Under the Hood: A Case Study in Opinionated Data Modeling

Finch's approach to unifying payroll data through its API involves prioritizing reliability and consistency over granularity, as demonstrated in their handling of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) status field. The company's decision to simplify the field to basic values like EXEMPT and NON_EXEMPT, rather than offering extensive granularity, is based on comprehensive research into how different payroll providers store and employers use this data. Despite the potential richness of FLSA classifications, Finch found that most providers use a binary system, and employers often stick to this simplicity. By focusing on a model that reflects the practical realities of data storage and usage, Finch aims to offer a dependable, unified data model that reduces the normalization burden for customers. This strategy underscores the company's commitment to delivering actionable and dependable employment data, which aligns with the needs of various HR professionals and employers who require seamless integration with their systems.