Businesses are continually seeking tools to streamline their operations. Employment Hero is one such contender, offering a cloud-based solution that combines HR and payroll functionalities. But does it truly stand up to the promises it makes? Let’s explore the features of Employment Hero and the feedback from users to understand its strengths and weaknesses.
Employment Hero provides a wide range of payroll management features. It simplifies payroll management through its mobile app, enabling users to handle payroll tasks conveniently from anywhere. Additionally, the self-service portal allows employees to access and update their personal details and view pay slips online, adding a layer of transparency to the process.
Leave management is essential for HR and payroll. Employment Hero simplifies this by making it easy to set up holiday pay and working hours. The platform provides detailed leave reports, helping businesses understand leave balances and costs. Time and attendance tracking is also streamlined with built-in timesheets, real-time location monitoring, and alerts for missed shifts.
Employment Hero isn’t without its challenges though. Users have reported issues with slow customer service, poor integration between HR and payroll features, and inflexible yearly contracts.
Our experience with their Malaysia app has also shown the registration process to be a bit cumbersome, requiring a lot of information about you and your company. The trial page lacks clear instructions on how to access payroll features, which can be frustrating. Customer support is often slow, with limited live assistance and a heavy reliance on self-service options—a complaint echoed by many other users in online reviews.
But before we make any conclusions on whether Employment Hero stands tall or bends or breaks, let’s take a closer look at its features and everything else it has to offer.
This review covers:
- What Do Users Like about Employment Hero
- What Don’t Users Don’t Like About Employment Hero
- What Pricing Plans Does Employment Hero Offer?
- What are the Standout Features of Employment Hero?
- Selected Positive User Feedback
- Selected Negative User Feedback
- What are Employment Hero’s Review Ratings from Review Sites?
- What’s My Final Verdict on Employment Hero?
What Do Users Like About Employment Hero?
- Streamlines a lot of HR processes
- Engaging for employees
- Aesthetic user interface
What Don’t Users Like About Employment Hero?
- Slow customer service
- Poor integration between HR and payroll products
- Yearly contracts limit flexibility and hinder the ability to switch
- Setup for payroll is long with minimal help
What Pricing Plans Does Employment Hero Offer?
Employment Hero offers two main feature sets: HR Features and Payroll Features. Each feature set includes multiple pricing plans designed to cater to different needs and requirements. Here’s an overview of their pricing structures for the respective countries:
HR Plans
Hiring Essentials: A free recruitment software that offers everything businesses need to hire candidates with ease. It promises to help attract the best talents, save time in the process, and keep talents engaged. It allows businesses to plan for recruitment needs, including job board integration, candidate tracking, agreements, and a careers page.
- Australia: Free
- New Zealand: Free
- Malaysia: Not available
- Singapore: Not available
HR Standard: Ideal for businesses just starting with cloud-based HR. This plan provides access to an extensive HR document library and also has an employee benefits store, onboarding checklists, leave management, and more.
- Australia: AUD 8 per employee per month*
- New Zealand: Not available
- Malaysia: RM8 per employee per month*
- Singapore: SGD5 per employee per month*
HR Premium: This plan is ideal for teams that need better engagement and analytics. It has all of the features of the HR Standard plan and allows businesses to manage performance reviews, encourage professional development, and track expenses.
- Australia: AUD12 per employee per month*
- New Zealand: NZD10 per employee per month*
- Malaysia: RM12 per employee per month*
- Singapore: SGD7 per employee per month*
HR Platinum: This plan offers advanced HR features for teams that need to stay strategically aligned. It has all of the features of the HR Premium plans, plus it allows businesses to set company goals with OKRs, add custom branding in-app, use custom fields, access API, and enjoy unlimited phone support.
- Australia: Custom pricing
- New Zealand: NZD16 per employee per month*
- Malaysia: RM18 per employee per month*
- Singapore: SGD10 per employee per month*
Payroll Plans
Payroll Essentials: This plan offers the payroll basics. It automates some manual processes, allows businesses to issue payslips, and boosts compliance confidence.
- Australia: Not available
- New Zealand: NZD2 per employee per month*
- Malaysia: Not available
- Singapore: Not available
Payroll Standard: This plan offers fast and easy payroll that integrates with HR. It offers automated pay run processing, flexible payroll management, timesheets, easy CPF reporting, and more.
- Australia: AUD6 per employee per month*
- New Zealand: NZD4 per employee per month*
- Malaysia: RM8 per employee per month*
- Singapore: SGD6 per employee per month*
Payroll Premium: This is an end-to-end payroll plan that allows businesses to automate their entire payroll function to save time on payroll admin work. It includes everything in Standard, plus employee rostering, time and attendance kiosks, automated pay conditions, and more.
- Australia: AUD8 per employee per month*
- New Zealand: NZD6 per employee per month*
- Malaysia: RM12 per employee per month*
- Singapore: SGD8 per employee per month*
Managed Payroll: This plan offers end-to-end management of entire payroll operations, plus full visibility, managed RTI, pension enrolment, and HMRC reporting, and integrated time and attendance tools.
- Australia: AUD27 per employee per month*
- New Zealand: NZD25 per employee per month*
- Malaysia: RM52 per employee per month*
- Singapore: SGD32 per employee per month*
Global Teams
The Employment Hero Global Teams plan is a way to democratise remote work and connect the right people with the right businesses by acting as the Employer Of Record (EOR) or as a Professional Employment Organisation (PEO) for employees based outside your existing markets, and based on the laws specific to particular regions.
It offers global coverage with local employment contracts, ongoing HR advisory support, full integration with Employment Hero, and payroll compliance with local requirements.
It also offers statutory reporting and remittances such as tax, social security, pension scheme, and healthcare, full benefits management and administration, worker classification and compliance checks, and continuous support from dedicated customer success teams.
Businesses can get all of these features and more starting at USD399 per employee.
*Conditions apply
(Prices are accurate as of 8/27/24)
What are the Standout Features of Employment Hero?
In this section, we’ll take a look at some of the best features that Employment Hero has to offer. However, it must be noted that the information provided regarding each standout feature of Employment Hero mostly pertains to its availability in the Australian market.
Please be aware that the software’s features may vary depending on the specific country it is used in, as Employment Hero offers services in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, and the UK. Users in different regions may experience differences in available features and functionalities based on their respective local regulatory requirements and market demands.
1. Cloud Payroll Software
Employment Hero’s cloud payroll software offers an all-in-one solution for businesses. It automates payroll processes, providing Single Touch Payroll (STP) reporting, modern award interpretation, and custom pay condition management.
The platform simplifies leave management, offers time tracking and attendance features, and streamlines employee rostering. Users can access the system through a mobile app, ensuring flexibility in payroll management.
Image Source: Employment Hero
2. HR Software & Employee Benefits
Employment Hero offers a cloud HR software solution that covers all facets of the employee lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding to engagement and success.
The platform’s cloud-based nature ensures paper-free management of files, policies, contracts, leave, records, and timesheets, promoting a digital HR environment. Employee engagement is a focal point, with features like pulse checks, reward and recognition, and learning and development opportunities.
Notable components include an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) for efficient recruitment processes, an integrated payroll system for streamlined HR and payroll management, a Learning Management System for employee upskilling, and an Employer of Record service for global hiring without compliance concerns.
Image Source: Employment Hero
3. Global Teams – Employer of Record Service
Global Teams is an Employer of Record (EOR) service that simplifies international hiring by allowing businesses to focus on skills, not locations. It offers access to skilled remote employees in various industries and countries.
With Global Teams, there are no recruitment hassles, overseas entities, or compliance concerns, as they handle the entire process. This all-in-one solution streamlines the management, payment, motivation, and rewarding of local and global teams while ensuring compliance with local employment laws.
In essence, it enables businesses to hire skilled, permanent employees worldwide without the burden of compliance and tax complexities.
Image Source: Employment Hero
4. Hiring Essentials – Applicant Tracking System
Hiring Essentials offers a free Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to streamline the hiring process for businesses. It allows for advertising, hiring, and onboarding of staff all within a single system.
It also integrates with various job boards, making it easier to reach potential candidates, and simplifies candidate tracking, shortlisting, and hiring. The goal is to save time and resources, making the recruitment and onboarding process more efficient and effective for businesses.
Image Source: Employment Hero
5. Employment Superapp – Swag
Swag is introduced as an employment superapp, redefining the employment experience. It consolidates work-related functions like job searches, application management, timesheets, leave requests, and notifications into a unified platform.
Swag Money offers tools to combat rising living costs, including on-demand pay, a dedicated spending account, and various discounts. The app also provides access to a range of benefits such as discounts on health insurance, gym memberships, groceries, and more, aiming to keep employees engaged and motivated.
Swag aims to enhance the employment experience by offering a comprehensive suite of features.
Recently though, the app has been plagued with several issues ranging from slow loading times, glitches, and problems with logging in. They have a pretty high Google Play Store rating of 4.8 but I think this doesn’t really reflect the current state of their mobile app. One can only hope they fix these issues soon.
Image Source: Employment Hero
6. SmartMatch
Employment Hero SmartMatch introduces a forward-thinking approach to hiring. By utilizing AI, it identifies candidates with the right skills and experience, providing a list of work-ready candidates.
This method bypasses the need for traditional job boards and allows employers to connect directly with relevant talent, expediting the hiring process. Additionally, SmartMatch can forecast future hiring needs, enabling proactive talent pipeline development for upcoming roles.
Users can easily access their SmartMatches by updating settings and navigating through the organization chart. This tool offers a more efficient and targeted way to connect with potential hires.
Image Source: Employment Hero
7. Employee Learning Management System (LMS)
Employment Hero’s Learning Management System (LMS) encourages ongoing employee development and learning. It offers a range of courses that empower teams to choose their skill development path.
The system promotes a culture of active learning, making it easier for employees to grow and develop independently. By investing in continual training and development, businesses can boost retention rates, keeping employees fulfilled and up-to-date with positive long-term effects.
Learning Plus, part of the LMS, allows businesses to track progress, test knowledge, and create custom learning pathways. The digital learning platform provides accessible e-learning content, fostering team capability and engagement with different pricing options.
Image Source: Employment Hero
Selected Positive User Feedback:
- “Employment Hero is an amazing platform and company. It’s super user friendly and has improved everything we do from the employee perspective, plus saved so much time.” – Laura (Source Trustpilot)
- “Simple to use HRIS for businesses of all sizes.” – Glenn (Source Trustpilot)
- “Great! Easy to use. Engaging for our team and love the advice provided and the occasional webinar.” – Holly M. (Source Capterra)
- “Even the free version is excellent. The ability to send electronic employment contracts is fantastic.” – Oliver S. (Source GetApp)
- “Great off the shelf product for managing a small to medium size business. There is enough customisation to add the features we need and all of the basic HR functions are available.” – Sophia B. (Source Capterra)
- “The time-management and payroll modules were incredibly user-friendly, benefiting not only HR but all software users. This ease of use is crucial, as it significantly reduces the time needed to submit leave requests and make adjustments, enhancing overall efficiency.” – Lana K. (Source Capterra)
- “Ease of use and speed in which onboarding can be completed all in one place” – Natasha F. (Source Capterra)
- “The user experience from a payroll preparers perspective is very straight forward. And, in the early stages whilst we were getting to know the system, the implementation team and support teams were really supportive and helpful.” – Verified User in Retail (Source G2)
Selected Negative User Feedback:
- “Creating various contract templates can be a bit tricky initially, as setting up different types of contracts requires some time and effort to learn.” – Lana (Source Software Advice)
- “overpriced software for a quick book replica. Very bad customer service who did not even call me but closed the ticket. This happened twice and any questions asked they refer to videos. Negative, There is one small demo of the product. There is no trial period to check the product. There is a one year contract and you cannot leave once you sign up.” – SriRam Sudarsan (Source Software Advice)
- “Sometimes slow response to issues that require assistance” – Natasha (Source Software Advice)
- “I hate that it reverts to obsolete settings and constantly messes with the payroll integration. We’ve actually had to turn it off. The help desk is worse than useless. their 2fa is buggy and you can’t get hold of anyone when you need to.“ – Kirsten (Source Software Advice)
- “Support – Takes days, sometimes weeks for urgent replies in the payroll system. Cannot help confirm compliance when the ATO comes knocking. Basically said too bad so sad. The reporting features are terribly limited, doesn’t calculate payments made in same pay periods like Xero and a lot of the other available software.” – Solomon A. (Source Capterra)
- “The worst customer service I have experienced in my professional career. A service that was over promised and under-delivered.” – Evelina S. (Source Capterra)
- “The platform has a lot of facets and that often means running into trouble from time to time because of a bug or human error. Getting quick support has often been hard.” – Verified User in Retail (Source G2)
- “EH’s reporting and API features turned out to be nothing more than smoke and mirrors. The limited post-contract support leaves us grappling with the need to pay external entities for fundamental features that should be part of the package.” – Verified User in Information Technology and Services (Source G2)
What are Employment Hero’s Review Ratings from Review Sites?
(As of August 2024)
- Google Play Store (Swag by Employment Hero): 4.8/5
- TrustPilot: 3.7/5
- App Store (Swag by Employment Hero): 4.4/5
- Capterra: 4.4/5
- G2: 4.5/5
- Software Advice: 4.4/5
- GetApp: 4.4/5
What's My Final Verdict on Employment Hero?
Employment Hero brings some powerful features to the table, but it’s not without its quirks and challenges. I love that Employment Hero offers a robust set of HR features, including employee engagement tools, ATS for recruitment, integrated payroll, an LMS for continuous learning, and a groundbreaking EOR service for international hiring.
However, navigating Employment Hero’s HR trial app and website was frustrating, with technical issues and a lack of clear guidance. Slow customer support only added to the confusion, making it difficult to find what we needed, especially when testing the payroll features.
In conclusion, Employment Hero is a promising solution that tackles the multifaceted world of HR and payroll management with determination. It offers a plethora of features that can greatly enhance the way businesses handle their HR and payroll tasks. The trial limitations and customer support issues need to be addressed for it to truly shine.
Employment Hero shows promise, but it’s a work in progress. If you’re in search of a comprehensive solution that goes beyond the basics of HR, it’s worth looking into. Just be prepared to navigate some bumps along the way, and if you can forgive the occasional setbacks, you might find a powerful tool. So, explore what Employment Hero has to offer, and if you wanna take things a step further and see for yourself if the solution they offer is compatible with your needs, go ahead and pop into their site and book a free demo today.
