Simplifying Payroll and Gaining Confidence at Steinbach Dental Clinic

Simplifying Payroll and Gaining Confidence at Steinbach Dental Clinic 

For more than a decade, Melissa Friesen has been a central part of Steinbach Dental Clinic’s operations. What began as a bookkeeping and payroll role gradually expanded to include human resources, employee benefits administration, and overall operations management. With so many responsibilities under one roof, payroll needed to be dependable, efficient, and low stress—something that wasn’t always the case. 

Before Powerpay, Melissa relied on QuickBooks Payroll, a system she found confusing and time-consuming. Making adjustments wasn’t intuitive, tracking source deductions was complicated, and she often had to bring in outside QuickBooks experts just to get payroll done correctly. “It cost me a lot of money and it took a lot of time,” she said. “I remember thinking there had to be a better way to do payroll.” 

That turning point came through a recommendation from a friend who suggested Powerpay, and encouraged Melissa to simply call and ask questions. That call marked the beginning of a relationship that has now lasted more than 14 years. 

Getting started with Powerpay required focus, but it was supported every step of the way. Melissa worked closely with a Powerpay representative over the course of about a week, meeting daily to review payroll data, walk through the system, and run test payrolls. When challenges came up, she remembers being reassured rather than rushed. “There were moments where I felt discouraged,” she said, “but they kept saying, ‘We’re going to get through this. We’ve come too far to stop now.’ I’m so glad I stuck with it.” 

Today, Melissa’s payroll process is far simpler and far more predictable. She confirms employee hours using timesheets, enters any adjustments or benefit premiums into a workbook, and submits everything for processing. Tasks that once felt complicated, hours, deductions, and adjustments, are now routine. She estimates she saves about 60 minutes every pay period, time that used to be spent reviewing numbers, fixing errors, and second-guessing calculations. “It used to take me at least an hour more to do payroll,” she explained. “Now it’s much simpler.” 

The reduction in manual work has also reduced stress. With timesheets clearly documenting employee hours, errors are less common and payroll no longer feels fragile. Processing is fast and reliable, typically completed the morning after submission, with reports immediately available for review. Melissa no longer worries about source deduction notices or compliance issues, and she feels confident that everything is being handled correctly. 

A major part of that confidence comes from the support behind the platform. Melissa works closely with her payroll specialist, Krista, who reviews submissions, responds quickly to emails, and ensures payroll runs accurately. “Every time she runs my payroll, I feel confident that things will go through the way they should,” Melissa said. That trust has eliminated the anxiety she once felt after submitting payroll, especially heading into weekends or busy periods. 

Employee self-service has also made a difference. Most staff access their pay stubs and T4s online, which reduces interruptions and administrative back-and-forth. When issues do arise, such as password resets, Melissa can resolve them quickly and move on with her day. 

After more than a decade using Powerpay, Melissa doesn’t hesitate when asked if she would recommend it. “I would definitely recommend Powerpay to anybody,” she said, noting that she already has. For Steinbach Dental Clinic, Powerpay isn’t just a payroll system; it’s a reliable foundation that saves time, reduces stress, and allows Melissa to focus on the many other responsibilities that keep the practice running smoothly.