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Creating Unions

Modified: 6 Jun 2026 Spectrum Accounting Payroll Help

Once the union benefits have been set up as add-on codes, the following is the best practice for setting up unions with benefit tiers.

  1. Create a new union code and enter the union's Description, Craft and Certified craft code on the Properties tab.
  2. Navigate to the Overtime Rules tab and set any applicable rules.
  3. Navigate to the Benefit Tiers tab and create a code for every level or step within the union. These will be used as overrides to set specific benefits.
  4. Return to the Properties tab and add all union deductions, add-ons and fringe benefits. Note that add-ons not paid to the employee will be listed as 'Fringe' on this tab.
  5. Click the Benefit Tier Overrides button to set tier-specific override benefit rates.

Three options are available for each union benefit tier:

  • No override: The standard union calculation will be performed during payroll processing. The rate used is the one appearing on the Properties tab.

  • Not applicable: This code will be skipped and not used.

  • Tier-specific rate: User is prompted to the override rate.

When the add-on code uses a formula, open the rate field to define each tier's variables.

Note: The software will continue to skip all calculations for 'inactive' deductions and add-ons. For Deduction/Add-on calculations that will only apply to certain Benefit Tiers (but not the main Union), it will be recommended that code be configured with a zero rate in the main Union setup (but leave it 'Active'), and then set up the overrides with applicable rates.
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