Time Entry Interim Generator
You can use the Time Entry Interim Generator feature to associate all timecards with a default interim payroll ID. Organizations that process large numbers of timecards and create payments multiple times during a single pay period might use this feature on an ongoing basis. Other organizations might periodically use this feature to facilitate the creation of special interim payments. When you enter timecards using the Time Entry Interim Generator, the system generates interim header records for each timecard. After you enter the timecards, you must process the interim header records using the Interim Payment Workbench to create the actual interim payments.
When you use the Time Entry Interim Generator, the default interim ID that is assigned to the timecards appears on the time entry form that you use to enter timecards. This system uses this interim ID for each timecard that is entered unless it is overridden on the individual timecard.
This example illustrates how an organization might use this feature on an ongoing basis.
Company A receives over 100,000 timecards during each weekly pay period. These timecards are received on a continuous basis throughout the period, and are entered into the system as they are received. Many of the employees in this organization do not work during all of the days in the pay period. The company prints payments several times during the pay period. This dramatically decreases the processing time that is associated with printing payments at the end of the pay period.
To process payments in this way, you use the Time Entry Interim Generator feature on a continuous basis. All timecards that are entered into the system generate interim payment records that are associated with a default interim payroll ID. Using the Interim Payment Workbench, you can process payments for this interim payroll ID several times during the period, and then process a complete payroll at the end of the period.
This example illustrates how an organization might use this feature on a periodic basis.
Company B wants to give each of its 2,000 employees a merit bonus at the annual company party. The amount of the bonus is different for each employee. To generate these bonus payments as separate payments from the regular payroll payments, you must generate interim payments for the bonuses. Due to the large number of employees, the payroll clerk might want to enter bonus information using the Speed Time Entry program (P051121) rather than to enter individual interim payments for each employee.
To create interim bonus payments using the Speed Time Entry program, you can activate the Time Entry Interim Generator feature for a specified time period. The system automatically creates interim payment records for each timecard that is entered during that period. These timecards are associated with a default interim payroll ID. You can then process the interim payroll ID to process the interim payments. After all bonus timecards are entered into the system, you can disable the Time Entry Interim Generator feature and enter timecards without generating interim payment records.
To use the Time Entry Interim Generator feature, you must first set up the processing options for the Time Entry MBF program (P050002A). After you set those processing options, you must specify the version of the Time Entry Master Business Function (MBF) program to use in the processing options for the time entry programs that you use. Using the information in the processing options of the Time Entry Master Business Function, the system determines which default interim ID to use to create interim payments during time entry. When the Time Entry Interim Generator is functioning correctly, the default interim payroll ID appears on the time entry forms.
You can also generate interim payments when you upload timecards using the batch timecard process. To do so, you must set up a version of the Time Entry Master Business Function that enables the Time Entry Interim Generator feature. Then, you must enter that version in the processing options for the Time Entry Batch Processor program (R05116Z1I). After you upload the timecards, you can review them to verify that they are attached to the correct interim ID.
You can use the Time Entry Interim Generator program only to create standard computer interim payments. To create advance, gross-up, or manual interim payments, you must use the Interim Payment Workbench.
Also, whether you are using batch processing or interactive processing for interim payments, you must use the Interim Payment Workbench to process interims that are created using the Time Entry Interim Generator. The processing method for interim payments is defined by the processing option settings for the Interim Payment Workbench.
Before you create interims with the Time Entry Interim Generator, set up a default interim payroll ID and set the Time Entry MBF Processing Options (P050002A) to enable time entry to generate interim payments.
If you use the Time Entry Interim Generator to create multiple payments for employees during a single pay period, verify that company options and DBA setup information is set up correctly to ensure that DBA limits and arrearages are calculated correctly.