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about the things you’ve learned, the changes you’ve effected and the advantages that new knowledge has brought to the wider business. Rather than shaking waiting until you have problems of your own, Payroll could take this opportunity to lead on compliance, transparency, and trust. Crucially, you have the advantage of learning from HR’s mistakes before they are repeated. By prioritising credibility over commercialisation, encouraging open debate, and staying close to its grassroots practitioners, Payroll can avoid the fate that has befallen HR and your heads over this scandal and use this opportunity to strengthen its standing and influence.
The result is a profession adrift. Senior HR leaders can still rely on informal networks forged years ago for peer- to-peer support, but younger practitioners cluster in amateurish, cultish groups. HR Geek Squad is run by Michelle Hartley, who writes LinkedIn posts littered with the F-bomb, and films videos shouting ‘Bin!’ as she drops pictures of Donald Trump (‘the orange potato’) and Jeremy Clarkson (‘the nobosaurus’) into her wastepaper basket. She has 32,000 LinkedIn followers. What are the lessons for Payroll? First, credibility can be eroded incredibly quickly. If you currently enjoy a reputation for precision, compliance, and reliability, don’t squander it. Be even more vocal. If you think the wider organisation can’t see your value, spell it out. Highlight costly errors your team has averted, or the important decisions payroll data
helped facilitate and demonstrate the further insights you could offer. Detail and standards matter. Over time, failing to adapt to technology, mishandling data privacy, or appearing out of touch with regulation could become a downward spiral. Vigilance is essential. Clearly communicate the ways you are tackling such challenges. Work towards raising standards and enforcing those higher standards across your team and don’t be afraid to advocate for industry- wide change. Second, don’t duck difficult issues. If automation, global regulation, tax complexity, and the that happens. Talk to your competitors. Pool your knowledge. Be generous when sharing your challenges and solutions. Speak up ethics of data use demand rigorous debate, make sure
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GLOBAL PAYROLL MAGAZINE ISSUE 16
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