National Payroll Week: How Will You Celebrate?

This year, National Payroll Week is September 2 through 6 in the U.S. and September 16 through 20 in Canada. Because payroll services are one of the core offerings at TriNet, we like to celebrate all things payroll every year at this time. We'll go over a host of reasons to appreciate our payroll professionals and we'll also look at how to celebrate National Payroll Week as a company.

The Importance of Payroll Professionals

Payroll professionals have an important job—and one from which we all benefit. Through June 2023, U.S. employers contributed, collected, reported and deposited approximately $2.6 trillion—or about 88% of the U.S. Treasury's annual revenue. That's no small number—and it was with the help of payroll professionals. These are the people responsible for helping to make sure everyone is paid accurately and promptly.

Their work includes countless calculations and plenty of in-between steps, such as the withholding of Social Security taxes and deductions for benefits. Payroll professionals are also dedicated to helping with numerous critical compliance requirements that may impact payroll. These professionals are tasked with constantly staying up to date and adjusting payroll systems accordingly.

And this just scratches the surface of what payroll professionals are expected to know. A good payroll team can also explain:

• The priority of deductions
• Pre-tax vs. post-tax rules
• Requirements related to minimum wage and overtime
• And much more

How to Celebrate National Payroll Week

Now that you have a better understanding of how hard payroll professionals work, let's look at some of the ways you can celebrate them and raise awareness.

Host a National Payroll Week campaign

To kickstart your Payroll Week campaign, highlight the importance of payroll professionals and the vital role they play in your organization. Educate all your employees about the complex processes involved in payroll administration and the daily impact they have. To thank your payroll team throughout the week, consider these activities such as:

• Organize a special virtual breakfast or lunch where employees can gather and express their gratitude
• Encourage other employees to write personalized thank-you notes to individual payroll team members highlighting their specific contributions and achievements
• Hold a "Payroll Appreciation Day" where employees can participate in fun activities related to payroll from quizzes and games to team-building exercises
• Create a "Payroll Hero" award and present it to an outstanding payroll professional who has gone above and beyond their job responsibilities

Social media can also play a significant role in your National Payroll Week campaign. Feature in your social accounts and use relevant hashtags!

Give National Payroll Week gifts

It's the perfect opportunity to show your gratitude by giving thoughtful gifts that not only express your thanks but also demonstrate the importance of their role in the organization. Here are some ideas for National Payroll Week gifts that can make your payroll team feel valued and appreciated:

• Personalized thank-you notes. A simple yet heartfelt handwritten note expressing your gratitude can go a long way. Take the time to acknowledge the efforts and contributions of each payroll team member individually.
• Gift cards. Show your appreciation by giving gift cards to popular stores or restaurants. This allows them to choose something they truly enjoy or treat themselves to a nice meal or experience.
• Payroll-themed merchandise. Consider giving items like mugs, T-shirts or pens with payroll-related slogans or funny quotes. These can add a touch of humor and make the gift more personalized.
• Professional development opportunities. Invest in your payroll team's growth and development by offering them access to seminars, webinars or training programs related to their field. This enhances their skills and shows your commitment to their professional growth. Payroll.org (formerly the American Payroll Association) offers resources such as courses, seminars and certifications for payroll professionals looking to grow.

Invest in smarter payroll solutions

Payroll processing is complex, but advanced software can help payroll teams complete their jobs faster and with fewer errors. Businesses can automate and streamline many time-consuming tasks within the payroll department. These can include calculating wages, tax deductions, administering benefits and generating pay stubs. Integrating payroll information, hours and HR data into a single system can also help reduce reporting time and make data management much easier for payroll teams.

Furthermore, investing in smarter payroll solutions can help enhance employee satisfaction. With features like self-service portals, employees can access their pay information, tax forms and other important documents anytime.

Happy National Payroll Week!

At TriNet, we particularly value our team of payroll professionals who help businesses succeed by giving time back to HR departments. That way, they can focus on strategic planning and executing their core business goals and objectives. If you're ready to find a strategic and effective payroll processing solution, contact TriNet. See if outsourcing payroll processing and HR is right for your business by using our free assessment tool.

No matter how you celebrate National Payroll Week, recognize the payroll professionals you know and generate awareness for their dedicated hard work year-round.