Beginning in July 2021, all UW System employees who are paid monthly—including UW–Madison employees—will be moved to a biweekly pay schedule. For these employees, most deductions for benefits such as health, dental, vision and life insurance will be split evenly over the first two biweekly paychecks each month beginning in August.
The term “Single Payroll” refers to the fact that this change standardizes the payroll schedule for all UW System employees.
Transitioning to a Biweekly Payroll Schedule
The transition to Single Payroll begins in July. Employees who are currently paid monthly over 12 months can refer to this Single Payroll timeline for information on how the transition will impact their payroll schedule. Employees who are paid over nine months should use the
Single Payroll timeline for nine-month appointments.
A more detailed 2021 Pay Schedule—including pay periods, pay dates, and deductions taken from each paycheck—is available as a downloadable PDF. For 2022 pay dates, see the 2022 Biweekly Pay Schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
To learn more about Single Payroll, please review the frequently asked questions available on the UW System web page.
Town Hall Meetings
Attend a Town Hall hosted by UW System to learn about Single Payroll. Presenters will explain the new pay period and payroll schedule, describe how benefits deductions will be made, and answer your questions about the change. Each event will be recorded for viewing later on demand. Closed captioning will be provided. Advance registration is not required.
Wednesday, March 3, 2021
Noon–1 pm
Overview for all employees paid monthly
Town Hall video
Town Hall slides
Questions?
If you have questions, please contact the Office of Human Resources:
608-265-2257
2021payrollchanges@ohr.wisc.edu
Language assistance is available from Cultural Linguistic Services.
Español, Hmoob, བོད་ཡིག, 中文, नेपाली
Spanish, Hmong, Tibetan, Chinese, Nepali
Maintaining financial and emotional well-being
The Employee Assistance Office (EAO) offers resources to help maintain well-being during times of transition. If you are experiencing financial stress, EAO can be a helpful resource. Confidential counseling for employees and their families is available through EAO and is offered 24/7 through LifeMatters.
Financial Resources
Spending and Saving Plan Workshops
In this online workshop, you will learn how to create a spending and saving plan that works for you. You will get answers to your questions about managing personal and family finances, including at times of transition. This session will also provide options to consider if you will face a temporary budget shortfall due to a payroll change.
The workshop is offered at no cost by UW Credit Union. Registration is required and can be done up until the workshop starts.
Articles and Videos
The Division of Extension at UW–Madison offers a variety of financial education resources to help individuals and families keep pace with day-to-day expenses, reach financial goals, adjust to financial changes, and secure their financial future.
See the Division of Extension YouTube channel for brief, informative videos on a wide range of personal financial topics, including the following:
- Tips for Your Financial Resolutions (4:04)
- Creating a Spending Plan (4:11)
- Tips for Tracking Spending (4:33)
- Spending Strategies (3:32)
- Money and Relationships (4:07)
- Plan How to Use Your Tax Refund (6:52)