Celebrating National Payroll Week at the U of A

Editor's Note: The below is a message from Bridgette Harris, senior director of Payroll Services.

Did you know that Sept. 4-7 is National Payroll Week 2023? And at the U of A, Fayetteville, our Payroll Services team consists of seven staff members who I'd like to celebrate.  

Our team processes payroll for the U of A Fayetteville campus, Arkansas Archeological Survey, Arkansas Research and Education Optical Network (ARE-ON), Criminal Justice Institute, University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service and the University of Arkansas System. 

All employees are paid on a semi-monthly frequency, meaning we process regular payrolls twice a month. In addition, there are on-demand payments processed in the weeks in which regular payrolls are not — meaning payroll deadlines are met and payments are processed weekly. 

Our team includes:

• Bridgette Harris, CPP: Senior director of payroll services with 26+ years payroll experience dedicated to leading and serving the U of A 

• Amber Duncan, CPP: assistant director of payroll services — 6+ years 

• Wayne Pishue: payroll services coordinator — 3+ years 

• Carrie Deaver: payroll services coordinator — 5 months 

• Jason Lovett: payroll services specialist — 8+ years 

• Andrea Crawford: payroll services specialist — 3+ years 

• Christina Redman: payroll services customer service specialist - 5 months 

This dedicated team of payroll experts spends endless hours ensuring payments are accurate and paid in a timely manner. There have been times that we had to process payroll late at night and into the morning hours, or worked when the university is closed or on holidays. But I am always proud to be a part of such an amazing team. 

In any organization, payroll is one of the most important aspects, while also being one of the most inconspicuous. Our team is typically known for issuing paychecks, but our services extend beyond that as well. Payroll Services is also responsible for withholding income and other taxes, deducting for employee benefits and issuing payments on time.   

Did you know? Five Employer Payroll Responsibilities 

Employers are generally responsible for ensuring that payroll calculations are correct and that employees are paid in a timely manner. This includes accurately calculating tax withholding and benefit contributions and filing and paying federal, state and local taxes. Here are five key employer responsibilities: 

1. Accurately calculate taxes. Employers must calculate their share of federal and any applicable state and local taxes. In addition, they must account for Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes, which pay for Social Security and Medicare and Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) taxes, which fund unemployment benefits. Employers are responsible for calculating and withholding employee income taxes based on the employee's W-4 and state withholding forms. 

2. Deduct employment tax. Each pay period, employers are required to deduct tax and any voluntary and involuntary deductions from employees' wages. 

3. Deposit employee and employer taxes using the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS).  Employers need to enroll in EFTPS, a system set up so taxpayers can make tax payments and deposit withholdings promptly. Otherwise, an employer could face significant penalties. 

4. Keep payroll records. This should include worked hours, wages, tax expenditures and receipts of the funds used to pay the taxes. 

5. Provide employees with pay slips and W-2s. This includes the annual rundown of earnings and taxes that workers need to file their own tax returns.  

Our Payroll Services team is happy to provide these critical services (and more!) in support of the university and its land-grant mission every day. If you ever need to contact payroll services, please email payroll@uark.edu. And thank you for learning more about our team and our services during Payroll Week 2023.