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Council hears update on Fire Department payroll backlog; staff outline Workday evaluation and timeline
Summary
City staff and department representatives described a growing backlog of payroll tickets for Los Angeles firefighters, the temporary 'Tiger' team response, and a planned evaluation of Workday and other systems to fix timekeeping and payroll integration.
City staff updated the Council on ongoing payroll problems affecting the Los Angeles Fire Department, describing a large increase in open payroll tickets, steps taken to resolve individual errors, and an evaluation of potential replacements or integrations for the city’s timekeeping systems.
Why it matters: Councilmembers said accurately and timely pay for public safety workers is a top priority. Staff and department representatives described both short-term fixes and longer-term technology options intended to reduce recurring payroll errors.
What staff said: Presenters described a historic count of open payroll tickets that rose from roughly 100 to as many as 60,000 in the system; they said that number has been reduced but remains a focus of remediation. Staff attributed many issues to mismatches between timekeeping records and payroll inputs and to legacy systems, including a system referred to in the presentation as “NSS.”
The administration described a temporary “Tiger” team created to provide extra resources to process backlogged tickets and to meet directly with Fire Department employees to fix individual pay issues. Staff said the Tiger team and other measures have produced progress but also cited continued hiring and staffing constraints in payroll and accounting that slow full resolution.
Technology response and timeline: City IT and payroll staff said they are evaluating multiple vendor products, including demonstrations and a planned comparative process (a “bake-off”) to determine whether to supplement or replace parts of the current system. Presenters estimated a possible integration timeline for scheduling and timekeeping of about 8 to 12 months if the council selects a new solution and secures required approvals.
Council direction: Councilmembers asked for continued biweekly updates on progress and asked staff to return with a clearer schedule for vendor demos and decision points. Staff said they will continue short-term remediation work while moving forward with an evaluation of Workday and other products.
Ending: The council paused substantive action and scheduled the item for further committee follow-up; staff said they will return with vendor evaluations and additional data on remaining open tickets.
