Work with Benefit Hierarchies
OnePayroll supports hierarchical benefit structures through the Applies-From relationships. This allows you to efficiently manage similar benefits that share common characteristics but need separate tracking.
Benefits that Inherit from Other Benefits
When you create a benefit that applies from another benefit:
- The benefit automatically uses the same Benefit Type as its parent
- The Coverage Type must be compatible (same type or inherited type)
- If Inherit Limits is Yes, it uses the parent benefit's pay types and limits
- Employee assignments are synchronized automatically
- The benefit cannot be directly assigned to employees (Assignable = No)
Creating Inherited Benefits
To create a benefit that inherits from another benefit:
- Choose the
icon, enter Benefit Setup, and then choose the related link. - Create a new benefit and fill in the Applies-From Benefit field with the parent benefit code.
- The system automatically sets the Benefit Type to match the parent.
- Select a compatible Coverage Type (same as parent or an inherited coverage type).
- Configure the specific characteristics that differ from the parent benefit.
Managing Calculation Order
The order in which benefits are calculated matters when benefits depend on each other:
- On the Benefit Types page, benefit types are displayed in calculation order
- Use the Move Up and Move Down actions to change the order of benefit types
- Benefits are processed in the order defined by their benefit type's calculation order
Tip
Use the Move Up and Move Down actions on the Benefit Types page to adjust the calculation order. Benefits are always calculated in this order during payroll processing.
Best Practices for Hierarchies
When working with benefit hierarchies:
- Plan your hierarchy: Design benefit hierarchies before creating many benefits
- Use meaningful relationships: Only create hierarchies when benefits truly share common characteristics
- Test inheritance: Verify that inherited properties work as expected before assigning to many employees
- Document relationships: Keep track of which benefits inherit from others for easier maintenance
See Also
About benefits
Set Up Benefits
Assign Benefits to Employees
Understand Benefit Limits