National Payroll Week US: Celebrating the Unsung Heroes of Business

Payroll is the lifeblood of every organization. It ensures people get paid on time, every time. However, like many functions of the modern workplace, it's often taken for granted. Speedy and accurate payroll is the expected standard, with teams usually only taking the spotlight if something goes wrong.

That’s why initiatives like National Payroll Week matter — they allow us to recognize, celebrate, and elevate the payroll profession.

What is National Payroll Week?

Established by the American Payroll Association (APA) in 1996, National Payroll Week runs annually in early September. In 2025, it runs from September 1 to September 5. According to the APA, NPW “celebrates America’s employees and the payroll professionals who pay them. Together, through payroll withholding, we contribute, collect, report, and deposit approximately 70% of the U.S. Treasury’s annual revenue.”

The initiative highlights the vital contributions of payroll professionals to both employees and the national economy. Beyond the billions of dollars processed in taxes and benefits, payroll accuracy is essential for trust, financial well-being, and employee satisfaction.

It’s celebrated both officially by the APA and informally by companies across the country through:

• The Money Matters initiative, which aims to equip high school students with essential money management skills.
• A digital guide to help you plan your celebration.
• Social media engagement, with the hashtag #PayrollWeek widely used by payroll teams and employers across the U.S.

How to celebrate your payroll team

Take the opportunity to highlight the great work and dedication of your payroll team. Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. An in-person get-together. Host a casual hangout for your team, giving them a few options to choose from (coffee break vs lunch out, for example). This is ideal for hybrid or onsite teams, as it encourages team bonding whilst also recognizing their contributions.

2. A digital get-together. Organized online ‘fun’ can sometimes be anything but! However, remote payroll employees also deserve to be celebrated and feel connected. Here are 40+ ideas for virtual team-building activities to bring people together for a virtual hangout.

3. Company-wide shoutouts. If your organization uses things like ‘shout out’ channels in Slack, or reserves time in the monthly all-hands to celebrate small wins, use these spaces to highlight the payroll team. Share examples of when they’ve gone above and beyond, or give the rest of the company a ‘behind the scenes’ look at what really goes on in payroll.

4. Attend events and workshops. Check out the webinars on offer through the CIPP, and encourage team members to join. Or, see what’s coming up at Deel. We host weekly webinars and in-person events all over the world.

5. Offer training. If you have a bit of budget to work with, consider offering training and education opportunities. This shows that your organization is serious about investing in the growth of your payroll professionals. (If you don’t have a budget, our course covering International Payroll Fundamentals is free! Ideal for teams who are preparing for international expansion.)

6. Get involved on social media. Use the hashtag #PayrollWeek. Try sharing your experience as a payroll professional, debunking some common myths, sharing wins, or posting shoutouts for your colleagues.

“Payroll isn’t just about paychecks.” - Kerri Swope, Head of Payroll Operations at Deel

As Deel’s Head of Payroll Operations, Kerri Swope knows what it means to keep the workforce moving from behind the scenes. Here, she shares some thoughts on the importance of recognizing the unsung heroes of the working world, and some insights into the future of the profession.

Why is National Payroll Week important?

“National Payroll Week shines a light on a profession that quietly impacts nearly every working American. Payroll isn’t just about paychecks—it’s about trust, financial security, and compliance.

Recognizing payroll professionals reminds us that behind every accurate deposit and every compliant filing is a team of experts ensuring that people and businesses can operate smoothly. It’s a chance to acknowledge the enormous responsibility carried out each pay cycle and to celebrate the people who make it happen.”

What makes payroll professionals “unsung heroes”?

“Payroll professionals rarely make headlines when things go right—but they certainly do when things go wrong. They carry the weight of ensuring millions of workers get paid accurately and on time, all while navigating complex and ever-changing tax laws, compliance rules, and systems.

They’re often the first line of defense against errors that could disrupt lives and businesses. That quiet reliability makes them heroes in every sense of the word, even if they don’t always get the recognition they deserve.”

Besides the obvious (timely and accurate payroll), what do payroll professionals bring to the table?

“Payroll professionals are problem-solvers, compliance experts, and trusted advisors. They protect businesses from financial and regulatory risk, ensure data accuracy across multiple systems, and serve as a bridge between HR, finance, and employees. They also drive efficiency through process improvements and automation.

What often goes unnoticed is their role in creating peace of mind—employees don’t have to worry about their paychecks, and companies can focus on growth, knowing payroll is in safe hands.”

What do you think the future has in store for payroll?

“The future of payroll is about intelligence, automation, and global scale. As technology evolves, payroll will shift from being a back-office function to a strategic driver of business insights. AI and automation will eliminate repetitive tasks, freeing payroll professionals to focus on higher-value work like analytics and employee experience.

Global businesses will rely on payroll not only for compliance but also for workforce strategy, as payroll data becomes a key lever for decision-making. In many ways, payroll is moving from being “unsung” to being recognized as a core pillar of organizational success.”

Streamline global payroll with Deel

Payroll is the foundation of trust, well-being, and employee satisfaction. Whether you’re managing local teams or scaling globally, Deel helps you run payroll seamlessly across 130+ countries.

Give your payroll teams the tools they need to drop the chaos and say goodbye to fragmented tool stacks. Book your 30-minute Deel demo today.