New Employee Orientation (NEO)

Complete Required Forms

You will have several forms to complete within specified timeframes to process your insurance benefits, payroll, retirement, etc. Below is where you will obtain additional information on required forms and the timeframe it needs to be completed and submitted to HRHelp@wsdot.wa.gov.

At WSDOT equal employment opportunity efforts are important to us. You will need to complete the Affirmative Action and Demographic Data (PDF 148KB), however, responses to questions 4 through 13 are voluntary. This form is to assist us in evaluating equal employment opportunity efforts, affirmative action purposes and providing additional points for qualified veterans or their spouses who meet state qualification. View the Affirmative Action Definitions for additional information.

Your First Paycheck

Your first paycheck will be automatically sent to your mailing address. Please be sure to double check the accuracy of the address you provide on your W-4 document. You can also provide your mailing address (if different from your home address) in writing to the Employee Services Team. Contact them at HRHelp@wsdot.wa.gov if your address needs to be updated.

Paydays

WSDOT paydays are the 10th and 25th of each month, but are adjusted if they fall on a weekend or a holiday. Any hours worked for the 1st through the 15th of the month are paid on the paycheck on the 25th of that month. Any hours worked on the 16th through the end of the month are paid on the paycheck on the 10th of the following month. To learn more you can view the state's payday and holiday calendar.

Direct Deposit & Earnings Statements

New WSDOT employees are required to enroll in Direct Deposit or a Focus Card. The Direct Deposit will transfer your salary straight into your checking or savings account. The Focus Card is a reloadable, prepaid debit card issued by U.S. Bank. It provides an electronic option for receiving your pay. It is not a credit card, but works similarly to other debit cards. Visit our Payroll site for information on these programs and the Focus Card Enrollment Form.

To view your earnings statements, WSDOT uses a secure, password-protected, on-line portal called MyPortal. You can also update contact information and demographic data through MyPortal. To access MyPortal you will need your employee identification number and WSDOT email address if not logging in through the WSDOT network. Your supervisor can provide this information to you.

Timesheets

Depending on your job classification, you may need to complete a timesheet to report your labor and leave hours. Please work with your supervisor to identify if your position is required to do so. Timesheets are submitted twice each month, for pay periods ending the 15th and last day of the month. You can find information about WSDOT's electronic time and leave system (DOTtime) on WSDOT's internal website or DOTtime Help page. Your supervisor and/or timekeeper will orient you to the DOTtime system and training slides are available. DOTtime can be accessed via an icon on your desktop and via your mobile device. New employees may not be able to access DOTtime for up to 48 hours after being keyed into HRMS. If, after this time period, you cannot authenticate using SSO, please contact HQ Payroll.

WA CARES

The WA Cares Fund is a mandatory long-term care insurance benefit established by Washington state law in 2019. This is a program for all Washington state residents. Starting July 1, 2026, benefits can be used to purchase long-term care services which may include professional care, equipment, home safety evaluations, and/or compensation for family members who provide care.

Exemptions

Employees may be eligible for a permanent or conditional exemption from the WA Cares Fund. Exemptions are not automatic - WSDOT cannot stop the WA Cares Fund deduction unless an approved ESD exemption is provided by the employee to WSDOT Payroll. If an exemption category applies to you, follow the instructions on the WA Cares Fund intranet page.

If you have an existing exemption, or receive ESD approval in the future, you are required to notify WSDOT of your exemption by emailing WSDOT Payroll at wsdothqpayroll@wsdot.wa.gov and providing a copy of the ESD exemption approval letter.

• ESD does not notify WSDOT of your premium exemption. It is your responsibility to notify WSDOT Payroll.
• Initial exemptions will take effect the calendar quarter after your application is approved, and only if you notify WSDOT of your exemption.
• Failure to notify WSDOT of an exemption means non-refundable premiums might be deducted after an exemption’s effective date.
• If you change jobs, you will need to inform your new employer to ensure they don’t collect the premium.

Collective Bargaining Agreement

WSDOT has positions that are represented by a union. If you have questions on whether or not your position is union represented please contact your supervisor or Human Resource Consultant. The collective bargaining agreements between the State of Washington and the different unions can be found on the following website the Office of Financial Management website.