Internertional Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS) Advanced Officer Certification Practice Exam

Which department is responsible for payroll in a healthcare organization?

1. Administrative offices

2. Support units

3. HR

4. Logistics

The correct answer is: HR

In a healthcare organization, the Human Resources (HR) department is primarily responsible for payroll. This department manages the compensation and benefits of employees, which includes not only the calculation and distribution of salaries but also ensuring compliance with labor laws and organizational policies related to payroll. HR professionals handle issues such as tax withholding, overtime calculations, and any changes in employee status that could affect payroll, such as promotions or adjustments to hours worked. The HR department also plays a crucial role in employee onboarding and offboarding, ensuring that all personnel-related records are maintained accurately, which is essential for seamless payroll processing. This focus on payroll management is critical for maintaining staff satisfaction and retention, as timely and accurate pay reflects an organization's commitment to its employees. Other departments mentioned typically do not have primary responsibilities related to payroll. Administrative offices may oversee broader organizational tasks but do not specifically manage payroll. Support units may provide operational assistance to various departments but lack the specific function of payroll management. Logistics deals with the distribution and management of resources but does not typically handle payroll issues either.