Workday Business User: Payroll Course

Lesson 1 • Workday Platform Overview

Covers the Workday interface, navigation tools, and tenant structure. Establishes the baseline system literacy needed for all payroll tasks.

Lesson 2 • Core Payroll Terminology

Defines essential payroll vocabulary used throughout Workday. Accurate terminology prevents errors in configuration and processing.

Lesson 3 • Worker Payroll Records

Introduces the worker payroll profile and its key data fields. Understanding this record is prerequisite to all payroll transactions.

Lesson 1 • Pay Group Assignments

Demonstrates how to assign and change a worker's pay group. Incorrect assignments cause missed or duplicate payroll processing.

Lesson 2 • Defining Pay Groups

Explains the purpose and structure of pay groups in Workday. Pay groups control which workers are processed together in a payroll run.

Lesson 3 • Pay Period Close Process

Outlines the steps to close a pay period and lock historical data. Closing prevents retroactive changes that could corrupt payroll records.

Lesson 1 • Earning Code Configuration

Covers creation and attributes of earning codes such as regular pay, overtime, and bonuses. Each attribute directly affects tax and accounting treatment.

Lesson 2 • Deduction Code Configuration

Explains pre-tax and post-tax deduction setup for benefits and voluntary deductions. Correct sequencing prevents under- or over-withholding.

Lesson 3 • Earning and Deduction Overrides

Demonstrates how to apply one-time or recurring overrides at the worker level. Overrides handle exceptions without altering global code configuration.

Lesson 4 • Payroll Calculation Preview

Introduces the calculation preview tool to validate earnings and deductions before a full payroll run. Early validation reduces costly post-run corrections.

Lesson 1 • Tax Withholding Calculations

Demonstrates how Workday applies tax tables and supplemental rates during payroll calculation. Understanding the logic helps diagnose withholding discrepancies.

Lesson 2 • Employer Tax Obligations

Explains employer-side payroll taxes including matching contributions and unemployment taxes. Workday automates calculation when rates are correctly configured.

Lesson 3 • Compliance Reporting Basics

Introduces built-in compliance reports for verifying withholding accuracy. Regular review of these reports supports audit readiness.

Lesson 1 • Pre-Payroll Checklist

Identifies all data validation steps required before initiating a payroll run. Completing this checklist prevents the most common payroll errors.

Lesson 2 • Initiating the Payroll Run

Walks through the steps to launch a payroll calculation in Workday. Correct run parameters ensure all eligible workers are included.

Lesson 3 • Post-Payroll Reconciliation

Demonstrates reconciliation of payroll totals against prior periods and general ledger entries. Reconciliation confirms data integrity before period close.

Lesson 4 • Reviewing Payroll Results

Covers the tools for reviewing calculation output before committing payroll. Thorough review catches errors before funds are disbursed.

Lesson 1 • Retroactive Pay Adjustments

Explains how Workday calculates retroactive pay when compensation changes affect prior periods. Retro processing recalculates historical periods automatically.

Lesson 2 • Off-Cycle Payment Types

Defines the categories of off-cycle payments available in Workday. Knowing each type ensures the correct process is used for each exception.

Lesson 3 • Payroll Corrections and Voids

Demonstrates voiding incorrect payments and issuing corrected ones. Proper void procedures maintain accurate year-to-date balances.

Lesson 1 • Standard Payroll Reports

Introduces the built-in payroll reports available in Workday. These reports cover the most common operational and compliance needs.

Lesson 2 • Data Analysis with Workday Prism

Introduces Workday Prism Analytics for blending payroll data with external sources. Prism enables deeper analysis beyond standard Workday reporting.

Lesson 3 • Payroll Dashboards and Worklets

Demonstrates how to configure payroll dashboards for real-time monitoring. Dashboards surface key metrics without requiring manual report runs.

Lesson 4 • Audit and Compliance Reporting

Focuses on reports used to support internal audits and regulatory reviews. Consistent use of these reports reduces compliance risk.

Lesson 1 • Year-End Balance Adjustments

Covers manual balance adjustments needed to correct year-to-date discrepancies. Accurate balances are required before tax forms can be generated.

Lesson 2 • Tax Form Generation

Walks through the process of generating annual employee tax statements in Workday. Correct form generation depends on accurate year-to-date data.

Lesson 3 • New Year Payroll Preparation

Explains the setup tasks required to open the new payroll year in Workday. Completing these tasks ensures the first payroll run of the year processes correctly.

Lesson 4 • Year-End Reporting and Filing

Covers the reports and filing tasks required to close the payroll year with regulators. Timely filing avoids penalties and maintains compliance standing.