New research has highlighted the sniping between HR and payroll departments. It may not have the drama of the Blair/Brown split but it matters to people who work in either of these departments. Twenty-two per cent of payroll and 19 per cent of HR employees believe there is tension between the departments, according to Snowdrop, an HR and payroll software provider. In addition, more than 60 per cent of payroll employees think that HR is giving them inaccurate information and 54 per cent say that the department does not keep them informed.

Almost a third of payroll staff think HR is too slow in responding to its requests, and a third also think that HR does not value it. On the positive side, however, 88 per cent of payroll staff and 90 per cent of HR employees get on with each other.

"There is a real disparity between the responses of HR and payroll. If HR doesn't wise up to the issues payroll is raising it could really damage working relationships. For a business to be successful, departments need to use a collaborative approach," said Michael Richards, chief executive at Snowdrop.

The main findings are shown below:

• Payroll is unhappy with its relationship with HR.
• A total of 61 per cent think HR consistently fails to deliver accurate information.
• More than half believe HR does not keep it up-to-date.
• In excess of a third think HR is slow to respond to requests.
• About a third believe HR does not value the job payroll does.
• A quarter agree there is tension between the departments.
• A total of 86 per cent of HR think payroll always gives accurate information.
• Eight in ten believe payroll keeps it in the loop.
• More than 91 per cent agree that payroll is quick to respond to HR's requests.
• Approximately 78 per cent think payroll values the HR function.
• Although 19 per cent believe there is tension between them, 91 per cent of HR ranked payroll of high importance to the business.
• The majority of respondents believe the departments need to work more closely: 96 per cent payroll, 85 per cent HR.
• More than half do not have integrated software: 56 per cent payroll, 50 per cent HR.
• Both functions said there would be benefits in thinking of the bigger picture: 59 per cent payroll, 49 per cent HR.
• Both want information without prompting: 69 per cent payroll, 35 per cent HR).
• Fourteen per cent of payroll think HR should conduct itself more professionally .
• More than a quarter of HR professionals think payroll should use its initiative more.