Payroll is a vital component of employee satisfaction and retention. This is why payroll training for HR teams should be an ongoing part of how you do business. Accurate and timely payroll means fewer compliance mistakes, better operational efficiency, and happier workers.
Payroll best practices include proper training for your HR team and annual refresher training in case state or federal laws change. Here's a closer look at why payroll management training is so important and how Payday can help enhance your team's expertise.
Why Payroll Training is Essential
Laws and regulations governing payroll, labor, and taxes change regularly. A company's obligation to stay up-to-date on these changes remains the same.
Training your HR staff ensures that they stay up-to-date on changes with local, state, or federal regulatory changes. This, in turn, reduces the number of errors and inaccuracies that can occur if HR is not properly trained in payroll management. One of the best ways to avoid paying fines or penalties for errors is to avoid making them in the first place!
The better your HR payroll skills are, the more efficient and productive this part of the team is likely to be. Payroll involves redundant administrative tasks that will take up extra time if you lack the proper system to keep things running smoothly. Finally, employees who are paid on time and accurately every time will be much happier in the long run. Accurate payroll builds trust with employees and improves their job satisfaction rates.
Key Components of Effective Payroll Training
One of the most important parts of your payroll compliance training should be to ensure that the HR team understands the software and tools needed to do the job. It's extremely helpful to use a modernized system that connects payroll with time tracking, withholding, benefits administration, and human capital management (HCM). Once they understand the system, it becomes a simple matter to stay updated on any changes to payroll laws and regulations.
Software and Tools
Training in effective HR payroll skills also involves developing problem-solving skills for those times when payroll issues come up. HR staffers who fully understand the system will be better at resolving issues as quickly as possible.
Best Practices and Procedures
Your training should also involve payroll best practices and procedures, including:
- How to properly classify employees
- Determining work eligibility
- Employee hiring and onboarding
- Tax withholding and reporting
- Compliance with wage and hour laws
Benefits of Payroll Training for HR Teams
One of the most obvious benefits of this type of HR team development is that it minimizes compliance risks and penalties. When the HR staff is trained properly and everyone is on the same page with the system, there are fewer risks that are likely to get your organization fined or penalized.
Training will boost the confidence and competence of your HR team. As they gain more competence in the payroll system, the process becomes more streamlined and it will save a tremendous amount of time.
The time that it takes to make payroll can be reduced by hours if not days. The extra time that is saved can be used to focus the HR team on more mission-critical tasks, such as hiring and onboarding the best possible staff. This allows your HR team to better support your company's goals and growth.
Payroll Training for HR Teams
Payroll training for HR teams reduces errors, saves time, and contributes to overall employee satisfaction. It keeps your HR team updated on changes to labor and compliance laws while boosting their competence and confidence. The more well-trained an HR team is at payroll, the more time they will save on redundant administrative tasks.
If you're interested in learning more about payroll training or educating members of your staff on payroll and human resources, you can visit the Society for Human Resource Management education resources or the American Payroll Association’s learning programs. These provide a helpful pathway for further education and development.