After years of recognising the country's best payroll officers, Comacc - the US based payroll company has decided to expand its awards to encompass a wider group of 'people' professionals .

Managing Director Steve Nathan believes payroll and human resource staff have the toughest jobs at times and can have a huge impact on the quality of the workplace. "Some roles didn't exist in the past, such as Health and Safety officers, but they are critical to the well being of staff. The Comacc awards, which are in association with Drake International and CCH New Zealand, aim to acknowledge the dedication of individuals in the sector of people management. Aside from the overall 'excellence in people management' award, there are also awards for excellence in payroll administration, excellence in HR Information Management and for an outstanding personal contribution to workplace health and safety.