NATIONAL PAYROLL WEEK
National Payroll Week (NPW) during the week of Labor Day celebrates payroll professionals. Getting paid wouldn’t be possible without the people who make it happen. So recognize the ones who make those calculations goes through.
The observance raises national awareness of the efforts of professionals in the payroll industry. Additionally, the campaign provides an educational component. It’s designed to help workers learn more about their paychecks, the payroll withholding system, and payroll-related benefits.
Did you know:
- In 1932, the Hollywood Candy Company created the Payday candy bar. At the time, the inventors at the company (owned Frank Martoccio) didn’t know what to call their new creation. Since it happened to be payday, one of them suggested they call it a Payday Bar.
- According to ancient “paystubs,” employees in Egypt and Mesopotamia used to be paid in beer and other commodities.
- The most common pay frequency in the US is biweekly. This frequency is used by 37 percent of private businesses. Surprisingly, weekly pay frequency beats semimonthly as a runner-up at 32 percent.
- Paychecks around the world differ. For example in Afghanistan, many people do not have bank accounts. However, they do have cell phones. So, employees get their net pay deposited into a mobile phone account rather than a bank account.
- Libya collects a Jihad Tax through payroll. It was founded in the 1970s to aid the Palestinians in their struggle against Israel.
- Together, through the payroll withholding system, payroll professionals collect, contribute, and report 70% of the US Treasury’s annual revenue.
HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalPayrollWeek
One of the biggest goals of the week strives to improve workers’ understanding of their paychecks. Employers, offering a “Paychecks 101” workshop will help educate employees. Become a savvy earner by attending a workshop offered by an employer or local business group. Improve your community by bringing these same workshops to local businesses employing teens and young adults.
Another option, attend Money Matters National Education Day. This national volunteer effort by APA members teaches teens new to the workforce all about their paychecks
Don’t stop there. Visit the official website https://www.nationalpayrollweek.com to learn more. Follow the event on Facebook to learn more about the activities being offered all week.
As you learn and participate, use #NationalPayrollWeek to join the conversation.
NATIONAL PAYROLL WEEK HISTORY
In 1996, the American Payroll Association (APA) founded National Payroll Week (NPW) to celebrate the partnership between America’s employees, the payroll professionals who pay them, and the critical government programs and agencies that our payroll system funds.
The (APA) is a professional association for individuals responsible for processing company payrolls. The Association conducts payroll training courses and seminars on a yearly basis. They also publish a library of payroll resource texts and newsletters. The APA has approximately 21,000 members, 121 APA-affiliated local chapters, and registered lobbyists based in Washington, D.C.
