Tompkins updates county payroll software

Tompkins County in the US state of New York's 736 full-time equivalent employees will be better tracked, thanks to $578 284 worth of new payroll software, reports Ithaca Journal.

County legislators unanimously approved the spending last week, years after identifying the need to replace the county's outdated human resources (HR) system. The two contracts ($233 414 to Lawson Software of St Paul, and $344 870 to Illinois firm Kinsey and Kinsey to implement it will be paid using funding already put aside in this year's capital budget.

At a time when the county budget is bruising under the weight of a crushing economy, it may seem counter-intuitive to spend on software. But Legislator Nathan Shinagawa, D-Ithaca, chair of the Government Performance and Workforce Relations Committee, which recommended the purchase, said it could save money down the line.

Sapien, an on-demand HR services company, has been selected as the global HR solution by National Starch, which specialises in biomaterials serving primarily the global food and papermaking industries, according to SOA World magazine.

Sapien will provide full global HRMS, global applicant tracking, and global benefits administration services. Employee self-service will be a part of the global service offering as well. Sapien also will provide conduits to link its solution with National Starch's global payroll provider.

According to Ryan Tweedie, managing partner of Sapien, this new relationship with National Starch matches their needs and our capabilities perfectly. "We have built a significant business on our ability to address the needs of mid-size multinational companies, providing global services, languages, currencies and reporting capabilities on one integrated, on-demand platform," he said.

The side of HR departments most managers and employees see is the administrative side - those who manage the payroll and benefits paperwork, keep salaries aligned, prepare new employee orientation packages, prepare severance packages, and make sure the enterprise is meeting the letter of all labour laws and regulations, writes SmartPlanet.

But administrivia is just one small segment of HR's mission. As a strategic partner, HR can help make or break business growth. Technology and supply chains help a business survive, but it is leadership and an innovative corporate culture that make a business thrive. Savvy companies are turning to HR to help them secure these precious assets.

In a recent article at Workforce.com, Fay Hansen looked at two global corporations that have learned how to move their companies in new directions with smart HR strategies.