OATdb Archive

2008 - 2009

Payroll

Goal
Governmental Relationships
Maintain strong relationships with various state and federal agencies.

Objective
Federal Compliance
100% compliance with reporting deadlines as provided by federal law.

Indicator
Penalties - Federal
Failure to provide accurate data in a timely manner produces penalties with interest charges.

Criterion
Zero Penalties Assessed - Federal
Payroll will produce all required documents/reports in an accurate manner and submit said documents as prescribed by federal authorities.

Finding
Zero Federal Penalties
Zero penalties assessed for FY 2008-2009

Action
Goal Met - Federal
Zero penalty goal has been met.

Objective
State Compliance
100% compliance with reporting deadlines as provided by state law.

Indicator
Penalties - State
Failure to provide accurate data in a timely manner produces possible penalties and public notification of failure to comply.

Criterion
Zero Penalties Assessed - State
Payroll will produce all required documents/reports in an accurate manner and submit said documents as prescribed by state authorities.

Finding
Zero State Penalties
Zero penalties assessed for FY 2008-2009

Action
Goal Met - State
Zero penalty goal met.

Goal
Employee Support
Provide support to university employees in both their personal employment issues and their professional tasks as related to Payroll.

Objective
Faculty And Staff Direct Deposit
Continue to encourage Direct Deposit among Faculty and Staff.

Indicator
Reduce Printed Check Count
Reduce volume of printed checks for payroll purposes.

Criterion
Reduce Printing
Achieve less than 80 employees receiving printed checks.

Finding
Printing Reduced
Currently printing less than 60 - on average - employee pay checks each pay period.

Action
Reduction Effort
Develop new methods of publicity about advantages of direct deposit. Provide deliberate promotion of direct deposit benefits to those that still receive paper checks.

Objective
Training
Establish both general and specific training for staff members in relation to Payroll associated tasks.

Indicator
Error Reduction
Provide training as needed or requested by departments in payroll specific tasks, thereby reducing the time and personnel involved in correcting error items.

Criterion
Increased Accuracy - Training
Training will reduce the amount of errors that are received in regard to paperwork submitted by departments. It will reduce the volume of paperwork returned to Human Resources for correction.

Finding
Staff Training
Powerpoint presentations can be customized to a group, department or individual.

Action
Training - Required And On Demand
Modules have been generated and customized presentations have begun with departments. In addition, access to certain Payroll programs is restricted until the employee requesting access attends training.

Objective
Employee Self-Service
Encourage faculty and staff to utilize online services.

Indicator
Reduction In Printing
Reduction in number of pay stubs printed by the Payroll Office on behalf of employees.

Criterion
Online Access
Provide online access to all employees, regardless of staff status, to payroll stubs.

Finding
Online Usage Increased
Effective March 2009, faculty and staff stubs are only printed on request by the employee. At the close of the year, we are printing stubs for less than 100 employees.

Action
Promote Employee Self-Service
Develop new methods to promote paperless stub access through the Payroll Office website, giving instructions on access through the website and pay period email.

Goal
Staff Training And Development
Provide opportunities for Payroll staff in their professional growth and development.

Objective
Staff Training
Provide opportunities for staff to participate in training - both on campus and off site.

Indicator
Payroll Specific Knowledge
Employee knowledge of routine and specialized Payroll tasks will be increased.

Criterion
Training Attendance
Each Payroll Office staff member will attend training that will further their knowledge in at least one specific aspect of their position.

Finding
Attendance Goals Met
Employees have attended training provided by the American Payroll Association and Sam Houston State University. Staff knowledge has increased in tax issues, communication, customer service, web design and public notification.

Action
Continuing Education
Payroll Office staff will continue to seek out opportunities - both on and off campus - to receive training that will improve their knowledge, skills and abilities.

Objective
Staff Development.
Provide opportunities for staff members to participate in professional and personel development activities.

Indicator
Personal/Professional Advancement
Opportunities for Personal and/or Professional development will be offered at least once per year.

Criterion
Payroll Office Participation
Each Payroll Office employee will participate in personal and/or professional development activities.

Finding
Development Opportunities Offered
Two events in professional development were offered to Payroll Office employees during 2008-2009. One promoted communication while the other consisted of team building excercises. They were attended by all Payroll Office employees.

Action
Continuing Opportunities
Staff development events offered were well received by employees in the Payroll Office. Additional events will be scheduled for 2009-2010.

Goal
Utilize Technology
Utilize available technologies to enhance payroll processes.

Objective
Software Conversion To Banner 8.0
Participate in conversion efforts regarding Payroll processes.

Indicator
Implementation Benchmarks
Timeline benchmarks as established by Sungard HE

Criterion
Timely Participation
The Payroll Office will provide timely responses to requests for documentation and participation in regard to Banner activities.

Finding
Participation Current
Requested documents have been provided in a timely manner. All requests for participation have been accommodated.

Action
Ongoing Participation
The Payroll Office will be called upon to meet many requests from Banner Project Management over the course of the project. All requests will be accommodated in a timely manner.


Update to previous cycle's plan for continuous improvement

Plan for continuous improvement Evaluation of the findings and actions taken during 2008-2009 reveal the following:

-Governmental relationships were strong with timely, accurate reporting resulting in zero penalties. In addition, particularly strong marks were received from the Texas State Comptroller's Office in regard to HRIS reporting and compliance.

-Online access to pay information initiative has been successful. Initial training to departments and individuals has been helpful to identify "pain points" and make adjustments as needed. Printing costs - including paper, ink, and labor - have decreased significantly as a result of this effort. Offering an option to have the document printed by the Payroll Office on behalf of the employee proved beneficial to those that do not routinely log in to Sam Web. Continued education and encouragement for online access will be done to further reduce the number of pay stubs being printed by the Payroll Office.

-Training of employees - both new and existing - on Payroll related items has been well received. Available on request, the customized training option has allowed departments to address concerns within their own organization and make recommendations for future training events. In addition, the requirement that new department support personnel participate in training before receiving access to specific Payroll computer programs has proven to be an excellent method of familiarizing them with university terms and procedures.

-Training of Payroll Office staff was given priority for 2008-2009. Encouraged to participate in both personal and professional training events, staff members participated in off campus as well as on campus efforts. Topics covered included tax, customer service, and communication, in addition to team building excercises. Topics chosen were based on providing better service to our constituents. This effort will be continued in 2009-2010.

-Finally, the Payroll Office embarked on the initial efforts to participate in the integration of SunGard HE's Human Resource Module. Encompassing all aspects of employment and payment of wages, this module will replace current programming used to create employee wage payments. Preparation has included evaluation of business processes and consideration of current policies and procedures used in the producetion of payroll. Project management has provided guidelines and deadlines for certain aspects of the effort and the Payroll Office has been fortunate to be able to meet or exceed their requirements.