Navigating Oracle Fusion HCM & Payroll Patch 25A: Key Considerations For UK Local Councils

1. UK Payroll Legislative Updates

• Changes to Tax Codes, Student Loan thresholds, and NI contributions.
• Updates to P60, P11D forms and RTI submission schemas.
• Revised Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) and Maternity Pay calculations.

2. Payroll Calculation Engine Enhancements

• Oracle has optimized retro-pay and costing logic to reduce runtime and improve precision.
• Updates to batch processing allow more parallelism—but require validation.

3. Redwood UX Expansions

• Several self-service screens like Absence Entry, Payslip View, and Employee Directory now use Redwood.
• Impacts navigation, personalization, and accessibility testing.

4. Time & Labour Integration Tweaks

• More granular control over Exception Reporting and approval rules.
• Minor schema changes affecting BI/OTBI extracts.

1. Unexpected Retro-Pay Calculations

• Use PatchGuard or automated regression tools to simulate multiple payroll runs across worker types.
• Validate result sets before promoting to production.

2. Broken or Misaligned Fast Formulas

• Recompile all key formulas post-patch.
• Perform targeted UAT scenarios for formulas driving reporting or costing.

3. Report Bursting & Payslip Issues

• Confirm BI Publisher templates render correctly post-patch.
• Re-validate bursting queries and FTP delivery settings.

4. P60, P11D & RTI Errors

• Test submission files in HMRC sandbox or gateway before live submission.
• Ensure digital signature services and outbound integrations are working post-patch.

5. UI/UX Disruption Due to Redwood

• Run Redwood readiness testing across self-service flows.
• Consider training or change communications for HR staff and employees.

• Automate Regression Testing: Use tools like PatchGuard to test 100+ payroll scenarios quickly.
• Validate Reports & Interfaces: Review every outbound interface, especially those tied to finance or government submissions.
• Run Parallel Payrolls: Simulate a full payroll cycle for 2–3 departments before going live.
• Train HR and Payroll Users: Highlight UI changes due to Redwood and update SOPs as needed.
• Review Compliance Calendars: Ensure all changes meet HMRC and audit timelines.

Patch 25A is a significant update that improves functionality but also brings potential disruption to highly customized or tightly integrated local council systems. With proactive testing, change control, and use of automation, UK councils can ensure a smooth transition while taking full advantage of Oracle's latest enhancements.

Need help validating your 25A update?

FirstCron's Patchguard can simulate payroll and HCM scenarios across your entire organization—ensuring nothing breaks when you go live.

Visit www.firstcron.com or request a tailored demo.