In Stage W, what milestone occurs?

• A. Stage 4
• B. They submit RFP
• C. The GEBC team
• D. They run their first payroll

Answer: (D)

In this stage of the onboarding and go-live process, the key milestone is the first payroll run. Once all payroll configurations are set—employee records, tax rules, benefits, deductions, and pay cycles—and the data is validated, initiating the first payroll proves that the system can correctly process payments and issue net pay to employees. It’s the tangible event that shows end-to-end payroll processing is functioning and ready for ongoing cycles.

The other options don’t fit as milestones in this stage. Stage 4 is just another stage label rather than the concrete event that marks go-live. Submitting an RFP relates to vendor selection and procurement, not payroll activation. The GEBC team isn’t a payroll milestone. So the first payroll run best represents the moment Stage W is achieved.