
PROFESSI NAL in Payroll, Pensions and Reward
32
June 2025 | Issue 111
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker