National Payroll Week | The most pressing considerations for payroll professionals in 2026

Over the past 12 months, payroll has absorbed a reworked sick pay calculation, day-one leave rights, liability for PAYE, a new enforcement regulator, and the groundwork for mandatory payrolling of benefits.

We asked how far payroll’s standing has genuinely shifted, how pay errors impact trust, retention, and liability, and whether the profession is truly equipped to deal with the pace of change.

Influence vs function

Lynne Scarsbrick, Head of Payroll at DSG Accountants, said the legislative pressures have been the single biggest contributor in amplifying her office’s strategic worth.

“With the ongoing change in payroll legislation, the business recognises this and has invested in new technology with advanced automation, allowing additional focus on strategic risk.”