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Providing Online Access to Pay Data for Terminated Employees

Introduction

In an Internet world where it seems like everyone has a smartphone, with online access to information replacing filing cabinets and paper, both current and former employees expect that payroll-related records will be easily available using either a hand-held device or a personal computer.  However, the norm is for companies to eliminate system access immediately once employment is terminated, which requires information like final pay statements or annual earnings documents to be physically sent by mail using paper documents. 

Many companies are currently exploring the option of providing terminated employees with access to view paycheck history, with the possibility of also viewing year-end earnings statements and providing other self-service functionality for former employees.  While it might be a nice convenience for a former employee, the question is whether creating a solution is worth the effort, when access might take place only once or twice over a 12-month period.

iPollingTM Results Review

Peeriosity’s iPollingTM capability was recently used to understand if member companies provide access to terminated employees to view pay information, and, if yes, how that access is provided.   

The first question asked about the status of providing terminated employees with online access to view paychecks.  The results show that 44% provide online access, 6% are considering the idea, and the other 50% have either decided not to provide access, or they haven’t yet evaluated the idea for doing so.

current status of allowing terminated employees Online Access to Pay Data ipolling

The next question in the poll looks at how access is provided.  Interestingly, none of the responding companies are providing access using either a company Intranet site or a company-provided external website, with 100% of the companies that provide access do so using a third-party website.

type of solution implemented for Online Access to Pay Data ipolling peeriosity

Here are a few of the comments from responding companies:

  • Currently, we send a copy by mail to the terminated employees, but we are looking to give extra month access to our HR system Workday.
  • We use ADP iPay, and terminated employees have direct access to the ADP site.
  • Our payroll is outsourced to ADP. Terminated employees are provided with information when they leave the company on how to contact ADP to set up an external account, so they may view old data.
  • This is for the US Payroll. ADP provides employees with a user login to be able to access pay statements and W2s post-termination.

Closing Summary

As the world changes, employees and former employees increasingly want to access payroll information via the Internet, with the idea of receiving information by hard copy in the mail disappearing, along with access to fax machines or landline home phone numbers.  For current employees, providing online access is common, however, for security reasons former employees don’t typically have system access.  The exception appears to be when a company outsources its payroll process, with former employees able to access its information on a third party’s website.

Do terminated employees at your company have online access to payroll data?  If yes, is the access to company systems or via a third-party website?

Who are your peers and how are you collaborating with them?

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“iPollingTM” is available exclusively to Peeriosity member company employees, with consultants or vendors prohibited from participating or accessing content. Members have full visibility of all respondents and their comments. Using Peeriosity’s integrated email system, Peer MailTM, members can easily communicate at any time with others who participated in iPolling.

Peeriosity members are invited to log into www.peeriosity.com to join the discussion and connect with Peers.   Membership is for practitioners only, with no consultants or vendors permitted.  To learn more about Peeriosity, click here.

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