You don’t need February to care about data, but it’s the perfect excuse to finally give your UKG environment the attention it deserves.
Now that year‑end is wrapped, W‑2s are delivered, and the first payroll cycles are behind us, it’s easier to spot (and fix) the inconsistencies that quietly grow into payroll errors, reporting issues, compliance risk, and frustrated employees.
A February review isn’t about a once‑a‑year cleanup – it’s about kicking off a quarterly best‑practice rhythm that keeps your master data accurate, healthy, and ready for everything the year brings.
From employee records and tax locals to terminations, job structures, accruals, and compliance data, showing your data a little love now saves HR, Payroll, and Benefits teams hours later.
Below are the foundational areas every organization should review as part of a quarterly data tune‑up.
1. Employee Master Data
Personal information, employment classifications, job histories, and organizational assignments should all be complete and up‑to‑date. Any inconsistencies at this level can disrupt reporting, payroll, and benefits eligibility throughout the year.
2. Tax Locals and Worksites
Organizations should ensure that employee work and home locations, especially for hybrid or remote employees, reflect the correct taxation jurisdictions for the new year.
3. Termination and Rehire Records
Terminated employees should have complete, accurate records, and rehires must reflect the correct status, dates, and eligibility rules. February is also a good time to verify that year‑end terminations were processed fully.
4. Position, Job, and Compensation Structures
Position IDs, job codes, pay grades, and compensation histories should align with the organization’s current structure. Missing or outdated information here often causes issues during performance cycles, compensation planning, and reporting.
5. Accruals and Leave Balances
Accrual policies, carryovers, and new‑year balances should match what employees expect to see. Ensuring alignment early in the year helps prevent mid‑year corrections and reduces employee support needs.
6. Employment Eligibility and Compliance Data
Information related to eligibility for benefits, ACA tracking, and other compliance programs should reflect accurate records from January forward to prevent future reporting discrepancies.
Why a February Data Review Matters
Strong, accurate data is the foundation of every HCM process – from payroll to analytics. Addressing inconsistencies now prevents errors from compounding throughout Q2, Q3, and year‑end, saving time and reducing frustration for both HR teams and employees.
A focused February clean‑up also strengthens readiness for upcoming cycles, such as mid‑year reviews, merit increases, and ACA reporting.
Need help evaluating or cleaning up your UKG data?
CORE HCM supports organizations with comprehensive master data reviews, gap analysis, and cleanup recommendations to ensure accuracy across HR, Payroll, and Benefits.
Reach out to CORE HCM for a tailored data‑health review and start the year with confidence.