Paylocity CHRO Cheryl Johnson Named One of Business Insider’s Most Innovative HR Leaders

Paylocity’s Chief Human Resources Officer, Cheryl Johnson, has been named one of Business Insider’s Most Innovative HR Leaders of 2022, her second consecutive year on the list. The editors selected 25 leaders from a range of companies who improved the employee experience in areas including worker safety and wellness, as well as diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Cheryl was included with peers from organizations including Cisco, Meta, Adobe, Blackrock, and WW International.

The article set up the importance of innovation for today’s HR leaders. “With workplace dynamics in flux, these executives are shaping the future of corporate America. They're building long-term policies around flexible work, finding new ways to attract talent, and addressing inequities that leave certain demographics at a disadvantage.” 

Reviewers from Business Insider observed the emphasis placed on our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) efforts, condensing many years of work into 18 months. During this time, our Chief Diversity Officer, Tauhidah Shakir, joined the team and we started improving DEIA, including sharing Paylocity's first ESG report.  We also rolled out employee resource groups (ERGs) and the Diversity Leadership Council (DLC) -- a team of cross functional leaders focused on driving DEIA across the organization.

The Paylocity HR team has a unique role.  As CHRO for an HR and Payroll software provider, Cheryl is not only responsible for implementing ideas to improve employee experience for nearly 5,000 employees, but also to add value to clients using the Paylocity platform.  Cheryl’s work has led to many additions to Paylocity’s comprehensive HR and payroll software, including the pay transparency functions and the Demographics Dashboard. These additions to the platform help thousands of HR professionals build better workplaces.

Toby Williams, President and Co-CEO for Paylocity, commented, “Culture is incredibly important at Paylocity, and we focus on building an environment where everyone can be their best.  Cheryl’s progressive thinking has a huge impact on our employee experience and the way we serve our clients.”

Business Insider described the efforts of our DLC and DEIA team to ensure Paylocity benefits intentionally built an inclusive and equitable culture for employees and their families. That work included aligning our employee medical plans with the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender Nonconforming People.

Another area highlighted by Business Insider was how Cheryl’s team supported employees during The Great Resignation that affected most companies.  Actions included forming task forces and conducting surveys to find out what makes people consider leaving or staying.  The team’s pay transparency program also helps employees find new pathways and freedom to impact how, where, and when they work.

To read the full story, go to https://www.businessinsider.com/human-resources-leaders-redefining-innovation-inclusion-2022-3.