Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Position Overview

Job Type: Full-time; Exempt

Location: Commerce, CA

Work Arrangement: Hybrid — in-office Tuesday through Thursday at our Commerce location, with remote work available Mondays and Fridays.

Compensation: $71,000–$76,000 (DOE)

Work 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 under the Work World, Shoeteria and Whistle Workwear brand names California, Nevada, and Washington. We sell boots, apparel, scrubs and safety gear from top vendors in the industry including Carhartt, Wolverine, Timberland Pro, and more.

We are dedicated to putting our customers first, and we believe blue collar workers are the backbone of our communities and our country. We are committed to our values of honesty, respect, and integrity, and require each employee to demonstrate these values

About the Role

We are seeking a detail-oriented and proactive Payroll & Benefits Specialist to join our growing HR team. This role owns the daily execution of end-to-end multi-state payroll and benefits administration, with a strong focus on accuracy, compliance, employee service, and continuous process improvement.

What We Offer:

• Competitive compensation
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Paid Time Off
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Annual performance bonus
• Employee Merchandise Discounts
• Career advancement opportunities in a thriving, growing organization

What You’ll Do:

Payroll & Benefits Administration

• Manage full-cycle, multi-state payroll processing
• Process commissions, SPIFs, bonuses, pay adjustments, reimbursements, and off-cycle payrolls
• Manage employee terminations, final pay, garnishments, and payroll documentation
• Administer employee benefits, 401(k), FSA, and open enrollment processes
• Manage ACA eligibility tracking, compliance audits, and reporting
• Partner with HR and Finance on payroll approvals, compensation structures, and bonus programs
• Monitor and implement federal, state, and local wage updates
• Help ensure compliance with wage and hour requirements, with a focus on CA, WA, and NV
• Maintain accurate payroll, benefits, and employee data within our HR/payroll platforms

Human Resources Support & Compliance

• Serve as a point of contact for employee questions related to payroll, benefits, and HR policies
• Manage employee inquiries and requests through Zendesk
• Maintain payroll and benefits SOPs, processes, and documentation
• Support HR compliance reporting, including EEO-1 and California Pay Data Reporting
• Audit HRIS records to ensure accurate employee, tax, and work location data
• Support onboarding, offboarding, and employee status changes
• Partner with HR and Finance to implement new policies, programs, and employee communications

What You’ll Need:

• 4+ years of experience with full-cycle, multi-state payroll processing required
• Strong knowledge of California and Washington payroll and employment regulations required
• Experience with Nevada payroll requirements strongly preferred
• 2+ years of benefits administration experience, including health, 401(k), FSA, and ACA
• Proficiency with payroll processing systems and HR/Payroll platforms strongly preferred
• Advanced Excel skills, including VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, pivot tables, and formulas
• Strong analytical skills and exceptional attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and resolve complex payroll and benefits issues
• Strong organizational skills with excellent follow-through and time management
• Ability to manage confidential employees and financial information with discretion
• Comfortable working across HR, Finance, and other departments in a fast-paced environment

Equal Opportunity Employer

Work World is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Pay Range