The Processing Sequence

A payroll or absence process consists of several processing phases, some of which you can run together. The typical processing sequence (the order in which Global Payroll executes phases of a batch process) for a payroll or absence run consists of these phases:

  • Identification (payee selection)

  • Calculation

  • Finalization

You can also run Cancel, Freeze, Unfreeze, and Suspend phases as needed and modify processing instructions by payee.

When you first launch the batch process, Global Payroll determines which payees are to be selected and calculated for the payroll or absence run, based on the selection criteria that you have specified. This identification phase is executed only once for each calendar group ID.

During the calculation phase, payroll or absence calculations are performed. Each payee is processed sequentially. As the system encounters each payee, it processes each element that is identified in the process list. Various criteria such as eligibility and generation control are considered in selecting which elements to process.

The calculation process can be repeated any number of times; only the payments that are appropriate to calculate are processed. When a calculation is first executed, all payments are processed. During subsequent calculations, only the following payments are processed:

  • Payments resulting from iterative triggers.

  • Payments for which you have entered recalculate instructions.

  • Payments that encountered errors during the previous run.

An iterative trigger can be produced when data changes for a payee. For example, a change to a payee's rate of pay might create an iterative trigger. Or the addition of a new hire to the calendar group ID can produce iterative triggers.

Finalizing an absence or payroll run closes and completes the process.