Three Production Payroll Headaches To Avoid

Managing payroll in a fast-paced production environment is no small feat. With tight deadlines, large crews, and complex regulations, even minor mistakes can lead to costly delays and frustrated employees. To keep your payroll running smoothly, here are three common payroll headaches—and how to avoid them. 

1. Incomplete or Incorrect Start Forms 

One of the most common payroll issues arises when crew members provide incomplete or incorrect start forms. Missing or inaccurate details—such as bank bsb or account numbers or superannuation details—can cause payment delays and extra admin headaches. 

How to Avoid It: 

Ensure each payee submits a fully completed start form before their first payroll run. The essential details include: 

• Full legal name (no nicknames) 
• Date of birth 
• Superannuation choice details (AU) 
• Complete postal address (minimum two lines) 
• Accurate start date 
• Correct bank details (6-digit bsb code, 5-9-digit account number) 
• Correct email address 
• Correct contact number 
• Tax file number and tax status 

Using Digital Forms for onboarding will streamline this process, ensuring all required fields and information are completed before submission. 

2. Missing Timecards Before Payroll Cutoff 

Another frequent issue is not collecting timecards before the payroll processing deadline. Without approved timecards, payroll teams are left scrambling to chase missing data, leading to delays or incorrect payments. 

How to Avoid It: 

Use Freelance Portal to submit digital timecards. This system allows: 

• Employees to enter their work hours digitally 
• Department heads, accountants and production to approve timecards efficiently 
• Payroll teams to process payments without delays 
• Freelance portal can store employee onboarding information making it fast and accurate during the onboarding process 
• Freelance portal can be used across multiple productions and companies so your employees only need one account. 

Setting clear deadlines and sending reminders before the cutoff can also help ensure timely submissions. 

3. Overlooking Errors Before Payroll Submission 

Small errors in payroll data—like incorrect tax statuses or missing account coding—can lead to miscalculations, compliance issues, and unhappy employees. Catching these mistakes too late often results in time-consuming corrections. 

How to Avoid It: 

• Use Digital Paper flow for timecard approval, ensuring dept head, production and accounting can approve the hours and/or payslip calculations.  
• Review all payroll details before submission, ensuring tax information, bank details, and account codes are accurate. 
• Maintain clear communication with your TPH Global payroll representative—they can help identify and resolve issues before they become bigger problems. 
• Report any errors immediately so they can be corrected as soon as possible. 

Streamline Your Payroll Process with TPH Global 

Payroll doesn’t have to be a headache. By implementing Digital Forms for onboarding, using Freelance Portal for timecard submission, Digital Paper Flow for timecard calculations and approval, and keeping close communication with your TPH Global payroll rep, you can minimise errors and keep your production running smoothly. 

Need help optimising your payroll workflow? Get in touch with TPH Global today.