Recognizing how payroll professionals help employees pursue goals and reach milestones
National Payroll Week 2026 is highlighting the ways in which payroll professionals apply their credentials and expertise to help employees strengthen their financial well-being. hirun via getty images
Most employees would readily agree it is crucial their paycheques are accurate and delivered on time, and they acknowledge that payroll’s function is very important to their lives. They may not be as aware of the added value that payroll professionals provide when they apply their expertise to solving problems or enhancing a person’s financial well-being.
Christine Khatchérian, PCP (Payroll Compliance Professional), working in Montreal, Quebec, was approached by a company employee who feared they wouldn’t qualify for the mortgage they were seeking.
“They needed help,” Ms. Khatchérian explains. “Her lender needed accurate year‑to‑date figures and proof of income, and they needed it fast.”
Ms. Khatchérian stepped up to create the kind of record that would put the employee on a strong footing with the lender. She worked quickly, understanding the importance of the situation. She then issued a clean employment income letter with accurate, reconciled figures that demonstrated the employee’s stability.
“She came back a week later with tears in her eyes; she had been approved for her first home,” Ms. Khatchérian says. “She told me, ‘I didn’t think payroll had anything to do with dreams, but you proved me wrong.’
“That moment reminded me why payroll matters: we don’t just process numbers; we safeguard people’s milestones.”
“Milestones” is the theme of this year’s National Payroll Week, held annually during the third week of September to recognize the contributions of payroll professionals and the important role they play in keeping the economy moving.
“This year, we’re highlighting the moments made possible by payroll,” says Peter Tzanetakis, president and CEO of the National Payroll Institute. “Whether it’s finally booking that dream vacation, faithfully saving towards your retirement, obtaining the necessary paperwork to secure your first home or making sure you’re covered while on parental leave – payroll professionals have your back in some of life’s biggest moments.”
The campaign was originally inspired by story from a National Payroll Institute member. When an employee had maxed their CPP contributions for the year, the member suggested that he put that extra money that was now going to appear on his net pay into a savings account. He followed her advice and, later that year, came to show her the engagement ring he was able to buy, in part, thanks to those additional savings.
Throughout the campaign, payroll professionals have shared their own stories and the milestones they have supported.
“The stories have been incredible, and they speak to how much impact payroll professionals have on employees’ lives,” says Mr. Tzanetakis.
“Payroll is often believed to be a back office function, rather than a career. Some believe it’s as easy as pushing a button. But that’s simply not the case,” he says. “There are incredibly talented, caring, compassionate professionals behind Canadians’ paycheques, and bringing that realization to more people is what National Payroll Week is all about.”
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To view the full report as it appeared in The Globe's print edition National Payroll Week