OnTheClock

10/16/2026

As payroll technology advances, one question remains: Can automation replace human expertise?

According to OnTheClock's Payroll Implementation Manager, Crystal Pait, the answer is more complicated than you might think.

In a recent Thomson Reuters article, Crystal shared her perspective on the evolving role of payroll professionals and why human judgment remains essential, even as technology takes on more responsibility.

Our 2026 Payroll Pain Points Survey revealed an interesting disconnect:

🤖 68% of business owners, CEOs, and founders surveyed viewed AI-assisted payroll positively.
🤖 Just 11% felt comfortable allowing AI to handle payroll.
🤖 50% said having the opportunity to review payroll before submission would increase their comfort level.

As Crystal explained, "The software will keep taking on more of the math. The next generation’s job is to know when the math is wrong."

The future of payroll isn't just about automation. It's about combining technology with the experience, oversight, and expertise needed to get payroll right.

Read the Thomson Reuters article for more insights from Crystal and OnTheClock's research. 👇

https://hubs.la/Q04Bp6fm0

10/15/2026

Is learning payroll on the job enough to prevent costly mistakes?

A recent Thomson Reuters article explores the risks of informal payroll training, featuring insights from OnTheClock's Payroll Implementation Manager, Crystal Pait, and findings from our 2026 Payroll Pain Points Survey.

📊 Here's what the research revealed:

✅ 42% of payroll handlers learned through trial and error on the job.
✅ 31% learned payroll from a predecessor.
✅ 76% of those trained by a predecessor reported their company had experienced a payroll mistake, compared with 66% of those with formal training or certification.

Crystal, who brings more than 20 years of payroll experience, emphasized the importance of combining institutional knowledge with formal training, documenting processes, and keeping up with changing regulations.

As she explained, "You learn how your predecessor did things, but often not why. You inherit their shortcuts, their workarounds, and sometimes their mistakes."

The takeaway? Experience matters, but understanding the why behind payroll processes is just as important as knowing how to complete them.

Read the Thomson Reuters article for more insights from Crystal and our research. 👇

https://hubs.la/Q04Bh9kg0

Payroll departments have long depended on experienced professionals who know more than how to push the right buttons.

10/15/2026

What documents do you need to get started with payroll?

Crystal Pait, OnTheClock’s Payroll Implementation Manager, explains the key information our team needs to help get your payroll account up and running.

https://hubs.la/Q04BfNY40

Documents such as your Form 941 and recent state income tax and unemployment tax returns can provide important information, including:
• Federal and state tax ID numbers
• State account numbers
• Unemployment tax rates
• Prior payroll tax information

Even if you’re planning to start payroll in January, having copies of recent quarterly tax returns ready can help move the implementation process along.

The more information you have available, the easier it is for our payroll implementation team to get the ball rolling.

https://hubs.la/Q04BfNYy0

10/14/2026

⏰ What if your time tracking system is costing you more than you realize?

For many small businesses, missed punches, attendance disputes, manual time sheets, and payroll headaches have simply become part of the routine.

But they don't have to be.

Three OnTheClock customers from three very different industries discovered just how much better things could be with the right time tracking solution.

✅ Less time chasing down employee hours
✅ Fewer attendance disputes and payroll headaches
✅ Easier timecard corrections
✅ More time to focus on running their businesses

Sometimes, the biggest improvements come from fixing problems you didn't even realize you had.

📖 Read their stories and discover how better time tracking can change everything:

https://hubs.la/Q04B6flr0

10/13/2026

Giving employees more control over their timecards can make a big difference! 🙌

With OnTheClock, employees can easily manage their hours, helping teams stay organized, improve accuracy, and simplify time tracking.

Thanks, Kiley, for sharing your experience! 🧡

Your first 30 days are free. No credit card is needed at sign-up.
https://hubs.la/Q04z-NL_0

10/09/2026

What should you consider when choosing a payroll provider?

Cost may be the first thing that comes to mind — and for small businesses, it matters. But price is only part of the equation.

https://hubs.la/Q04zKcJG0

Crystal Pait, OnTheClock’s Payroll Implementation Manager, shares some of the most important factors to consider when evaluating a payroll provider:

• Affordability
• Ease of use
• Reliability
• Trust
• Support when you need it

Most small business owners aren’t payroll professionals — and they shouldn’t have to be. The right payroll provider should make the process easier while giving you confidence that your payroll is being handled correctly.

See how OnTheClock makes payroll simple, affordable, and approachable for small businesses. https://hubs.la/Q04zKcVl0

10/08/2026

Would you trust AI to handle your company's payroll? 🤖

Artificial intelligence is changing the way businesses operate, but when it comes to paying employees, how much control are employers willing to give up?

OnTheClock's latest survey of 525 small business owners and payroll decision-makers explores the challenges businesses face with payroll, their biggest frustrations, and the role they see AI playing in the future.

With payroll mistakes costing businesses time, money, and even employees, could AI be part of the solution?

Or is payroll one area where the human touch will always matter?

See what business owners had to say: https://hubs.la/Q04zzS0f0

10/07/2026

AI is coming for payroll — but small business owners aren’t quite ready to let it run the show.

We surveyed more than 500 small business owners and payroll decision-makers and found: 68% of owners, CEOs, and founders are open to AI helping with payroll. But only 11% would trust AI to handle payroll today.

And there’s a good reason for the hesitation: 63% of respondents said their company has already made a payroll mistake.

The biggest culprit? Paying an employee the wrong amount.

Our latest survey digs into what’s stressing businesses out about payroll, where mistakes happen, how much those errors really cost, and what business owners need before they’re willing to put more trust in AI.

Check out the full findings: https://hubs.la/Q04ztDFC0

10/06/2026

Michigan small businesses have now had a year with the Earned Sick Time Act.

So… how’s it going?

When ESTA took effect, there were plenty of questions about accrual, frontloading, carryover, recordkeeping, and how employers were actually supposed to manage it all.

A year later, we want to hear from Michigan employers:

Has ESTA been easier to manage than you expected? Has it created more administrative work? Have your employees benefited from it? Or are there still parts of the law that cause headaches?

Good, bad, or somewhere in between — what’s your experience been?

Our Michigan ESTA guide explains the rules and regulations Michigan employers need to know in 2026 and beyond.

https://hubs.la/Q04zghsV0

10/05/2026

Time tracking should make running your business easier, not create more work.

But getting it right takes more than simply asking employees to punch in and out. Clear policies, consistent approvals, simple clock-in methods, and accurate records can all make a major difference for payroll, compliance, and understanding how your labor dollars are being spent.

And there’s plenty of room for improvement. In our recent survey, 43% of hourly workers admitted they’ve submitted hours that didn’t match the time they actually worked.

We put together 20 employee time tracking best practices to help businesses improve accuracy, reduce errors, and build a better process from clock-in to payroll.

Check them out here:

https://hubs.la/Q04z7Mcp0