Skip to main content
All CollectionsEmployer experience
How to troubleshoot errors in your census file upload
How to troubleshoot errors in your census file upload
Cocoon Support avatar
Written by Cocoon Support
Updated over 6 months ago

Please ensure your census data, whether uploaded manually or through integration, includes only US-based employees, as we currently support only US employees.

What happens when I upload my census file?

When the census file is uploaded, Cocoon parses the data and determines if there are any issues with the file before applying any changes. If there are no issues, your census file will be applied automatically without delay!

In the event there are issues with the census file, you may be required to follow up on an additional Action Needed, resulting in a re-upload of an updated census file.

What type of issues will I need to review?

Our census parser will identify automatically if there are any major issues that could affect payroll or other automatic processes within Cocoon. The most common types of issues that may require your attention are:

  • Missing columns (Termination Date, Annual Salary, Hourly Rate, etc)

  • Missing data for certain employees (Annual Salary, Work Email, Employee Type, etc)

  • Invalid or incorrect data populated in the incorrect column

What are the data requirements for the census file?

View Cocoon's census template to view all required fields and descriptions for what is accepted in our system.

How to troubleshoot errors with the census file

After you upload a census file in your Document center, you will see an Action Needed status if the census file has errors that you need to correct. Select Review on the right side of the page to view the errors that Cocoon identified.

Cocoon will take you to the below screen, where you will find what errors are triggering for your census file. The data type will be identified, as well as the general issue that occurred when Cocoon attempted to parse your file.

Once you review and make the necessary changes to your census file, click Upload File in the screen to reinitiate the census parser.

Please note that there may be additional issues that are identified by the census parser that may not require a new census file. Examples of non-blocking errors include:

  • Duplicate rows

  • An invalid value identified for an employee not currently on leave

  • An invalid value identified not applicable to the employee (like hourly_rate for salaried employees)

For these types of issues, the census file will show as Submitted in the Document Center, where our Cocoon team will be notified to conduct a review. You may receive a follow up email if it is determined that an error on the census file may result in downstream issues within Cocoon, where you will be notified of the specific issue that occurred as well as the next steps toward resolution.

How will I know if Cocoon is using the latest version of the census file?

When no issues have been identified by either Cocoon or the Cocoon Team, your census file will be marked as Approved.

For more information on what the census is and how it affects Pay, please read our article here.


Any questions? Please reach out to the Support Team at [email protected]

Did this answer your question?