Error: Allocation code is invalid when exporting to ADP Workforce Now

Updated January 21, 2026 18:54

Issue

When exporting payroll data from 7shifts to ADP Workforce Now, the export fails with the following error message: "Oops, we're unable to Export to ADP Workforce NOW at this time. Label not found, missing following key: Allocation code is invalid."

Cause

This error occurs when a Department Code mapped in 7shifts is marked as Inactive within ADP Workforce Now. ADP Workforce Now will not accept payroll data for departments that are not active for both Labor Distribution and Allocations.

What to do

⚠️ Important: Before making updates to validation tables, 7shifts recommends consulting an ADP Workforce Now Client Services representative or Payroll Advisor as these settings are critical for payroll processing.

To resolve this error, the specific department code must be reactivated within the ADP Workforce Now settings. If you do not have access to these Setup tools, contact an ADP Support Team member to perform these steps.

Log in to ADP Workforce Now.
Navigate to Setup, select Tools, and click on Validation Table.
Search for the Department table.
Filter the list by the specific Company Code used for the export.
Locate the department code identified in the error message.
Update the status of the department code to Active.
Ensure the department is enabled for both Labor Distribution and Allocations.
Attempt the payroll export again from 7shifts.

Issue unresolved

If the department is active in ADP Workforce Now but the error persists, verify that the mapping in 7shifts exactly matches the active codes in ADP.