The Payroll Conundrum.

I'm sure there is no need for me to tell you that Christmas is right around the corner?

Amongst the many tasks to tick off the to do list is staff pay. 

Whether you run a four week cycle, end of month or last Friday of the month (I have clients who run weekly, four weekly and monthly). 

The question is, do you pay staff early on the Christmas pay run? 

Why pay early:
You avoid running payroll over the break and your team gets money when they need it most. Who wouldn't want to get the boss a Christmas present. 

Why you might not:
January becomes a long stretch for everyone and your cash flow might take a hit right when quarterly bills are due.

The law
It's not a legal requirement to pay early. If payday falls on a bank holiday, you simply pay on the last working day before.

My advice
If you can, ask your team what they'd prefer and go with the majority.
Some might want early pay for Christmas shopping, others might prefer sticking to normal dates to avoid the January struggle. Asking your team is a proactive approach and shows that you listen and care about the importance of the individual.