Back to search
Position Overview
Now Hiring: Payroll & Benefits Specialist Now Hiring: Payroll & Benefits Specialist Job Type: Full-time; Exempt Location: Commerce, CA Work Arrangement: Hybrid — in-office Tuesday through Thursday, remote Mondays and Fridays Compensation: $71,000–$80,000 (DOE) + Annual Performance Bonus About Work WorldWork World is the largest specialty retailer of workwear and work boots in the Western U.S. From humble beginnings in 1990, we now operate 30+ stores across California, Nevada, and Washington under the Work World, Shoeteria, and Whistle Workwear brands.We are dedicated to putting our customers first, and we believe blue-collar workers are the backbone of our communities. We operate on honesty, respect, and integrity, and we are looking for a key team member who shares those values. About the RoleWe are seeking a seasoned, hands-on Payroll & Benefits Specialist to fully own and manage end-to-end multi-state payroll processing and benefits administration for our retail workforce.This role requires a true process owner—someone who thrives in a fast-paced retail environment, brings deep knowledge of California wage-and-hour compliance, understands variable-hour ACA tracking, and can accurately manage store commission and SPIF structures. What You’ll Do- Payroll Ownership: Lead full-cycle, multi-state payroll processing (CA, WA, NV) for hourly and salaried retail staff.
- Incentive & Commission Processing:Â Calculate and process retail commissions, store SPIFs, bonuses, pay adjustments, and off-cycle payments accurately.
- Benefits & ACA Management:Â Fully manage health, dental, vision, 401(k), and FSA administration. Oversee ACA compliance, including ongoing eligibility tracking, measurement periods, and reporting for variable-hour employees.
- Compliance & Reporting:Â Ensure strict adherence to federal, state, and local wage/hour laws (with heavy emphasis on CA and WA regulations). Oversee CA Pay Data Reporting and EEO-1 submissions.
- Process Improvement:Â Maintain and improve SOPs, HRIS data integrity, and cross-department workflows with Finance and Operations.
- Employee Support:Â Serve as the primary HR resolution owner for complex payroll, benefits, and deduction inquiries (via Zendesk).
- 4+ years of hands-on experience owning full-cycle, multi-state payroll (specifically California and Washington).
- 3+ years of benefits administration, including active management of ACA compliance and tracking for variable-hour/hourly workforces.
- Direct experience processing commissions, retail SPIFs, and incentive pay structures.
- In-depth working knowledge of California wage-and-hour laws, final pay rules, garnishments, and pay data reporting.
- Advanced Excel skills (XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, pivot tables, complex formulas for audit reconciliation).
- High degree of autonomy—ability to take full ownership of payroll accuracy without close supervision.
- Experience in retail, hospitality, or multi-location industries.
- Experience with Nevada payroll regulations.
- Working knowledge of HR ticketer systems (e.g., Zendesk).
- Competitive compensation + annual performance bonus
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Employee merchandise discounts
- Career advancement opportunities in a thriving organization
Pay Range
USD $71,000.00 - USD $80,000.00 /Yr.Learn more about this Employer on their Career Site
