PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island’s rollout of its new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system has run into problems, causing payroll disruptions that left many state employees with incorrect paychecks.
State employees have reported everything from paychecks not being deposited in their bank accounts to being paid too little or even more than they are owed. There have also been reports of incorrect payments being issued to vendors.
The setback highlights the risks associated with deploying a complex cloud-based system across government agencies without sufficient testing or contingency planning.
The transition to the ERP system faced multiple problems, with the launch date pushed back several times. The most recent change moved the rollout from November 2 to November 16 as officials worked to ensure a smooth implementation. Since November 17 employees reported various problems with the system.
The ERP system is designed to modernize core functions such as human resources, payroll, and finance. The initiative shifts the state’s operations to Workday, a cloud-based enterprise platform with the intention of replacing outdated processes that relied heavily on paper documents, manual entry, and disconnected systems across departments.
With the new ERP system, all state employees now use a single, centralized portal that streamlines communication, requests, and critical updates. The platform offers various self-service tools, such as the ability to update personal information, manage payment elections, request time off, and track absences.
Beyond convenience, the Workday system was expected to bring greater consistency and accountability to HR and payroll operations. Consolidating these functions into one platform should allow departments to better coordinate, standardize procedures, and maintain data accuracy.
The ERP initiative originated during the administration of Governor Gina Raimondo, who unveiled the plan in December 2019. Since then, project expenses have risen significantly, increasing from an estimated $69 million in 2021 to about $91 million this year.
This latest pay period, if wasn’t paid for 2 OT shifts. Other coworkers having issues also. I keep calling the number given, no one calls back or answers. What are we supposed to do? So frustrating.
ContributorDecember 5, 20251 Mins read5 
This latest pay period, if wasn’t paid for 2 OT shifts. Other coworkers having issues also. I keep calling the number given, no one calls back or answers. What are we supposed to do?
So frustrating.