As each new year brings its challenges, successes and failure, the important thing is to have an eye on the future as you manage the present. Creeping over the horizon in 2020 are a host of joyous compliance updates to look forward to, including STP Phase 2, AUSkey decommissioning and portable long-service-leave for the NDIS.
When you’ve dealt with the extra admin for the Christmas and New Year closedown, and taken stock of the year-that’s-been, it’s a great time to look beyond simple work metrics for success and bring some more of your personal values to your professional life.
Get some ‘me’ time: Rushing to finalise projects at year’s end can burn you out physically and mentally. ‘Me’ time doesn’t just mean a vacation – when your working year is over, look for ways you can block out space for reflection and to gain some perspective. If you won’t invest in yourself then no one will.
Take stock of success: What went well in 2019 and what didn’t? Was the ‘why’ behind success or failure due to people, process, strategy or resources? With the benefit of hindsight, you might be able to see a missing factor.
Build the bonds of achievement: It’s vital you celebrate a year of effort with your team and partners. Yes, it might be an extra expense, but it’s worth every cent in company culture by building camaraderie and ending the year on a high note.
Be patient before shutdown: It’s not over until it’s over! Get the details right on your end-of-year commitments (especially payroll) because you don’t want anything coming back to haunt you while you’re busy being on holidays. While everyone else is clocking off, this could be your opportunity to get a jump-start on 2020.
Make your opinion count: Each year brings new experiences and new insights, and you may have a lot to give back without realising. Is 2020 the year you’ll join an industry networking group or improve you LinkedIn presence? It might even be time to take an online course or a join a workshop.
Don’t underpay anyone in 2020: By far the easiest way to manage underpayments is to avoid them altogether, and regular review of your payroll function is critical. Using software that automatically calculates entitlements against the relevant award will save you a lot of pain (ask us for a recommendation ????). And if you’re not confident, even with the right tools?
Develop the case for change: No-one wants to have to update systems and processes, especially something as business critical as payroll. But the end of one year and the start of another could be the space you need to pitch the financial and operational benefits of a new payroll platform.
Outsourcing is the best way to go – let experts like Aurion manage your payroll for less cost than doing it yourself, and a better outcome.
In the words of Albert Einstein, “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.”
