Skip to main content
Documentation
Documentation
Administrator Guide
Last Updated: 2025-02-21
FAQ: Retroactive Processing

FAQ: Retroactive Processing

How do I restart a retro calculation after it stops?
When a retro calculation fails or you cancel it before it finishes, access the
Run Retro Pay Calculation
 task to restart it. In most cases, you should use the same
Employees to Calculate
 option used on the original run.
Original Run
Restarted Run
Smart Retro
Select
Smart Retro
 when you restart.
If results are in error after the restarted run, calculate retro again. This time:
  • Select
    Calculation Statuses
    .
  • From the prompt, select
    In Error
    .
Smart Retro by Events
Select the same events when you restart.
If results are in error after the restarted run, calculate retro again. This time:
  • Select
    Calculation Statuses
    .
  • From the prompt, select
    In Error
    .
Calculation Statuses
Select the same result statuses when you restart.
Unless you have specific result statuses to calculate, you can save time by selecting
Smart Retro
 instead.
If results are in error after the restarted run, calculate retro by status again, this time selecting
In Error
.
Workers
Select the same subset of workers when you restart.
Can I retroactively rehire a worker (CAN, FRA, IRL, UK, USA)?
For Payroll for Canada, France, Ireland, the UK, and the U.S., yes, move the No Retro Processing Prior (NRPPT) date to 1 day after the termination of the previous employment. For Payroll for Canada and the U.S., you can process workers who had a different company or tax authority in their previous employment.
When we rehire employees, how do we prevent the retro pay calculation from including pay periods from their previous employment?
Use the
Change No Retro Prior To Date
 task to advance the employee's NRPPT date.
Consider adding a To Do step on the
Termination
 business process to change the NRPPT date.
Can I rescind a retro hire?
Yes, but you must cancel the retro results before rescinding the hire.
How can I exclude supported retro events that occurred in the previous tax year from retro pay calculations?
Use the
Change No Retro Prior To Date
 task to push out the NRPPT date of the employee.
For Payroll for Ireland, Revenue recommends that you don't process retro differences when a retro termination crosses tax years. Workday recommends you suspend the retro result to ensure the values aren't processed in the current tax year.
Does Workday process retroactive changes when I add or edit an earning or deduction definition?
Changing the definition of an effective-dated earning or deduction doesn't trigger a retro pay calculation. Retro picks up the change when the worker has a supported retro event in the period it processes. Workday uses the pay component definitions effective in the retro periods.
How can I ensure that balances are correct for on-demand additional payments that are
In Progress
 during retro processing (CAN, FRA, IRL, UK, USA)?
Determine whether the retro differences impact the on-demand additional payment:
  • Balances.
  • Limits (CAN, IRL, UK, USA).
If they do, update them by either:
  • Recalculating the on-demand additional payments.
  • Setting the on-demand additional payments to include retro differences.
Why doesn't a bonus compensation plan with a retroactive effective date trigger a retro event?
A bonus compensation plan isn't one of the compensation plan types that trigger a retro event. Only these types trigger a retro event:
  • Allowance Amount Plan
  • Allowance Percent Plan
  • Allowance Unit Plan
  • Calculated Plan
  • Hourly Plan
  • Salary Period Plan
  • Salary Plan
  • Salary Unit Plan