System for web-based payroll and benefits administration

Abstract

The system provides an automated, centralized back-end payroll service with a full-featured web-based payroll system. Both aspects of the system have access to a central database, including: profile information on employers and employees; timesheet, salary and hourly wage data; overtime data; employee benefit data; and information regarding third-party providers and miscellaneous payees. The full-featured payroll system functionality is implemented in a manner that provides employers and employees (to the extent security policies permit) with a robust, data-driven user interface via a standard web browser. The central database provides the system's back-end (server-side) payroll service functionality with constant access to the data. The system's back-end payroll service functionality generates disbursement information for payments to employees, benefit providers, miscellaneous payees, and various tax authorities, subject to compliance with the system's database of rules and automatically effects transfers of funds, payment information, and reports, whether electronic or otherwise, at the appropriate times.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A computerized system for the performance of payroll and benefits-related calculations, comprising: 
 a first site associated with a first employer, a second site associated with a second employer, and a third site located remotely from the first site and the second site, the third site including a central server facility for the processing of data received from the first site and from the second site;    the first site further including: 
 means for the first employer to enter first employer data to be used in payroll and benefits calculations;  
 means for the first employer to specify a first policy to be used in such calculations, including means for specifying a first parameter to be used in a calculation; and  
 means for electronic communication of the first employer data, the first policy and the first parameter to the third site;  
   the second site further including: 
 means for the second employer to enter second employer data to be used in payroll and benefits calculations;  
 means for the second employer to specify a second policy to be used in such calculations, including means for specifying a second parameter to be used in a calculation; and  
 means for electronic communication of the second employer data, the second policy and the second parameter to the third site; and  
   the third site further including: 
 means for electronic communication with the first site and the second site; and  
 means for carrying out payroll and benefits-related calculations, including means for applying the first policy and first parameter to the first data and means for applying the second policy and second parameter to the second data;  
   whereby the results of the calculations are dependent, at least in part, on the policies specified.    
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , in which: 
 the means for the first employer to enter first employer data includes means for a first employer employee to enter timesheet data including details of time worked by that employee.    
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 2 , in which: 
 the means for the first employer to enter first employer data further includes means for a supervisor of the first employer employee to check the timesheet data entered by the first employer employee.    
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , in which: 
 the first site further includes means for the first employer to specify a format of data to be used in a report based on the first employer data and the first site means for electronic communication includes means for communicating the specified format to the third site; and    the third site includes means for generating and communicating reports, including means for receiving the format specification from the first site, means for formatting a report in compliance with the format specification, and means for communicating the formatted report to the first site.    
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , in which: 
 the first site data entry means includes a timeclock.    
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 means at the first site for the first employer to specify a third policy, the first policy being applicable to a first group of first employer employees and the third policy being applicable to a second group of first employer employees, the first site communication means including means for communicating the third policy to the third site; and    the third site means for carrying out calculations includes means for applying the first policy and first parameter to a portion of the first employer data concerning the first group and for applying the third policy to a portion of the first employer data concerning the second group.    
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , in which: 
 the means for carrying out payroll and benefits-related calculations includes means for receiving an indication that an employee has been terminated, and means for generating a final paycheck and W2 for the terminated employee prior to the end of a normal pay period.    
     
     
         8 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , in which: 
 the third site further includes: 
 means for calculating: (i) a first disbursement amount to a first payee, based on the first data; (ii) a second disbursement amount to a second payee, based on the first data; (iii) a third disbursement amount to the first payee, based on the second data; and (iv) a fourth disbursement amount to the second payee, based on the second data; and  
 means for disbursing a fifth disbursement amount to the first payee, the fifth disbursement amount including the first disbursement amount and the third disbursement amount, and for disbursing a sixth disbursement amount to the second payee, the sixth disbursement amount including the second disbursement amount and the fourth disbursement amount.  
   
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , in which: 
 the third site means for carrying out calculations includes means for calculating first paycheck amounts based on the first data and for calculating second paycheck amounts based on the second data, and for communicating the first paycheck amounts to the first site and the second paycheck amounts to the second site;    the first site includes means for printing paychecks based on the first paycheck amounts; and    the second site includes means for printing paychecks based on the second paycheck amounts.    
     
     
         10 . The system as recited in  claim 9 , in which: 
 the third site includes means for communicating electronic representations of paychecks to the first site, the electronic representations being based on the first paycheck amounts, and for communicating electronic representations of paychecks to the second site, the electronic representations being based on the second paycheck amounts; and    the first and second sites include means for viewing the electronic representations.    
     
     
         11 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 computer display means at the first site for a first employee to view first deduction amounts to be used in calculating the first employee's paycheck, and computer processing means for the first employee to specify a change in the first deduction amounts, including means for incorporating the specified change in the first employer data prior to communication of the first employer data to the third site; and    computer display means at the second site for a second employee to view second deduction amounts to be used in calculating the second employee's paycheck, and computer processing means for the second employee to specify a change in the second deduction amounts, including means for incorporating the specified change in the first employer data prior to communication of the second employer data to the third site.    
     
     
         12 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 computer display means at the first site for a first employee to view a first paystub representing a paycheck not yet issued by the first employer, and computer processing means for the first employee to specify a change in a policy related to the first paystub, including means for communication of the specified change to the third site; and    computer display means at the second site for a second employee to view a second paystub representing a paycheck not yet issued by the second employer, and computer processing means for the second employee to specify a change in a policy related to the second paystub, including means for communication of the specified change to the third site.    
     
     
         13 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , in which: 
 the third site calculation means includes means for (i) applying the rules of a first benefits plan to data related to a first employee, the first employee data being included within the first employer data, and for determining whether the first employee data is consistent with the first benefits plan rules, and (ii) applying the rules of a second benefits plan to data related to a second employee, the second employee data being included within the second employer data, and for determining whether the second employee data is consistent with the second benefits plan rules.    
     
     
         14 . The system as recited in  claim 13 , in which: 
 the third site means for electronic communications includes means for communicating messages to the first site and the second site specifying that employee data is not consistent with benefits plan rules.    
     
     
         15 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , in which: 
 the first site data entry means includes two workflows consisting of multiple screens displayed to a user in a predetermined sequence; and    the second site data entry means includes two workflows consisting of multiple screens displayed to a user in a predetermined sequence.    
     
     
         16 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , in which: 
 the first and second sites include means for generating new workflows.    
     
     
         17 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , in which: 
 the means for carrying out payroll and benefits-related calculations includes means for receiving an indication that a bonus is owed to an employee, and means for generating a paycheck containing the bonus prior to the end of a normal pay period.    
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , in which: 
 the third site electronic communications means includes means for communicating information to the first site and the second site in a format designed for viewing in a web browser.    
     
     
         19 . The system as recited in  claim 18 , in which: 
 the first site and second site data entry means include means for entering data into a web browser interface.    
     
     
         20 . The system as recited in  claim 19 , in which: 
 the web browser interface makes use of ActiveX controls.