If you run a business with employees, you already know the drill. Endless emails about PTO, pay stub problems, questions about benefits, and so much more. Dealing with every one of these issues can drain your time and patience.
And it’s not just you. Reports referenced by HR Dive suggest that managers and HRs spend roughly 40% of their working day solving problems like these and just 13% doing the actual job of building people.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. Investing in HR software with employee self-service tools can lift a lot of that weight off your shoulders. Instead of answering the same questions over and over, you or your HR team can focus on work that actually moves the business forward.
The challenge, of course, is choice. With so many platforms promising to do it all, how do you know which employee self-service HR software is right for your business?
In this piece, we’ll be looking at some of the top options in this category, so that you can see what makes each one unique.
Paylocity
Paylocity is one of the top choices for businesses when it comes to HR software with employee self-service tools. This popular all-in-one HRIS basically brings everything employees need to succeed at work into one central portal.
The goal? Improved employee engagement and less load on managers and HR teams.
The beauty of Paylocity as an employee self-service portal is how accessible it is to use. Your employees can carry out the tasks or make the requests they want on a desktop, laptop, or even phone, no matter where in the world they are. It’s that easy.
Growing companies, startups, tech firms, manufacturers, retailers, and even companies with remote or distributed workers will find Paylocity particularly useful.
Key Features
- View and modify payroll and tax information
- Manage time and attendance
- View and update personal information
- Manage benefits, including health plans, 401(k)s, and FSA
- Track performance and goals
- Access company handbooks, policies, and HR documents
- Full functionality on smartphones for on-the-go management
- Employee engagement via Paylocity’s Community feature
If your workforce is expanding and you’re starting to feel buried under repetitive admin work, Paylocity HRIS is worth serious consideration for its employee self-service portal and automation tools.
Paycom
Paycom is another popular option when choosing an HR system with employee self-service tools.
This all-in-one HR and payroll platform was designed to put autonomy in the hands of your employees. The idea is that they should handle the issues that are important to them while your HR team takes a break from repetitive manual tasks.
Organizations that use Paycom report that HR spends 45% less time on HR tasks annually, thanks to its many helpful automation features, with employee self-service definitely included.
Key Features
- Payroll and tax management
- Time and attendance management
- Benefits administration, including health plans, 401(k)s, and FSA
- Expense management, submission, and tracking
- Personal information management
- Performance reviews and goal setting
- Complete employee onboarding
If you run a growing business and want tighter control, fewer payroll errors, and less back-and-forth between employees and HR, then you should take a closer look at Paycom.
Bamboo HR
Bamboo HR is a comprehensive HR solution for SMBs, typically organizations with between 25 and 1,000 employees. Bamboo HR also boasts an impressive employee self-service portal. This feature empowers employees to manage their own information while freeing HR for more strategic tasks.
One standout feature of Bamboo HR’s employee self-service portal is control. Any employee cannot just log in and start making changes. HR determines who can make changes and what changes can be made.
Key Features
- Personal information management
- Time and attendance management, including PTO requests
- Payroll and benefits management
- Goal setting and performance management
- Mobile functionality
- Ask Bamboo HR AI — Assistant for instant answers to questions
- Electronically sign documents
If you’re an SME that needs simple automation of routine tasks and a better experience without the complexity associated with enterprise solutions, then you may want to consider Bamboo HR.
Zoho People
Zoho People is a simple, yet comprehensive cloud-based HRMS designed to help businesses manage their workforce effectively.
Zoho People also boasts a secure employee self-service portal that can promote seamless collaboration between your workforce and HR staff. This portal also provides employees with tools to manage their own affairs so that they don’t disturb HR for every little detail.
Key Features
- Employee profile management
- Leave and attendance tracking
- Goal setting and performance management
- Employee onboarding, training, and company policy review
- Expense management and reimbursement request
- Mobile functionality
- Automates approvals, notifications, and routine HR tasks
- HR help desk for HR-related requests and issues
If you run a growing company and need a flexible, cloud-based HR system that actually focuses on better employee experience, then check out Zoho People.
ADP Workforce Now
ADP is a well-established name in the HR industry and provides HR and payroll functions to businesses and employees in over 140 countries and territories worldwide. ADP Workforce Now is its cloud-based HCM solution designed to help small businesses manage the full employee lifecycle, starting from recruitment to retirement.
Its self-service portal for employees takes things further by providing a suite of tools to improve the entire employee experience. It empowers employees to handle their everyday issues and not always turn to HR for assistance.
Key Features
- Key Employee Self-Service Features:
- Payroll, tax, and benefits management
- Time and attendance management, including adjustments for hours, earnings, and deductions
- PTO and leave request and management
- Online enrollment for health and retirement
- Life events management (marriage, birth)
- AI-powered chat for HR answers
- Accessible via web portal and dedicated ADP Mobile app
ADP Workforce Now is ideal for you if you run a rapidly growing team and need an HR system with broader capabilities for improved employee experience.
Give Your Employees The Tools They Need To Work Better
Investing in an HR system with robust employee self-service tools is not just a nice-to-have. It’s an essential element that’ll make your organization hum along as smoothly and as seamlessly as possible. It empowers your employees to handle their business so that HR can focus on strategy and not repetitive tasks.
So, which option should you choose? It really comes down to how your business operates today and where it’s headed next.
The best move is to shortlist two or three options, involve your HR team, and request live demos. Pay attention to how easy the employee self-service portal feels, because at the end of the day, you want a system that your employees can use intuitively, so that they don’t always come back to HR for help.
