Media Release
8 September 2005
Payroll People Of The Year Revealed
They open their homes to staff. They come into work at all hours, just to make sure we get paid. They are payroll
people, and last week we celebrated them.
This past Friday was National Payclerk Day, and the announcement of New Zealand's Payroll Person of the Year soon
followed. The award, organised by Payroll software provider Comacc, sought New Zealand's most loved payroll person.
Entries were in any medium, as long as they were creative.
Among the 1500 photos, collages, poems and other entries received was the story of a payroll officer who resumed work
just two days after a finger amputation - just to meet payday deadlines.
Another opened her home and kitchen when a resource consent delay meant her firm was without an office. From 6:30am
daily she made her house into a makeshift headquarters for a team of truck drivers.
Along with stories of courage and care there was plenty of humour - this poem in particular caught the judges' eyes:
"Our pay lady - she never makes mistakes This really is amazing 'cos she drinks her beer by the crates She's never
really sober but that's OK with us You wouldn't want to mess with her - she's built just like a bus"
Comacc managing director Steve Nathan says the awards inject a bit of fun into an otherwise thankless job, and raises
awareness in workplaces about the great work payroll people do.
Payroll person of the year is Sharon Orum of TQ3 Navigant Ltd. Sharon wins a two-night luxury mystery break for two,
flying Air New Zealand.
The runners up, taking home open travel vouchers worth $300, are Sandy Davidson of Wanganui's Masonic Court Home for the
Elderly, and Maryanne Partridge of Ecowize Ltd.
ENDS