WDSRA Creates Flexible, Empowering Workforce Experience with UKG

Key Points

• WDSRA manages its full- and part-time staff and easily rehires seasonal employees using the all-in-one UKG Ready^® HCM suite and mobile app
• The local government association migrated from its Ascentis ^® HR and workforce management solution to UKG, saving 500+ hours each year with efficiencies in recruiting, hiring, and onboarding
• Robust payroll reporting and workforce insights help the organization comply with state and federal requirements and accurately allocate costs to districts

UKG, a leading provider of HR, payroll, workforce management, and culture solutions, today announced that Western DuPage Special Recreation Association (WDSRA), which runs inclusive programs for individuals with special needs in the state of Illinois, is creating a flexible and empowering workforce experience with the UKG Ready suite, so its people can focus on their important mission of helping those with diverse abilities reach their full potential.

“The UKG Ready suite is phenomenal. It has everything we need to support our people because it’s easy to use, our data lives in once place, and our employees can access information from the UKG Ready mobile app,” said Lisa Santoria, HR manager at WDSRA, which previously leveraged HR and workforce management technology from Ascentis Corporation before it was acquired by UKG. “Between efficiencies with recruiting, hiring, and onboarding, UKG saves me at least 10 hours a week, which is pretty extraordinary.”

WDSRA employs nearly 300 people in serving nine park districts, helping residents — from youth to adults — lead fulfilling lives through athletics, cultural arts, inclusion services, and independent socialization. The nationally acclaimed government organization — recognized with a National Parks and Recreation gold medal for Excellence in Programming — says the all-in-one UKG Ready HCM suite has transformed how its office staff and on-the-go teams work and access information, especially since nearly 90% of its multigenerational employees work part-time and in the field.

“We’re non-traditional in the sense that we have a larger part-time workforce than a full-time one as we employ many teachers, paraprofessionals, teenagers, and retirees — especially in the summer as we provide flexible hours and employment options,” said Santoria. “UKG makes it easy to hire, rehire, onboard, and manage our entire staff.”

“For example, we love the integration with Indeed, which helps us quickly identify qualified job candidates. Then, when we want to hire someone, their information moves seamlessly into UKG Ready. With just a few clicks, I can extend an offer, and they can complete their onboarding electronically,” added Santoria. “The process is even easier for rehiring employees, specifically high schoolers and teachers who return each summer. All I have to do is reactivate them in our UKG Ready suite and they’re back in the system.”

As a government organization, WDSRA must comply with state and federal requirements and is subjected to auditing each year. Robust payroll reporting in the UKG Ready suite has been particularly crucial in providing accurate and timely information and workforce insights.

“We constantly pull payroll reports to see how many hours our employees are working, specifically those taking part in one-on-one inclusion aid programs since we bill those hours back to the districts where the service was provided,” said Santoria. “UKG makes it easy to identify the general ledger (GL) or program number associated with those employees, so we can be confident the information we’re capturing is compliant and accurate.”

WDSRA’s employees are firmly integrated in the community, helping with the adult day program, participating in one-on-one services, or staffing any number of special events that may run during the day or at night. Having a connection point to the organization through the UKG Ready mobile app gives employees a sense of empowerment.

“The mobile app gives our staff anytime-access to their HR and payroll data and timecards as well as the ability to clock in and out of shifts remotely, which provides a level of flexibility they love,” said Santoria.

“Nonprofits and government organizations play a critical role by providing essential services, driving economic growth through job creation, and enhancing the quality of life for community members. However, they often face significant administrative burden that larger, for-profit sectors do not,” said Chris Kiklas, vice president of SMB product management at UKG. “UKG Ready was built specifically to ease that burden through simplified HR, payroll, talent, and time — freeing up these vital organizations to focus less on processes and more on making a difference in their communities.”

Supporting Resources

• About Western DuPage Special Recreation Association.
• Learn more about UKG and why our purpose is people.
• Hear why UKG customers are Partners for Life.
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