Strategies to enhance payroll team culture
No matter the employer, it’s important for employees to look forward to going to work each day. Whether this is in the office or virtually, employees should feel some sense of a team setting. Culture is especially important within payroll departments with notorious high workloads and minimal recognition as a “behind the scenes” profession.
Is team culture not a priority in your workplace? Recent studies show a strong connection between workplace culture and the health and well-being of their staff; not to mention employee longevity.
When planning a positive and engaging work environment within a payroll department, there are several considerations to elevate team culture.
Recognition of achievements
Everyone likes to feel valued and recognised for their hard work occasionally. Acknowledging and celebrating individual and collective accomplishments is proven to boost morale and motivation within the team.
Don’t overlook the big stuff. Recognising milestones and successful project executions creates a culture of appreciation and drives performance.
It doesn’t have to be a pay rise or a bonus (those are great too!) but shouting your team’s lunch or a $20 Starbucks gift card can make your employee’s feel valued and encourage them to continue a good work ethic.
Embrace collaboration
If you work in an organisation with multiple departments, it’s beneficial for employees to collaborate between other teams and encourage open communication and idea-sharing. Sometimes the best ideas for your business come internally, you just need to know where to look and who to ask.
By promoting interdepartmental involvement, it strengthens relationships and improves efficiency.
Prioritise professional development
Invest in the continuous growth of team members through training programs, workshops, and opportunities for skill enhancement. Supporting their professional development not only enhances their capabilities but also increases job satisfaction.
Some key resources include:
Cultivate a supportive workplace environment
Creating an atmosphere that values employee well-being and work-life balance can be the difference between having to hire new staff each year and retaining valued employees.
Encourage time off and time out. Have a business continuity plan to recognise employees do not have the world on their shoulders. Make them feel comfortable to share when they are feeling overwhelmed or need to ask for help on a project.
Acknowledge the monotonous
Don’t be fooled by LinkedIn job descriptions, most all professions require a certain degree of repetitive tasks. This is how you become an expert in your field, and the repetitive tasks keep the wheels churning for your business.
The everyday tasks in a payroll department may not be worthy of sharing at a dinner party but they do ensure employees are paid correctly and timely so the show must go on.
Recognise the stressors
Payroll teams have their fair share of stressful jobs – it could be an audit, setting up a new award in the system or starting payments in a new country. Being open to your team that these are going to be stressful days and making the most out of them can make a big difference.
On these stressful days, small changes to the office dynamic can help. Play nostalgic 2000’s music in the background, encourage reality TV chat and let the team go home 30 minutes early so they can come back refreshed the next day.
Final thoughts
By adopting these strategic approaches, you can strengthen team dynamics, nurture a positive work culture, and foster a cohesive and motivated payroll team. Prioritising these initiatives will contribute to a thriving work environment where employees feel valued and empowered to perform at their best. Investing in your team and their happiness at the workplace will pay off with increased job satisfaction and work longevity.
Go team payroll!