It wasn’t so long ago that paper timesheets and leave requests were the norms, but with the progression of cloud technology and the rise of Employee Self Service (ESS), those times are thankfully behind us. Employee Self Service saves countless hours of data entry and allows payroll staff to focus on adding strategic value.
What is Employee Self Service?
Employee Self Service allows employees to fulfil tasks that until recently would have been reserved for payroll or HR staff, such as leave requests, timesheet submission and expense management. This is often completed through an employee portal or using an app on a smartphone.
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What can Employee Self Service do?
There are of course varying levels of ESS available to customers, but at an entry level, you should expect that employees can enter and change personal details on their file, such as bank accounts and addresses. Even at this level, ESS is still highly advantageous during the employee onboarding program.
At a more advanced level (which Payroll HQ offers) you should expect the following features for your employee;
- Manage expenses – employees can submit expenses and attach relevant receipts or invoices by taking a photo on their phone. This amount is then added automatically in the pay run.
- Manage leave – employees can submit leave requests and are sent notifications once approved. Employees can also view colleagues leave requests to minimise booking conflicting dates, reducing to and fro between managers and employees. Employees are also able to see what their leave accrual would be at a future time.
- Online payslips & pay summaries – employees can view payslips online
- Manage timesheets – through an online entry or clock capture with the ability to interpret these based on an award, EBA or company policy.
For managers, they can have real-time data for working hours and leave management.
Outside of the ‘technical’ benefits, ESS reduces paper usage and lowers the margin of error during data entry.
Should I use Employee Self Service?
ESS is a benefit to employers of all sizes who are looking to streamline and automate processes, whilst reducing paper administration.
The significant benefit in all of this? It gives you, the employer, more time to focus on your business and takes your attention away from menial data entry.
Want more?
If you are considering switching to a managed payroll service, download your free eBook In Safe Hands, co-written by Andre Atton, General Manager of Payroll HQ, and Tracy Angwin, CEO of the Australian Payroll Association. Acting as a blueprint for transitioning to a managed payroll service, In Safe Hands offers not only technical tips but also the strategic benefits and how to make it work for you.
Download your free e-book
