How to simplify and save time on payroll

There’s a lot of background work and worry that goes into making sure employees get paid properly and on time.

When you’re relying on manual entry, it can often feel like you’re taking one step back for every two steps forward. Keeping on top of emerging compliance and legal issues, on top of everything else, can be overwhelming.

Instead of spending hours – or even days – processing payroll every month, there are better ways to spend your time – like rolling out new company initiatives, honing your skills, or helping to develop your team. Here are some key ways to save time on payroll.

Centralize your records

From an HR and payroll perspective, keeping employee records up to date is critical. But, the typical process – sifting through stacks of forms, scrolling through massive spreadsheets, or manually entering the same information into several systems – isn’t efficient.

Since saving time is about efficiency, start with putting all of your employee records in a central HR system, so that everything you need is in one place.

Get your systems in sync

If you’re processing payroll and using separate systems to manage your data, you’re in for a time-consuming process. Integrating your payroll and HR systems, however, helps cut down on reporting time and makes data management easier. You can also view your data in real-time – no more waiting for batch processing to see changes and updates – and be more effective in onboarding and scheduling your people.

 

Digitize your data and information

While reducing or eliminating paper saves you time in sorting through notes, paper checks, and time sheets, there are other benefits to going paperless from a payroll perspective. You’ll also save time when it comes to paying your people, generating reports, and delivering key information (such as tax forms) to your workforce. Not only is it a more efficient process, but it’s also easier to keep track of your tasks.

Authorize your people to do more

Payroll and HR professionals have traditionally handled the paperwork and administration associated with updating employee records and information, which doesn’t leave a lot of time for other projects. A simple and impactful solution? Get your people on board to do it themselves.

Making your people responsible and accountable for their own records and schedules positively impacts everyone. An empowered workforce is a more engaged workforce.

Use technology to help manage compliance

Overtime rules, fair scheduling, leave laws – it’s hard to stay on top of changing and complex compliance requirements in addition to everything else that’s on your plate. A solution that helps to keep track of changing regulations can help you worry less about inaccuracies, incorrect reporting, or errors.