Payroll management is a significant element of the HR operations of a business. It requires a lot of work and stringent accuracy because errors can cause compliance issues. You may find it simple when you start with a small team. But the process becomes complex as you bring in more people down the line. Using manual methods to track, record, and report employee time and attendance can become overwhelming. Likewise, larger enterprises with bigger teams need to ensure proper management for evident reasons. Whatever your team size may be, it is a good idea to ramp up your payroll process from time to time. As the New Year is around the corner, this may be a good opportunity to do it. Here are some tips that can help.

Align different pay schedules

Businesses have to maintain different pay schedules for different types of employees. For example, you may have permanent employees, seasonal workers, and independent contractors on board. Each of them has different pay cycles and schedules. You may have hourly, weekly, or monthly pay periods for them. It is easy to handle them when you have a small team, but things can get challenging as you scale. Moreover, there are chances of errors and duplication of multiple processes. Your team gets loaded with work too. This year, consider aligning pay schedules so that your department can focus on one task at a time. They will make fewer errors with fewer calculations to handle and schedules to maintain.

Go paperless

If you haven't gone paperless with payroll processing yet, you must do it this New Year. Switching to cloud payroll software has immense benefits that extend beyond going green. It automates the process by eliminating manual steps and increasing collaboration. Further, the solution improves the experience for all users - employers, employees, accountants, and payroll professionals.

Moreover, if your team includes independent contractors and freelancers living overseas, having global payroll set up would be greatly beneficial. Employers have to worry less about maintaining timesheets and physical paychecks, whilst the modern employee is usually happy to receive their pay stubs electronically. Meanwhile, accountants and payroll professionals save time and effort, allowing them to focus on more crucial tasks. So, global payroll services are a win-win for everyone!

Ensure constant review

Ramping up the payroll process is not a one-time job, so you cannot just set and forget. It requires constant review and continuous improvement throughout the year. Ensure that your HR managers are one step ahead of state and federal tax legislation. Not following them can land you into trouble with non-compliance issues, which is the last thing any business will want to face. Missing out on payroll tax requirements opens the risk of litigation. You must take it seriously because things can slip through the net. Regulations are constantly changing, so resolve to follow them up throughout the year.

Businesses often outsource payroll services and they expect the best from these professionals. It makes sense to find the right partner to collaborate with as they can enhance your process and make it stress-free for your in-house team. Start this New Year with a good note by embracing a fresh approach to payroll.