More Than a Training Program

One afternoon, I was about to step onto an elevator when the doors across from me opened. Inside was a group of our interns, and almost in perfect unison, they all shouted, “Lou!” before the doors closed and they disappeared.

It was such a small moment, but I felt it in my heart and soul. For a brief second, I felt like the cool kid in an ’80s sitcom. More importantly, it captured what happened over the previous few weeks: somewhere between payroll lessons, system demos, inside jokes, and a lot of learning, we had built something special.

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to train a class of 20 interns in our Schaumburg office. I led their New Employee Orientation and spent the next four weeks helping them understand Paylocity, our software, and the world of payroll and HR.

We covered a lot. Through activities and live system demonstrations, they learned the fundamentals of payroll, taxes, time and labor, and company configuration. They also shadowed tenured account managers, getting a firsthand look at the role and learning from people who work in our system every day.

But training at Paylocity is about more than teaching someone how to do a job. From day one, I want people to feel like they belong here. We create space to get to know one another, have fun, ask questions, and show up as ourselves. Those connections matter, especially when you’re walking into an entirely new environment.

And this group embraced it.

Their energy was contagious. They were curious, engaged, and genuinely motivated to learn. Most people don’t arrive at Paylocity knowing the ins and outs of payroll, and these interns not only picked up complex concepts quickly, they asked thoughtful questions and brought meaningful conversations to our sessions. They challenged themselves and each other to keep learning.

I saw that curiosity turn into innovation during their capstone projects. One intern identified a challenge that new hires often face when learning the HR and payroll industry and developed a creative solution to help make that learning curve a little easier. Seeing them recognize a real problem and find a way to solve it was an incredible reminder of what can happen when we give people the opportunity to bring fresh perspectives to the table.

Just as impressive was watching the relationships form around me. The interns bonded quickly, supported one another, and brought plenty of humor into the classroom when we all needed a mental break from payroll and taxes. Even after our four weeks of training ended, they would stop me around the office, excited to say hello and tell me how things were going.

During their final week, I wanted one more chance to spend time together outside the classroom, so I invited the group to dinner across the street. Sixteen of my 20 interns came.

That meant more to me than they probably realized. These were some of their last nights of summer before heading back to school, and they chose to spend one of them together. We talked about their experiences, the relationships they had built, Paylocity’s culture, and what their futures here could potentially look like.

I went into the summer thinking about what I could teach these interns. I came out of it thinking about everything they had brought to Paylocity.

Their curiosity, creativity, energy, and willingness to connect reminded me why investing in people matters. When we give someone the opportunity to learn, contribute, and truly feel part of something, we’re doing more than preparing them for their next role. We’re helping create what comes next.

I’m grateful for the time I had with these 20 incredible individuals, and I hope many of them find their way back to Paylocity after graduation.

If this class was any indication, our future is in very good hands.