01 November 2021
Lora Murphy ACIPP, CIPP editor, reveals recommendations for keeping up to date with ever-evolving legislation and guidance, and how to digest payroll updates
Payroll never stands still. This is something that those who have never worked in the profession will fully understand. We – the payroll professionals – know the truth. Processes that we have worked on contentedly for years, following initial struggles to comprehend, could change at any given time.
Look at the monumental changes payroll teams have had to deal with over the years – the roll out of automatic enrolment (AE), which commenced in 2012, the implementation of real time information (RTI) in 2013 and, most recently, dare I mention it – it may still be too raw – the introduction of the coronavirus job retention scheme (CJRS) in 2020.
There are some easy ways for you to ensure you are fully up to date with changes to payroll legislation and guidance. Utilise your membership with the CIPP to the full and follow the top tips below.
News Online
The CIPP publishes all payroll-related news, so be sure to regularly visit the page: http://ow.ly/fREX30rWMIM, and check your emails for the associated newsletter. News stories are also posted to a variety of the CIPP’s social media platforms, including LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. A top tip would be to follow the CIPP on LinkedIn if you don’t already. This will give you the opportunity to, not only see news as it becomes available, but also to follow updates such as those announced within Budget speeches, in real time.
Also, look out for any Breaking News emails. They include information the payroll professional cannot afford to miss and are sent out as soon as the news is made public.
BeKnowledgeable webinar series
The BeKnowledgeable webinars aim to deliver detailed information on topical subjects, and to put things into practice for payroll teams. Rather than just relaying legislation, the sessions delve into a key area of payroll and several examples are always incorporated to aid understanding.
The webinars are great for ensuring knowledge is up to date and accurate and provide the opportunity for attendees to present questions to the CIPP’s policy team.
Further sessions are expected in the future, but confirmed for this year are BeKnowledgeable sessions on:
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Post-pandemic payroll – 26 October 2021
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Statutory absence payments – 17 November 2021
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Overpayments – 14 December 2021
Do not miss your opportunity to get involved, and keep your eyes peeled for email updates about future sessions.
Webcasts
The CIPP’s policy team believes in providing information through a variety of different mediums, as we are aware that different people learn and digest guidance in different ways. Therefore, there is a page on the CIPP’s website dedicated solely to webcasts – http://ow.ly/zTSu30rXqgC.
Sit back and relax whilst listening to one of the team talking you through a subject that payroll professionals need to be familiar with.
Factsheets
As with the webcasts, the factsheets have been designed to cater to the different learning styles of members. The sheets can be printed off and used as handy guides when processing certain elements of payroll. The factsheets can be accessed here: http://ow.ly/tpyx30rXqlA.
Specialist interest groups (SIGs)
On the CIPP’s webpage, you can access a range of SIGs. These are groups created to allow associated, full, fellow and Chartered CIPP members to discuss a range of topics with other payroll professionals.
The SIGs can be located here: http://ow.ly/LphJ30rXqo7.
It’s good to talk
Chat with your colleagues. Talk to your friends who work in payroll departments at other organisations. Call the CIPP’s Advisory Service team.
Communication is crucial within payroll, and it is great sharing ideas with other people who may bring a unique perspective to something you are working on. Guidance and legislation can easily be misinterpreted, which is why it is comforting to have the safety blanket of your payroll peers and the Advisory Service team when establishing what something may mean, and the ‘domino effect’ it could cause. Don’t be shy to contact the policy team to air your views and opinions on upcoming changes – regardless of whether the feedback is good or bad. Use your voice because it’s important!
Use social media
In modern society, social media has massive influence. Previous reference was made to LinkedIn – you only need to scroll the site to see the number of payroll-related stories and articles posted via this medium.
Notifications of updates and changes to guidance are often picked up by the policy team in this way, prompting them to investigate further. If you aren’t already signed up to LinkedIn, it would be a good idea to think about getting involved.
Featured in the November 2021 issue of Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward. Correct at time of publication.