How payroll can help HR prepare for the future workplace

Nobody can predict the future. However, modernising payroll gives the space to contemplate a company’s unique workplace evolution. We are overwhelmed by predictions of the future workplace with most analysts affirming that Workforces will become even more flexible. We will start to see that employees will assert their independence in new ways. Hybrid and remote working will become the norm for almost every organisation. It remains to be seen if the 9-to-5 grind is coming to an end—or not. There is evidence pointing towards and away from these predictions. Some companies may be trialling 4-day work weeks while others are trying to lure employees back to the office. Some business models work very well remotely, while others struggle when they don’t have team members present. The more we try to unpack the potential futures of the workplace, the more scenarios appear. Managing Director at PaySpace by Deel, Sandra Crous says: “The only thing we can say with confidence is that nobody has the answers. What works for one business doesn’t necessarily work for another, which is not what business leaders want to hear. One day, we’ll have the answers. But we’re the ones who need to come up with those answers and put them to the test.” The certainty of flexibility With so many contradictions, business owners are questioning what the best way forward is. There is one very clear answer— we should be automating the tasks that stop HR departments from applying their minds to these crucial questions. A good example to consider is when you go shopping; which approach is more effective: making a shopping list beforehand or trying to figure it out while you shop? We all know that a shopping list is much more efficient and gives you the space to consider other options, such as price differences or taking advantage of a special. “Our brains can only handle so many things at a given point. If you try to do everything at once, you don’t do anything well. So, are there things that occupy your mind that don’t need to be there? I think this is the real definition of flexibility: it’s not just about choice but removing unnecessary choice,” says Sandra. When we look at HR staff in today’s world, they are like busy shoppers juggling between necessary and unnecessary choices. These professionals wear many hats, they interact with employees and owners, they juggle policies and culture, and they have the time-consuming responsibility of managing the workforce’s demands. HR professionals are also expected to help inform and cultivate a workplace’s future. But, for them to focus on the pertinent questions, they need more flexibility and space. Business owners should be prioritising the critical question: How can we create that space? Flexibility made possible with payroll The answer lies in automating and streamlining routine, yet crucial employee and business touchpoints, and payroll modernisation is the most obvious place to start, as payroll encompasses a lot. The main examples are remuneration, benefits calculation, leave allocation, budgeting for salaries, and employee loans. Yet, indirectly, payroll also relates to talent management and employee wellbeing. On a strategic level, payroll is a big cost to company and a nerve centre between employees and employers. Some payroll tasks are simple yet important, such as providing payslip information so an employee can do things like apply for asset finance. However, other things do become very complicated, such as changes to employment laws or managing staff across multiple regions. Can payroll help HR prepare for the future workplace? Just like shopping without a list, payroll tasks can overwhelm HR and other departments with routine yet crucial tasks pulling their attention in different directions. But, when we see payroll services start removing the clutter and demands of payroll through automation, self-service, and enriched integration, we are giving HR professionals the flexibility to apply their skills to the changing workplace. The future of offices is still an open-ended question that nobody can predict. Every organisation must figure that out for their circumstances. But having the capacity to adapt and integrate to change is more important than ever. So, if your HR people are constantly dealing with payroll issues, they don’t have the scope to envision long-term scenarios and feel the pulse of company workforces. Although nobody has conclusive answers on what tomorrow’s workplace will look like, we can and must empower the right people to apply their minds to future workplace questions and we can start doing this by removing things that shouldn’t consume the HR bandwidth. Start with payroll, it is the clear place to start. Get in touch with PaySpace today to find out how we can help you prepare for the future workplace.