Smarter Week

How to automate it

How to automate “collect hours and changes and run payroll”

Here are 2 ways to spend less time on this, best first. Each comes with steps you can follow today.

90 min
typically, once a week
55%
of the time can be automated
Some setup
to set up

Fix 1 of 2

Software featureBest fix

Make the HR system feed payroll so nothing is keyed twice

When HR and payroll are one system or properly integrated, new hires, pay changes and deductions arrive in payroll without retyping.

Typically saves about 45% of the time4 h to set up
  1. 1List every change you re-key each payroll (new hires, raises, terminations, benefit deductions).
  2. 2Check whether your HR and payroll tools integrate natively (Rippling, Gusto, ADP Workforce Now, Paychex Flex, Paylocity, BambooHR with its payroll).
  3. 3Turn on the integration and agree HR as the source of truth.
  4. 4Run a pre-payroll change report each cycle to confirm what came across.

Tools: Rippling · Gusto · ADP Workforce Now · Paychex Flex · Paylocity · BambooHR

Fix 2 of 2

Automation

Connect time tracking to payroll with manager approval before cut-off

Hours flow straight from the time clock to payroll after managers approve them, so you stop collecting timesheets.

Typically saves about 50% of the time2 h to set up
  1. 1Pick the time tool that integrates with your payroll (QuickBooks Time, Deputy, Homebase, When I Work, or your payroll provider's own).
  2. 2Set an approval deadline for managers two days before payroll.
  3. 3Turn on automatic reminders for unapproved timesheets.
  4. 4Import approved hours into payroll in one step.

Tools: QuickBooks Time · Deputy · Homebase · When I Work · ADP, Gusto or Paychex time modules

Quick wins

Have you tried…

Does your HR system feed payroll directly, so you never re-key new hires or pay changes?
When HR and payroll are connected (or the same system, like Rippling, Gusto or ADP), changes made in HR show up in payroll automatically.

Who does this task

Roles in our library that list this as one of their common tasks. Each guide covers the rest of that role’s week.

HourLeak · the 8-minute work audit

How many hours does this cost you?

The free 8-minute check works out where your week goes and gives you your top fixes. The team scan does the same for everyone and adds it up, so you know which leaks to fix first.

Answers are anonymous. Leaders only see team totals.

Other common tasks for Payroll specialists