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members, someone must always remain to guard the fort. “My family wanted to book our summer holiday in January to get the best deals,” Rebecca continues. “I had to make them wait until March because I needed to confirm when the new pension auto- enrolment changes would be implemented. My husband thought I was being dramatic until I showed him my colour- coded spreadsheet of ‘possible holiday windows’.” Even when a suitable date is identified, there’s the lingering anxiety that something (it could be anything when it comes to payroll!) might suddenly render those dates unworkable. The Departure Dilemma It’s 5 p.m. on a Friday. Regular employees are gleefully shutting down computers, bidding farewell to colleagues with casual waves as they breeze out the door. “See you in two weeks!” they
chirp, already mentally on a beach somewhere with a colourful cocktail. Their out-of-office message is set, phone switched to holiday mode. Meanwhile, down the corridor, Sarah, the payroll manager, tells a different story. Sarah is frantically going through her pre- holiday checklist for the fourth time. The payroll run is complete, but the anxiety remains. Has she remembered to schedule the BACS payments? What about the new starter who joined yesterday? Did she remember to update those pay code changes? The pension contributions
report needs submitting before month-end, who will handle that in her absence? Sarah has documented a handover so detailed it resembles an instruction manual for defusing a bomb because one wrong move could cause complete payroll chaos. The McIntyre Effect contrast between parents and non-parents leaving the house, the former engaged in a military- style operation involving endless lists, packed bags and last-minute bathroom trips; the latter simply grabbing keys and walking out the door. Comedian Michael McIntyre famously observed the stark
Many employees prepare for holidays with casual ease. Payroll professionals, however, begin their preparation weeks in advance, with meticulous planning that would impress military strategists.
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GLOBAL PAYROLL MAGAZINE ISSUE 10
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