Guide: Auto-run

Our auto-run feature allows you to run your payrolls automatically, saving you time and simplifying your workload.

Is auto-run a good fit for my pay group?

If you agree with the following statements, then auto-run is likely a good fit for you.

✅ My payroll stays the same almost every pay period.
✅ When I run payroll, I do not need to adjust hours or amounts.
✅ All my employees are salary or fixed hourly.

Still unsure?

If any of the following statements apply to your pay group, then auto-run is not a good fit.

❌ I make changes to my payroll for each pay run.
❌ I have 2-step approval enabled.
❌ I have contractors who are paid per job or per contract.

What makes a pay group eligible for auto-run?

For a pay group to be eligible for auto-run, there are two requirements:

At least one payroll must be run and finalized for the pay group
(if you have not yet run a payroll, you'll need to do that first)
Only salary or fixed hourly people are assigned to the pay group

You will not be able to use auto-run if:

there are no employees or contractors assigned to the pay group
the pay group has a contractor with a pay type of per job or per contract
2-step approval is enabled
the pay group has a payroll that has been started but not yet finalized
you've been granted a temporary processing timeline change for the current pay period

How does auto-run work?

If auto-run is turned on for your pay group, the system will automatically choose the next eligible pay period and then run and approve the payroll on the auto-run deadline.

When auto-run is turned on, you do not need to enter and complete the payroll workflow for each pay cycle. It will process the payroll automatically at the auto-run deadline.

When is the auto-run deadline?

The auto-run deadline is determined based on the upcoming pay period's pay date and you company's processing timeline.

The auto-run deadline is always one business day before the processing deadline. For example, if the pay period’s pay date is Friday and the company’s processing timeline is 3 business days before the pay date at 12 pm ET (i.e. Tuesday at 12pm ET), the auto-run deadline would be Monday at 12 pm Eastern Time (3 days + 1 day before the pay date.)

How can I review my auto-run payroll? What if my auto-run pay group payroll has an error?

After the auto-run payroll is processed, you can review the payroll reports and, if necessary, undo the payroll until your processing deadline.

After this time, the payroll will be fully processed. You will need to use the Adjustment tool to make any further changes to your reports and take care of remedial money movement outside of Wagepoint.

How do I make changes to my payroll run when using auto-run?

While auto-run is best suited for pay groups with consistent payrolls, there are still times when you may need to make a change such as adding an income, deduction, or benefit code or a mid-cycle pay raise.

If you want to make changes to an upcoming payroll run, you've got two options:

Make your change within a people profile
You can make changes within a people profile while auto-run is turned on.
Example: Susie is receiving a one-time reimbursement on the next payroll. To add the code, I'll navigate to People > Locate Susie > View > Incomes, deductions, and benefits. Here, I'll add the reimbursement code. This will be picked up on the next pay run.
Make your change within the payroll workflow
If you prefer to make changes within the payroll workflow, you’ll need to turn auto-run off, make your changes and run the payroll, and then turn auto-run back on for the next payroll.

Any changes you make to money movement in your company settings must be made prior to the auto-run deadline.

How do I make changes to my payroll settings when using auto-run?

If you want to make changes to your payroll settings, you don't need to turn auto-run off. Your payroll settings can be found in your General settings and include turn off direct deposit, remit taxes, remit workers' compensation, or remit employer taxes in your General settings.

Any changes to payroll settings for an auto-run pay group must be made prior to the auto-run processing deadline. Making changes after the auto-run processing deadline can impact the payroll calculations.

Important reminder: If you make changes to payroll settings for an extra payroll, be sure to reverse those changes once your extra payroll is complete. Otherwise, auto-run will utilize these setting changes going forward.

How do I turn auto-run on?

To set up auto-run, follow the steps below:

1. On the Payroll Overview page, locate the relevant pay group card and select the three dots icon.

2. Click Turn on auto-run.

3. In the confirmation window, click Turn on auto-run.

Woohoo! Auto-run has been turned on for this pay group.

How do I turn auto-run off?

Auto-run can be turned off at any point. When you turn auto-run off, the system will make this change starting from the next eligible pay period that has not been started.

1. On the Payroll Overview page, locate the relevant pay group and click the three dots icon.

2. Select Turn off auto-run.

3. In the confirmation window, click Turn off auto-run.

Nice work! Auto-run is now turned off.

FAQ: Auto-run

Any role with run & approve access under the payroll permissions can turn auto-run on.
You have two options.
You can make changes within a people profile while auto-run is turned on.
Example: Susie is receiving a one-time reimbursement on the next payroll. To add the code, I'll navigate to People > Locate Susie > View > Incomes, deductions, and benefits. Here, I'll add the reimbursement code. This will be picked up on the next pay run.
Make your change within the payroll workflow
If you prefer to make changes within the payroll workflow, you’ll need to turn auto-run off, make your changes and run the payroll, and then turn auto-run back on for the next payroll.
Auto-run may be turned off in several situations:
- If you undo a payroll after it has been automatically approved by the system
  - After you make changes to your payroll, you need to turn auto-run back on. It will not turn back on automatically.
- If the system calculates a negative payroll amount or there are no payable employees in the pay group
- If there is an NSF associated with your account
- If your risk and/or banking status is not verified (for example, if you change your banking details)
- If you cancel your subscription to Wagepoint
If you want to skip a payroll, you'll need to turn auto-run off, skip the payroll, and then turn auto-run back on once the payroll has finalized.
If you want to run a regular payroll for the pay group, you'll need to turn auto-run off, run the payroll, and then turn auto-run back on after the payroll has finalized.
You can run an extra payroll for your pay group with auto-run turned on by following the steps here. Note: If you make changes to your payroll settings (e.g. turn off direct deposit or remit taxes in your General settings), be sure to reverse those changes once your extra payroll is complete. Otherwise, auto-run will utilize the setting changes going forward.
You can check if auto-run is turned on for your pay group from the Payroll Overview tab. In the navigation menu, click Payroll. Locate the relevant pay group card. Under Auto-run, it will read "On" if auto-run is turned on for the pay group, and "Off" if auto-run is turned off for the pay group.