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Closer Encounters – Payroll’s Open House

by Anita Bingaman

In this age of using email to communicate, workers are becoming more and more isolated and the UW’s payroll processors are no exception. Much of the departmental Payroll Coordinator’s communication with Payroll staff is by phone or, more often than not, via email. There are, on occasion, the “almost close encounters” with real people in the lobby of the Benefits Building when Coordinators hurriedly drop off or pick up documents, stand in line, or lean across the reception counter to discuss a problem. There is little time to meet any of the Payroll staff, put a face with a name, or take a few minutes to chat.

All that changed at the annual Payroll Open House on September 7th when the Payroll Office celebrated National Payroll Week. The doors to the Payroll Office were thrown open and Coordinators were invited to come into the internal halls of Payroll. Balloons and banners set a festive tone compared to the very businesslike mood that exists at other times. Guests were greeted at the door and offered a chance to enter their name in a drawing for a National Payroll Week tee-shirt, provided by the American Payroll Association.

To break the ice there was a multiple choice questionnaire on payroll facts and processes. Since it was a self test with the answers available, many of the Coordinators were willing to test themselves. It was agreed that the test was another way to learn more about the payroll process.

Once guests felt comfortable, the office filled with laughter and the sounds of many conversations. The most often heard refrain was, “It is so nice to put a face with a name. Now when I talk to you I can have a face to go with your voice.”

Using this fun relaxed atmosphere Payroll continued its goal of educating and supporting the Coordinators to better meet their customers’ needs. A table of snacks enticed guests past flow charts, bar graphs and descriptions of payroll processes. These visual depictions provided useful information about the many aspects of the Payroll Office.

It was agreed by guests as they left that the 3rd Annual National Payroll Week was a rousing success and that there should be one next year. Everyone was glad to have a closer encounter with Payroll staff and to have the opportunity to relax, have fun, chat with coworkers, meet new people and learn something new.