People Systems Transformation: Uniting Teams Up with Dayforce

Australian not-for-profit Uniting is embarking on a significant transformation of its people management systems, beginning with the adoption of the Dayforce platform. This initiative aims to enhance the management of its approximately 12,000 staff members, starting with payroll processes and later expanding to other critical human resources functions.

The motivation for this transition to Dayforce arose about a year and a half ago, driven by the impending end-of-life of its previous payroll system, Preceda. Dr. Anat Hassner, Uniting's Chief People and Strategy Officer, articulated the importance of this transition during her presentation at the Dayforce Daybreak conference in Sydney. She emphasized that the replacement of the payroll system marks the beginning of a broader examination and transformation of the organization’s people management capabilities.

When Dr. Hassner joined Uniting, she encountered a workforce crisis that left the organization 1,000 staff members short. Recognizing the urgent need for transformative measures, she leveraged her expertise in organizational transformation to implement effective strategies in recruitment and retention. This success not only addressed the immediate staffing crisis but also demonstrated the potential benefits of a systemic overhaul, which helped the CEO and the board understand the necessity for a comprehensive transformation strategy encompassing the entire organization.

Uniting's transformation strategy involves creating a unified platform that streamlines employee interactions with various systems related to payroll, rostering, training, and other essential functions. To illustrate the challenges faced by staff members, Dr. Hassner and her team developed two personas, named Sarah and Jeremy, representing typical employees within Uniting’s community and aged care services. These personas helped convey the frustrations of navigating multiple systems and highlighted the potential benefits of a cohesive platform that facilitates direct communication with frontline teams.

The vision for the future of Uniting is compelling. Once Dayforce is implemented, the organization envisions a streamlined, user-friendly environment that enhances career growth, mobility, and overall employee satisfaction. By painting this picture of the future, the leadership aims to inspire staff and stakeholders about the positive changes ahead. Uniting is collaborating with Deloitte on the Dayforce implementation, with HR transformation partner Glen Detering indicating that the organization is approaching its first go-live date in the new year. This partnership is crucial for ensuring a smooth transition and maximizing the capabilities of the Dayforce platform.

One of the primary objectives of adopting Dayforce is to integrate payroll and rostering functions onto a single platform. This integration is particularly important in light of recent regulatory changes stemming from the aged care royal commission, which necessitate a clear distinction between direct and indirect care roles and their corresponding pay structures. Dr. Hassner acknowledged that Uniting has faced challenges in navigating these changes while maintaining compliance with new regulations.

The complexities of payroll management in Australia, coupled with evolving regulations surrounding wage theft, underscore the urgent need for a streamlined, automated system. Dr. Hassner emphasized that the manual reconciliation processes currently employed are inefficient and prone to error. For instance, Uniting recently undertook a comprehensive reconciliation exercise that spanned three months, involving a spreadsheet containing 66,000 lines of payroll data to ensure accuracy between the two systems. Such labor-intensive tasks are deemed unsustainable in the long run.

Ultimately, Uniting aims to shift its focus from bureaucratic tasks to providing better service to its customers and frontline staff. By reducing administrative burdens through a unified platform, the organization hopes to enhance overall service delivery and strengthen its commitment to the individuals it supports.

As Uniting continues to progress with its transformation, the leadership team remains optimistic about the potential impact of Dayforce on the organization’s people management systems, employee experience, and operational efficiency. With a clear vision for the future and a dedicated partnership with Deloitte, Uniting is well-positioned to navigate the complexities of the evolving workforce landscape while ensuring the well-being of its staff and the communities they serve.