EvenMORE For You

Our New Payroll Partner

Easy-to-Use with Personalized Functionality

New year. New better payroll company! Next week we’re introducing our new payroll partner Paycom, a comprehensive human resource (HR) and payroll app. 

A smoother, more personalized experience is what we were seeking for our team members. With Paycom we believe we have found a product that puts employees first.

That’s why, to make sure everyone reaps the benefits of this switch, you will need to use the Paycom app to ensure you are getting the most accurate pay possible. 

With Paycom you have 24/7 access to your HR information in Employee Self-Service®, where you can:

• Deposit your paycheck to multiple accounts
• See your take-home pay before payday
• Review and approve your paycheck
• Request time off
• Clock in and out
• Change contact information
• Review your deductions
• Change your tax withholdings

We want you to feel confident using Paycom, so please plan to attend one of the introductory webinars next week (See schedule and links below.) Paycom’s Transition Specialist Matt Masters will be presenting the training webinars. A recording will be available for anyone unable to attend one of the scheduled times. Please make sure to bring your mobile device or laptop to your training session.

You can attend a Paycom webinar via ZOOM on either of these days:

Wednesday, February 12
9 am CST/10 am EST
1 pm CST/2 pm EST

Thursday, February 13
9 am CST/10 am EST
3 pm CST/4 pm EST

Your first paycheck in Paycom will come on Thursday, March 6. We’re looking forward to a smooth transition to Paycom and to providing the support and training necessary to get all team members on board quickly.

Communication Through the Looking Glass

By Danny Gutknecht
The biggest challenge in business today is communication—it affects everything from the workplace to family dynamics. While we communicate for many reasons, at its core, communication is about relationships.

One of the healthiest and most important things we can do is use conversations to build strong connections. Nurturing both personal and professional relationships is essential to our well-being.

While we may want idealistic relationships, reality often looks different. But the beauty of communication lies in our differences—it’s when we don’t always jive, and the transformation is in working through it. It’s in the care of tuning the tensions between us that makes the music beautiful. Having a great team comes from sharing a common purpose while embracing diverse perspectives – respecting and communicating them.

Where does it go wrong? When we avoid necessary conversations, let things fester, or fail to communicate with care - we get lazy. Too often, we focus on how others need to improve—how they should listen better or be more transparent. While those concerns may be valid, we rarely consider how our own biases, internal narratives, and reflexes shape what we see, hear and say.

When we’re not in sync, we don’t just hear words—we interpret them through a toxic lens. If we feel unheard, a neutral response might seem dismissive. If we feel micromanaged, any structural change may feel like control. If we’ve been disappointed before, we may assume new initiatives will fail before they begin. Sometimes, we don’t lean into our relationships enough to understand our colleague - what they are dealing with.

Let’s be clear there are real problems, and this isn’t about ignoring issues or letting things slide—it’s about recognizing how our own reflexes shape our engagement and respecting that others are on this journey with us. Side by side and not doing things to us.

Any good leader will readily admit they’ve made more communication mistakes than conceivable—I certainly have. But the problem is that both leadership and communication are deeply personal. People want authenticity, so trying to fit into someone else’s model feels phony. While there’s merit in learning from others, real growth comes from live action.

If you chose to explore a few new approaches you might try: Instead of assuming others are intentionally ignoring concerns, consider that they may be overwhelmed, unsure of how to respond, or unaware of the full impact of their decisions. Instead of feeling frozen or silenced, try experimenting with different ways to communicate—turn your frustration into curiosity. “Why the heck would this person do this?” Making yourself important and go find out. Meaning comes from living. Small steps in your communication style lead to leaps of growth.

Shifting how we communicate means choosing a stance that increases the likelihood of being heard. It means engaging with care, recognizing when our emotions filter what we receive, and questioning whether our initial interpretation is the only one possible.

Challenge yourself, move beyond first reactions, examine your filters, and communicate in ways that create the kind of workplace you aspire towards—one conversation at a time.

February is Random Acts of Kindness Month

Nice Thoughts and Gestures have Impact

By Emily Hammer
Imagine a world where each of us commits to one act of kindness every day. Research shows that our stress levels would decrease, happiness would increase and empathy and compassion for others would abound. 

Furthermore, people can be inspired by acts of kindness causing a ripple effect of positivity. 

Would you like to try your hand at Random Acts of Kindness with your coworkers? 

The best ideas are simple. Write out your Random Acts of Kindness ideas and put them in a bowl. Choose one every morning and then pick a coworker to bestow your kindness on. 

Authenticity is key. Coming from a genuine place makes the impact that much more powerful. Try a variety of kindnesses, from small gestures like compliments to volunteering your time. 

And if you’re a people pleaser, be mindful to not overextend yourself. You can be kind without compromising your well-being.

Pro tip: For a more powerful experience, keep a journal and record your thoughts and feelings as you continue with this experiment throughout February. And remember, nothing says you can’t continue after February…

Take this Project Home

Whether it’s your family and friends, your local grocery store, gas station, or dry cleaner, you never know what a simple Random Act of Kindness could mean to someone. It could truly make a difference.

Another powerful way to spread kindness is to do it anonymously. Pay for the person’s coffee in line behind you. Leave several quarters in the vending machine to surprise the next person. Pull your neighbor’s garbage can up to the house.

Need more inspiration? Check out these great ideas.

Let’s face it, doing good for others, does us good. We all want goodness in our lives. Let’s show it this month at Crossroads with Random Acts of Kindness.