---
title: "What are the payroll workflow action types?"
slug: "what-are-the-payroll-workflow-action-types"
updated: 2026-06-10T11:26:21Z
published: 2026-06-10T11:26:21Z
canonical: "help.cintra.co.uk/what-are-the-payroll-workflow-action-types"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.cintra.co.uk/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# What are the payroll workflow action types?

Action output options set for a particular payroll, take precedence over any options set for a group. If you are producing output files, e.g. pension provider files, and you want the files to go to a different location for each payroll because you have a folder for each payroll, then you will set the action for each payroll rather than one action for each group. This is because you can only specify one file location for the group.

When you select any of the actions, you are presented with a **Workflow Options** window. This window has three types of layouts that contain either of the following:

1. **Actions with No Outputs or Settings -** This window describes that there are no outputs or settings to which to set actions.
2. **Actions with Output Options Only -** This window describes the various output options to which to set actions.
3. **Actions with Outputs and Settings -** This window describes the various outputs and settings to which to set actions.

## Actions with No Outputs or Settings

The following actions require no outputs or settings defined:

- **Generate Timesheets**
- **Calculation**
- **Auto-enrolment**
- **Payment Run**
- **Submit FPS**
- **Check HMRC Status**
- **BACS Create**
- **Journal Extract**
- **Close Period**

When you select any of the actions above you are presented with a **Workflow Options** window with no output of settings layout. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/fc2cda72-4645-4b36-96bf-60439ec11f11/Images/Documentation/204001063862.png)

## Actions with Output Options

Some actions require output options where an output is produced. e.g.

- **Calculation Exceptions**
- **RTI Validation**
- **Payslips**
- **Gross To Net**
- **Payroll Analysis**
- **Produce P45 (Save to file and Email options available only.)**
- **Generate PP Files**
- **Altered Pay**
- **Bank Detail Exceptions**
- **Duplicate Name**
- **Duplicate Bank Details**
- **Corrections**
- **AOE**
- **Loan**
- **Statutory Parental Payments**
- **Payroll Period Employee Tasks**
- **Mileage Claim**
- **Summary Payslip**
- **Company Sick Pay**
- **Pension/Benefit**
- **Payment**
- **Deduction**
- **Payment Run Details**

The actions output set up includes a window that contains a series of **Output Options**:

![](https://cdn.document360.io/fc2cda72-4645-4b36-96bf-60439ec11f11/Images/Documentation/204001063863.png)

You can set an action to have various output options. The options available are:

| Name | Description |
| --- | --- |
| **Printer** | Choose this option if you want the report output to go directly to your selected printer. |
| **File Types** | Choose this option if you want the report output to be saved as either a: **PDF**; **Excel** or **CSV** file. Whichever file type you select, you need to select the **Output** folder location by clicking the button. |
| **Email** | Choose this option if you want the report output to be emailed directly to a recipient. > [!NOTE] > **Note:** When you select the check box against this option, the Addresses button is enabled. For more information, see [How Do I Set Up Emails via Payroll Workflow?](/iq/docs/how-do-i-set-up-emails-via-payroll-workflow) |
| **To Screen** | Choose this option if you want to display the information as a new window on your screen (except for P45s). |

## Actions with Settings

The following actions require some additional settings. The settings required for each of the following actions are different, and reflect the options that need to be set for each action.

| Name | Description |
| --- | --- |
| **Payslips** | The settings within the **Payslips – Workflow Options** window are similar to the settings you currently choose when printing payslips. You can choose to print **Employee Address** on **Payslip** and apply this to all payslips or per **Employee** setting; whether you wish to add the **Employment ID** in **Addressee** section; or to **Print** payslips with zero net pay and finally whether you wish to **Include Published Payslips** which are published to the print run. Once you have selected these settings, you can then choose how you want the payslips to be sorted. > [!NOTE] > **Note:** If you keep the default option of Employment ID, then there is no need to add a second sort option. However, if you choose an alternative first sort, then you will need to provide a second sort option. You can add a message to your payslips through the Message free text box, which is in Employer Setup. For more information, see [How Do I Insert Messages onto Payslips?](/iq/docs/how-do-i-add-messages-to-payslips) |
| **Publish Payslips** | The settings within the **Publish Payslips – Workflow Options** window allow you to publish by **Employment ID,** **Organisational Chart**, **Paypoint**, or **Surname**. And allows you to **Publish** payslips with zero net pay. |
| **Gross to Net** | The settings within the **Gross To Net – Workflow Options** window allow you to sort the report by either **Employment ID**, **Surname**, **Organisation Unit**, or **Pay Point**. If you require the report to be sorted by either **Employment ID** or **Surname**, then you only need to select the output option. But if you need the report to be sorted by either **Organisation Unit** or **Pay Point**, then you will require a second sort by option unless you select to **Subtotal by Sort**. |
| **Generate PP Files** | You can produce the **Auto Enrolment (AE) Enrolment** and **Contribution** pension provider files in **Payroll Workflow**, against the desired payroll and send the files to the **Pension Provider**, by selecting the desired **Pension Provider** and **Scheme**. |
| **Altered Pay** | The settings within the **Altered Pay – Workflow Options** window allow you to include starters and/or leavers in the report, set the threshold and/or threshold difference by percent or value. You can also include one or more categories in the report. |
| **Duplicate Name** | The settings within the **Duplicate Name – Workflow Options** window allow you to show duplicates from other payrolls linked to selected payrolls. You can also include one or more payrolls in the report. |
| **Duplicate Bank Details** | The settings within the **Duplicate Name – Workflow Options** window allow you to show duplicates from other payrolls linked to selected payrolls. You can also include one or more payrolls in the report. |
| **Corrections** | The settings within the **Corrections – Workflow Options** window allow you to select the report type and/or suppress results where net effect is zero. You can also include one or more adjustment headings in the report. |
| **AOE** | The settings within the **AOE - Workflow Options** window allow you to select the sort order by **Employment ID**, **Organisation Unit,** **Paypoint**, **Surname**, **Organisation Unit - Employment ID**, **Organisation Unit - Paypoint**, **Organisation Unit - Surname**, **Paypoint - Employment ID**, **Paypoint - Organisation Unit**, **Paypoint - Surname**, **Subtotals only - Organisation** unit, **Subtotals only -Paypoint**. You can also include one or more addition headings in the report. |
| **Loan** | The settings within the **Loan – Workflow Options** window allow you to select the sort order of the addition headings by **Employment ID**, **Organisation Unit**, **Paypoint**, **Surname**, **Organisation Unit - Employment ID**, **Organisation Unit - Paypoint**, **Organisation Unit - Surname**, **Paypoint - Employment ID**, **Paypoint - Organisation Unit**, **Paypoint - Surname**, **Subtotals only - Organisation unit**, **Subtotals only - Paypoint**. You can also include one or more addition headings in the report. |
| **Statutory Parental Payments** | You can select one or more statutory payments to report on. |
| **Summary Payslip** | The settings within the **Summary Payslip – Workflow Options** window allow you to sort the records by **Employment ID**, **Organisation Unit**, **Paypoint**, **Surname**, **Organisation Unit - Employment ID**, **Organisation Unit - Paypoint**, **Organisation Unit - Surname**, **Paypoint - Employment ID**, **Paypoint - Organisation Unit**, **Paypoint - Surname**, **Subtotals only - Organisation unit**, **Subtotals only -Paypoint**. You can select to display the full adjustment detail or the **Subtotal** amounts by adjustment heading. You can also include zero payslips which contain zero hour contracts. |
| **Company Sick Pay** | The settings within the **Company Sick Pay–Workflow Options** window allow you to **Include All** records or only include records where **Employee** is on less than full pay. |
| **Pension/Benefit** | The settings within the **Pension/Benefit – Workflow Options** window allow you to **Report on individual schemes**, **All pension scheme summary** or **All benefit scheme summary**. You can select one or more pension schemes to report on. |
| **Payment** | The settings within the **Payment – Workflow Options** window allow you to report on one or more adjustment headings. |
| **Deduction** | The settings within the **Deduction – Workflow Options** window allow you to report on one or more adjustment headings. |
| **Pay Element Report** | The settings within the **Pay Element Report - Workflow Options** window allow you to report on pay elements within **Cintra iQ** such as the employee's additions and deductions. |
| **Pay Variance** | The settings within the **Pay Variance - Workflow Options** window allow you to report on a value or percentage threshold, set the threshold difference, and include starters and/or leavers. |