RTH in ADP

[Art_Mopar]

We are finally looking into using function RTH to calculate technician pay in our store. We are not on ERO. We do have the electronic time clock on our system if that helps. Are there any suggestions as far as set up or problems to look out for? I am going to schedule a on site training day with ADP before launching this but I want to have all my questions lined up before they arrive.

[no_account]

For function RTH to be accurate and the multiple postings correct, the pay period must update through function UPP. This function may be setup to run automatically or may be run manually, it is best to have it run automatically, but if a holiday causes a change in your normal pay period you need to deactivate the automatic update and run UPP manually. Make sure ADP covers this subject with you.

Before ADP leaves make sure you understand multiple postings, how they work and the difference between AUD postings (in-pay-period) and OPP (out-of-pay-period), and reading the multiple posting report page of RTH. Must dealer give the techs their page of the RTH report daily and at the end of the pay period the report for the period. I guarantee you will have techs in your face for the first few pays questioning the period report and saying they have been shorted time, adding up their daily reports to prove it. You will need explain, to their satisfaction, multiple postings and show them the multiple posting adjustments on their reports. This is essential to have tech buy-in and confidence in the system.

Naturally make sure each technician pay type and rate is correct. As I remember if you are just starting to use the Electronic Time Clock function interfaced to Payroll then the tech number must be the Employee Number, it has been a couple years since I have been in a dealership, so this may no longer be the case.

If you have not looked at ERO I suggest you do, it's one the few ADP programs that has the potential to improve Service productivity if setup correctly and you are committed to using and maintaining it.

[This message has been edited by no_account (edited 01-22-2008).]

[blue blood]

The other thing that you need to determine is how you will pay off the rth report. The differences are closed repair orders vs posted repair orders. I would suggest that you pay off closed repair orders only, the posted is more of a benefit for bodyshops. As was previous stated you need to make sure that the techs fully understand the report or you will spend all day helping them understand.

[no_account]

One additional thought.

ADP needs to cover function PPA (Post Payroll Adjustments); when and how to use it, and it's effect on your Work-In-Process account (it doesn't interface with Accounting).

[Art_Mopar]

Thanks for all the input! I am getting a lot of ressistance from our Office Manager and I want to make sure we have all of our ducks in a row so I can keep the "see I told you it wouldn't work" complaints to a minimum! I really believe that switching to this will be a huge time savings as compared to calculating payroll time tickets manually, as well as all the human error mistakes that make the labor schedule a bear to manage.

[badass]

Art,
Great funtion to use in adp.Keep you from double paying techs by ripping flags off RO's. you will have more controls. Do all your techs have a 40 hr guarantee and do you have them on a bonus program.

[Art_Mopar]

A few do have a guarantee and I do have a production bonus. I also have a couple of hourly apprentices that also produce time so I really need to make sure we know what we are doing to make this work.

[jazdale]

Art,
There is no harm in turning on this feature. It doesn't need to interface to payroll in the first few weeks that you get the kinks out.

Observations from past installs.

1. I have never had a dealer choose closed over booked. Nice idea, but not sure if it would create a mutiny.

2. Never use PPA on an open RO. Only on closed ROs. Hopefully, you'll play less games with tech's pay and these will be minimal.

3. The biggest issue I've seen is the 'fuzzy' payroll cutoff that some dealers use. ie - payroll ends saturday night, but if the tech is very close to hitting a production number, we allow a couple flags from monday to be included in last weeks payroll. This cannot happen anymore.

I encourage everyone to use this feature (with or without ERO). It works.
Steps to making it work.

1. Set up automatic pay cycle in UPP
2. Turn on option to run UTP with RAC in function UOP (options)
3. Run RTH to view detailed time card data (can be jobstacked)
4. When comfortable with results (this may be a couple weeks), Use ETC to setup hours to interface with payroll

It is so clean and accurate, that many dealers have quit scheduling WIP in accounting.

[Art_Mopar]

Jazz,
Thanks for the input. How many days do you think we will need an on site trainer to help us? This is new ground for me and the office staff here.

[jazdale]

Art
Good question.

I appreciate your willingness to get formal training. Wish more did.

This may be a case where you can figure it out on your own. If you still want training, then have the report run for a few days. Then the trainer will have something to work with.