By hayley - While the rest of the office might be winding down with mince pies and Secret Santa, payroll teams are gearing up for what can be one of the most complicated months in the calendar.
First off, there’s the festive frenzy of bank holidays. With Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, and the 2nd of January, all clustered together, the normal payroll schedule can go out the window. You’ll need to make sure payments are processed earlier than usual to avoid any panicked calls from staff expecting their Christmas wages, but finding an empty account instead. No one wants to be that person who ruined Christmas! Also, a lot of employers opt to pay earlier than normal, making sure employees have money for those last minute prezzies. But if you’re doing this, make sure it’s your normal pay date that is on your payroll submission to HMRC.
Then, there’s the added joy of bonuses, overtime, and seasonal staff to factor in. Christmas is prime time for extra hours and performance bonuses, and if you’ve got temporary staff for the holiday rush, they’ll need paying too. The key here is double-checking everything: holiday pay, overtime calculations, and tax adjustments. Even the best payroll system can have a wobble, when there’s mulled wine involved (hopefully just in the break room!).
And let’s not forget, many employees might opt to take time off in December, so you’ll want to get ahead of any last-minute requests for payroll adjustments. Clear communication is crucial, a quick reminder email about cut-off dates and holiday processing can save a lot of headaches.
So, while the Christmas cheer is flowing, remember to keep an eye on those payroll deadlines. After all, a smooth December payroll means everyone can enjoy their festive season without any “Bah, humbug!” moments. And, once the last payslip is sent, you’ve earned that Christmas cracker and a well-deserved break!
We are busy here at Chanonry Payroll, determining our clients requirements for processing their December pay runs. It's always a busy month for us with early processing, and trying to carve out some time off for ourselves. The earlier you plan for December disruptions, the easier it'll be.
If you need any help, get in touch!
Hayley
info@chanonrypayroll.co.uk
07734322909