Construction and manufacturing employers share a core HCM challenge: frontline time data must pass through complex pay rules into accurate payroll, compliance outputs, and labor reporting. The rules differ by industry, but the system-design test is the same.
Quick Answer: Axiom delivers UKG Ready for construction and manufacturing with scoped configuration for certified-payroll workflows, job and project costing, shift differentials, attendance policies, multiple rates, and union rules. Exact capabilities depend on the selected UKG Ready plan and implementation scope. Pricing is $5 to $10 PEPM for software, $30 to $50 for managed payroll, and $50 to $75 for full HRO.
For construction and skilled trades
Certified payroll and prevailing wage. Scope the required WH-347 output, wage determinations, base and fringe logic, and Davis-Bacon audit trail against real projects. Axiom configures and tests the agreed workflow; the employer remains responsible for compliance decisions.
Job and cost-code tracking. Hours captured against jobs and cost codes at the punch, flowing through payroll to your accounting system.
Mobile crews. Scope mobile punch, location controls, foreman or crew workflows, and the tax handling required when employees cross state or locality lines mid-week.
For manufacturing
Shift differentials and premiums. Configure and test second and third shift, weekend premiums, multiple rates, and overtime rules before the first production payroll.
Attendance points. Configure point policies, exceptions, approvals, and supervisor alerts so discipline decisions use reviewed data.
Union and multi-plant support. Scope dues, multiple rates, seniority workflows, security, reporting, and multi-EIN structures against the selected Ready plan.
Labor cost visibility. Overtime creep by department and line, visible before it hits the P&L. Details on our time and labor management page.
Why UKG Ready for this work
UKG's workforce-management heritage is relevant to shift- and field-based employers. UKG positions Ready for small and midsize organizations and documents connected payroll, time, scheduling, flexible pay rules, union management, and project costing. Fit still depends on the selected plan, integrations, and implementation design.
As a UKG Ready Preferred Partner, we implement it, configure it for your rules, and service it with a named team. No call center. No re-explaining your union contract to a new rep every quarter.
How engagements work
Three service levels. Software only at $5 to $10 per employee per month. Managed payroll, where we run processing and tax filing, at $30 to $50. Full HR outsourcing with the platform included at $50 to $75. Implementation for most companies in this range takes 8 to 12 weeks.
The business case should use your own labor and compliance data: hours spent reconciling time, off-cycle corrections, overtime variance, report preparation, and support effort. Avoid generic ROI promises that cannot be traced to a baseline.
What you get at each service level
| Service level | PEPM | What Axiom handles | What your team handles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software only | $5–10 | Platform, implementation, support | Payroll processing and HR operations |
| Managed payroll | $30–50 | Processing, tax filing, certified payroll reports | HR operations and approvals |
| Full HR outsourcing | $50–75 | Payroll plus HR administration, compliance, and benefits administration | Strategy and final decisions |
Common questions
Can one system handle both our union plant and non-union field crews?
UKG Ready can be configured with multiple EINs, pay groups, jobs, and rule sets so a contractor with a fab shop and field crews can operate in one environment. The selected plan, union rules, tax structure, security, and reporting requirements must be scoped and tested.
Does the system handle prevailing wage rate changes?
Wage determinations can be configured by job and updated through controlled rate-table changes. The required certified-payroll output and audit trail must be scoped and tested for your contracts. See the DOL's Davis-Bacon resources for the compliance rules.
How long does implementation take?
8 to 12 weeks for most companies between 50 and 2,000 employees. We time go-lives around bid seasons and production peaks, and we run a parallel payroll before cutover.
