Holiday shutdown 2022/23: A checklist for HR and Payroll professionals

For most employees, the holiday season is a time for regrouping and rejuvenation, but not for HR and Payroll professionals. The end-of-the-year shutdown period presents HR and Payroll professionals with many challenges. Our consultants have identified some issues that need to be addressed.

1. Shutdown period preparation
- Establish shutdown dates and communicate them to all employees
- Incorporate these dates into your payroll system so that public holidays are appropriately accounted for
- Communication of the procedure for requesting leave during the shutdown. 

2. Rostering
- Finalising rosters in advance and maintaining backup lists with contact information and availability
- The preparation of skeleton staff schedules and the provision of contact information for relevant persons in case of an emergency. 

3. Recruitment, onboarding, and offboarding
- Delaying new starters to commence employment from the first business day of the new year
- Onboarding new employees by completing the necessary paperwork
- Retrieving office equipment from employees leaving the organisation during the shutdown. 

4. Payroll and Finance
- Establishing the final year-end pay run date and advising employees
- Implementing changes to awards effective January 1, 2023, to ensure systems reflect those changes
- Tracking terminations of employees during the shutdown period to avoid overpayments.

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The information contained in this blog is general in nature. If you are unsure how this applies to you, please contact us at VeiraMal Consulting. Our consultants will be happy to guide you through this.