Published on March 30, 2020 by Ram B in LInkedIn Pulse
If there is any blindfold test for HR, it is now being conducted by Corona. There is no other time which is as critical and as challenging for HR/Payroll professionals, as now. It has pushed them to play an office game which does not exist.
Covid – 19 has put the world out of gear. The fighters who are tirelessly working at the time of lockdown are Doctors, Other HealthCare providers, Policemen, Defence personnel, Media people, and Civic workers. Others can be at their houses either idling the time or WFH, albeit the people in the said categories cannot rest. They are warriors.
At this crucial juncture I would like to bring forth yet another category who deserve to be called as warriors – the Payroll Professionals. Today, the 31st March, 2020, Payroll professionals would be going through, probably the most hapless situation in their entire career. The outspread of Corona had left them impromptu ; having limited information of the paydata, had to prepare statements, make multiple calls to employees, get approval from HR Heads, process payroll and ensure salary hits bank accounts.
Everything in an organisation can wait except for processing payroll. An organisation may decide to pay in part or full or double or even as an advance ; it is the payroll professionals who are expected to be ready anytime to execute these decisions made by their CEOs / Business Leaders. Their efforts cannot be understated. They espouse the cause of all employees in their organisation.
Corona might have given a relatively rest period for almost all employees, but that should not be a stymie for processing payroll. Every company big or small has to pay salary to its employees. Since the livelihood of employees is dependent on their salary, that too at this crucial juncture, it has to be completed before the situation begins to fester.
The challenge for those who had to necessarily go to office (due to a standalone software in their desktop) and complete this assignment is much worse. This is neither like taking up an expedition nor the act can be told as a tall-tale for the next generation. All of us know that it is their job, and they are getting paid for it. But for them the problem is meaty. They need to protect themselves, their families and simultaneously pay their employees. They are just content with a few cups of coffee.
Hence in my opinion, they are warriors.
Let’s clap our hands for the unsung heroes – The Payroll Professionals. I request companies to conduct this as an office event once offices get reopened.
