What Is NPW
National Payroll Week is a way to celebrate anyone who earns a paycheck and the professionals who process those paychecks. Do you take it for granted your paycheck magically arrives in your bank account each pay day? Take a few moments to thank your local professional. Usually these folks are only thought about if there is a problem or issue. It is considered one of those ‘thankless’ jobs. While at it, consider others who have ‘thankless’ jobs and consider reaching out to them also.
NPW Fast Facts:
• The American Payroll Association founded National Payroll Week in 1996.
• National Payroll Week coincides with the celebration of Labor Day. This special week celebrates the economic, cultural, and social achievements of workers and the significance of “an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay.”
• AMERICA WORKS BECAUSE WE’RE WORKING FOR AMERICA®—NPW celebrates the unique partnership among America's workers, our companies, the payroll professionals who pay us, and critical government programs such as social security, Medicare, fair labor standards, and child support. Together, through payroll withholding, we contribute and collect 71.9% of U.S. Treasury revenue.
• NPW is a national campaign to help America’s workers understand more about their paychecks, the payroll withholding system and other payroll-driven benefits.
• NPW 2009 ad appeared in The New York Times Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, Journal of Accountancy, and Human Resource Executive magazine.
• During NPW, local APA chapters and members host presentations to school and civic groups, participate in community service initiatives, and use local media to pass along information to today’s workers and the workers of tomorrow.
• In 2009, 130 NPW government proclamations were issued across the United States.
• In 2000, APA created a year-round touchstone, www.nationalpayrollweek.com, to provide workers with valuable information about their paychecks, withholding, the payroll industry and celebrating National Payroll Week.
*This information was obtained by the National Payroll Week website.*
Take an on-line survey and win a FREE paycheck!!
http://www.nationalpayrollweek.com/index.cfm
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Top 5 ways to annoy your Payroll Department
5. Repeatedly ask us about your W-4 as you fill it out; even after we have explained that we are not able to tell you how to complete the form. And “NO” taxes are not optional.
4. Throw out all paperwork (paystubs, W2’s, 401k, Benefits, etc.) without looking at it and then get pissed at your Payroll department when they cannot reproduce your documentation on the spot. Oh, and foul language will help to make your case (sarcasm intended).
3. Tell us your entire sob story, while making the attempt to make Payroll feel guilty for the situation you put yourself in.
2. When you see a closed sign on the Payroll door. Ignore it and walk in anyway. If it’s locked, make sure to pound on the door repeatedly until someone answers.
And the #1 way to annoy your Payroll department is:
Do not consult Payroll when implementing system enhancements. I’m sure this won’t effect pay checks (again with the sarcasm, sorry).
4. Throw out all paperwork (paystubs, W2’s, 401k, Benefits, etc.) without looking at it and then get pissed at your Payroll department when they cannot reproduce your documentation on the spot. Oh, and foul language will help to make your case (sarcasm intended).
3. Tell us your entire sob story, while making the attempt to make Payroll feel guilty for the situation you put yourself in.
2. When you see a closed sign on the Payroll door. Ignore it and walk in anyway. If it’s locked, make sure to pound on the door repeatedly until someone answers.
And the #1 way to annoy your Payroll department is:
Do not consult Payroll when implementing system enhancements. I’m sure this won’t effect pay checks (again with the sarcasm, sorry).
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Switching Work Week
Over the years, we have undergone a few major changes. This includes, but not limited to switching our exempt employees from current to one week in arrears, changing our pay system from outsourced to in house, upgrading our timekeeping system, and switching which Friday is pay day.
Our most recent change is to our work week. Changing a work week is tricky stuff. A lot of communication needs to be involved. This includes communication with supervisors and managers and also to the employees. Things that need to be communicated are changes to schedules, if any, and most importantly, changes to paychecks. Another task is to update our compliance documents so we are prepared when the auditors come a visiting.
During our recent change, we switched from a 5/40 schedule (working 40 hours within 5 days) to a 9/80 schedule. A 9/80 schedule is working 80 hours within 9 days and having the 10th day off. Employees would work 9 hours Monday through Thursday and 8 hours on Friday and then 9 hours Monday through Thursday with Friday off, rinse and repeat. The Friday where 8 hours is worked, 4 hours go in Week 1 and 4 hours go to Week 2. In order to do this, you need to change the work week to half way through Friday. This can be accomplished on any pay cycle. We happen to be on a bi-weekly cycle. This new schedule includes production and office employees and is used to save on costs. The entire plant is shut down on the ‘off’ Friday. This saves on everything from electricity for lights, computers, and equipment to the water that flushes the toilets. It also saves employees in gas for commuting to work that extra day. It may not seem like much in a day, but it does add up.
When switching work weeks, you need to keep in mind some extra review is required. Employers, specifically, the payroll department needs to review the hours that overlap on the work week change. In our case, we switched the work week by 12 hours. We have to review the work week as it was originally and then review the work week with the change. If overtime is greater in either week, it must be paid. We must look at each employee timecard and determine in favor of the employee. We have around 1200 employees. We have a big project for the month of June. Section 2.6-1 of the Payroll Source is an excellent guide for this type of review.
Do you have any ideas or suggestions that would make a transition like this easier?
Brain Two
Our most recent change is to our work week. Changing a work week is tricky stuff. A lot of communication needs to be involved. This includes communication with supervisors and managers and also to the employees. Things that need to be communicated are changes to schedules, if any, and most importantly, changes to paychecks. Another task is to update our compliance documents so we are prepared when the auditors come a visiting.
During our recent change, we switched from a 5/40 schedule (working 40 hours within 5 days) to a 9/80 schedule. A 9/80 schedule is working 80 hours within 9 days and having the 10th day off. Employees would work 9 hours Monday through Thursday and 8 hours on Friday and then 9 hours Monday through Thursday with Friday off, rinse and repeat. The Friday where 8 hours is worked, 4 hours go in Week 1 and 4 hours go to Week 2. In order to do this, you need to change the work week to half way through Friday. This can be accomplished on any pay cycle. We happen to be on a bi-weekly cycle. This new schedule includes production and office employees and is used to save on costs. The entire plant is shut down on the ‘off’ Friday. This saves on everything from electricity for lights, computers, and equipment to the water that flushes the toilets. It also saves employees in gas for commuting to work that extra day. It may not seem like much in a day, but it does add up.
When switching work weeks, you need to keep in mind some extra review is required. Employers, specifically, the payroll department needs to review the hours that overlap on the work week change. In our case, we switched the work week by 12 hours. We have to review the work week as it was originally and then review the work week with the change. If overtime is greater in either week, it must be paid. We must look at each employee timecard and determine in favor of the employee. We have around 1200 employees. We have a big project for the month of June. Section 2.6-1 of the Payroll Source is an excellent guide for this type of review.
Do you have any ideas or suggestions that would make a transition like this easier?
Brain Two
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Baby Steps Bob, Baby Steps
Brain Two here is wondering why we make things more complicated than they needed?
I was reminded of this a couple of times in the past week. The first lesson was for us in Payroll. Our site is switching to a new work week and it was left to us for testing. Payroll vs. Labor Department is an entire other topic of how we work together and yet keep certain duties separate. Anyway, we started testing a new work week in the test database for our timekeeping system. We immediately began looking at intricate scenarios. As we were going through, we were able to identify some issues. However, after some further review, we found some of the basic set ups were not correct and that was effecting our calculations. Back to the drawing board we went.
We started over, testing the most simplified scenario just to see if the basic set ups were accurate. Here we found some modifications that needed to be made that would effect the entire population. Once modifications were made, and the simple scenarios worked, we reviewed the intricate scenarios and basically tried to break the system. That’s what you need to do when testing; find different things that can go wrong. I am feeling a little better about the whole thing. This type of testing is new to both of us and a huge learning experience. We are not comparing apples to apples. I’d say apples to oranges, but this is crazy so let’s say we are apples to nuts.
The second lesson made me feel a little smart because I was part of the solution. We were brought into the situation late after decisions were already being made without us. By thinking simple and redirecting, we made the transition of buildings go smoothly. It’s amazing how people can complicate the simplest things. It is up to the folks who are the low men/women on the totem pole to set them straight.
What ways have you found to make tasks less convoluted?
I was reminded of this a couple of times in the past week. The first lesson was for us in Payroll. Our site is switching to a new work week and it was left to us for testing. Payroll vs. Labor Department is an entire other topic of how we work together and yet keep certain duties separate. Anyway, we started testing a new work week in the test database for our timekeeping system. We immediately began looking at intricate scenarios. As we were going through, we were able to identify some issues. However, after some further review, we found some of the basic set ups were not correct and that was effecting our calculations. Back to the drawing board we went.
We started over, testing the most simplified scenario just to see if the basic set ups were accurate. Here we found some modifications that needed to be made that would effect the entire population. Once modifications were made, and the simple scenarios worked, we reviewed the intricate scenarios and basically tried to break the system. That’s what you need to do when testing; find different things that can go wrong. I am feeling a little better about the whole thing. This type of testing is new to both of us and a huge learning experience. We are not comparing apples to apples. I’d say apples to oranges, but this is crazy so let’s say we are apples to nuts.
The second lesson made me feel a little smart because I was part of the solution. We were brought into the situation late after decisions were already being made without us. By thinking simple and redirecting, we made the transition of buildings go smoothly. It’s amazing how people can complicate the simplest things. It is up to the folks who are the low men/women on the totem pole to set them straight.
What ways have you found to make tasks less convoluted?
Monday, May 10, 2010
An introverts point of view
Brain One: I am an introvert. This is how I perceive myself, and most likely is the first impression I give to others. To myself, I wonder if it’s just social anxieties that need to be overcome. It’s that queasy feeling in the pit of your stomach along with that voice inside your head that says you are going to make an idiot of yourself. So, I keep quiet and let others take the lead.
Letting others lead is not a bad thing. This gives you the opportunity to listen. You learn more from listening than you do from opening your mouth and inserting your foot. Look for a common ground; this will give you an opportunity to join in the conversation. The first impression might be “she’s quiet”; but a lasting impression might be “she’s a good listener”.
My philosophical tendencies when I write do not always adhere to my reality. We can all claim moments of irrevocable dysfunctional discourse.
Wow! I love big words. Everyone should own a Thesaurus; especially a Meteorologist. Every summer I wonder how many times they can say that it is “sticky” outside. Keep in mind that it is not just the words we use, but how we use them. In Elementary School we are taught the basics of writing and communication. One thing that remains foremost in my memory is teachers saying, “Stop using the word “I” to start every sentence.” Was this a way to remind us that not everything revolves around us?
Ok, so I’m getting off track here. But it only goes to prove my point. Sometimes listening is better than babbling like an idiot.
Let's learn to listen. Sometimes what you hear is more important than what you have to say. If you listen hard enough you might even hear what is not being said.
Letting others lead is not a bad thing. This gives you the opportunity to listen. You learn more from listening than you do from opening your mouth and inserting your foot. Look for a common ground; this will give you an opportunity to join in the conversation. The first impression might be “she’s quiet”; but a lasting impression might be “she’s a good listener”.
My philosophical tendencies when I write do not always adhere to my reality. We can all claim moments of irrevocable dysfunctional discourse.
Wow! I love big words. Everyone should own a Thesaurus; especially a Meteorologist. Every summer I wonder how many times they can say that it is “sticky” outside. Keep in mind that it is not just the words we use, but how we use them. In Elementary School we are taught the basics of writing and communication. One thing that remains foremost in my memory is teachers saying, “Stop using the word “I” to start every sentence.” Was this a way to remind us that not everything revolves around us?
Ok, so I’m getting off track here. But it only goes to prove my point. Sometimes listening is better than babbling like an idiot.
Let's learn to listen. Sometimes what you hear is more important than what you have to say. If you listen hard enough you might even hear what is not being said.
Friday, April 23, 2010
What is your inspiration?
Brain One: The proverbial light bulb that goes off in your head as inspiration strikes.
Mine came from the actual changing of light bulbs in my bathroom last night. Realizing that I was out of regular light bulbs, I put in those new energy efficient spiral looking bulbs. Three 60 watt bulbs to be exact. Flipping on the light switch, I found myself blinded in the brilliance of my bathroom (and the realization that I needed to clean). What an inspiration. This in turn made me think deeper on the subject. Not to mention the thought that I might need to wear sun glasses just to take a shower.
Okay, keep in mind that I have had greater moments. Co-workers, Managers, and friends have been an inspiration to me. Without them I would not have aspired to obtain my CPP. However, it was the motivation of the end goal that drove me to study.
Remember, Motivation is different than Inspiration. That bathroom will not clean itself. Every day we set goals for ourselves. At the end of the day, do you fall short of those goals because of lack of motivation? It is a great thing to be inspired, but it is even better when you have the motivation to do something about it.
So, what is your inspiration? And do you have the courage to motivate yourself to achieve your inspirations?
Mine came from the actual changing of light bulbs in my bathroom last night. Realizing that I was out of regular light bulbs, I put in those new energy efficient spiral looking bulbs. Three 60 watt bulbs to be exact. Flipping on the light switch, I found myself blinded in the brilliance of my bathroom (and the realization that I needed to clean). What an inspiration. This in turn made me think deeper on the subject. Not to mention the thought that I might need to wear sun glasses just to take a shower.
Okay, keep in mind that I have had greater moments. Co-workers, Managers, and friends have been an inspiration to me. Without them I would not have aspired to obtain my CPP. However, it was the motivation of the end goal that drove me to study.
Remember, Motivation is different than Inspiration. That bathroom will not clean itself. Every day we set goals for ourselves. At the end of the day, do you fall short of those goals because of lack of motivation? It is a great thing to be inspired, but it is even better when you have the motivation to do something about it.
So, what is your inspiration? And do you have the courage to motivate yourself to achieve your inspirations?
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Introduction
Brain One: Welcome Payroll Fans! Well, isn’t everyone a fan of being paid? Then you too are a Payroll Fan.
My name is Holly. Since I am writing this, I have decided to be selfish and refer to myself as Brain One. This does not in any way insinuate to which of the two brains has greater knowledge. Brain One (Holly) and Brain Two (Robin) is only a way to differentiate between the two authors of this blog.
Brain Two (Robin) is my colleague and dear friend. We have known each other longer than we have been working in Payroll. A long time when you consider that we have been working in Payroll since 1995 & 1996. In the past two years we have both accomplished one of our greatest professional goals by becoming Certified Payroll Professionals (CPP).
Our reasons behind this blog are to share our knowledge, our faux pas, and our illustrious adventures. In addition, we hope to gain insight from others within the Payroll field.
My name is Holly. Since I am writing this, I have decided to be selfish and refer to myself as Brain One. This does not in any way insinuate to which of the two brains has greater knowledge. Brain One (Holly) and Brain Two (Robin) is only a way to differentiate between the two authors of this blog.
Brain Two (Robin) is my colleague and dear friend. We have known each other longer than we have been working in Payroll. A long time when you consider that we have been working in Payroll since 1995 & 1996. In the past two years we have both accomplished one of our greatest professional goals by becoming Certified Payroll Professionals (CPP).
Our reasons behind this blog are to share our knowledge, our faux pas, and our illustrious adventures. In addition, we hope to gain insight from others within the Payroll field.
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