Blog - openHR

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Most Affordable Payroll Software in South Africa

Why Affordability Matters Payroll is one of the most critical functions for any business in South Africa. With SARS compliance, UIF contributions, and leave management requirements, the wrong choice can lead to penalties or frustrated employees. Did you know that South Africa has one of the world's highest SMME failure rates, with 70-80% failing within five years, often due to challenges like regulatory compliance and administrative costs? For small businesses, affordability isn’t just about saving money - it’s about sustainability and growth. That's where true affordability comes in, especially with free payroll software options tailored for South African SMEs. read more

Sick Leave

[Keeping Track of Sick Leave During Flu Season]As winter sets in here in South Africa, the flu season is upon us. It's a time when many employees may need to take sick leave. Keeping track of this leave is crucial for both employees and employers. The Importance of Sick Leave Records Maintaining good records of sick leave taken is important for several reasons. It ensures that employees are not exceeding their allocated sick leave and helps employers to manage staffing levels during periods of illness. It also provides a clear record should any disputes arise regarding taken leave.... read more

June 12, 2024

100% Uptime

[100% uptime for openHR for May]We are immensely proud to announce that openHR had a 100% uptime for the month of May 2024. Although we have never been down, we have only recently started to measure our uptime. We also constantly monitor our system for any errors which users may receive either in the front end or in the back end. Along with high availability of your best free payroll and HR system, you also have all day error detection by an actual human. We also have multiple support channels with our easiest being WhatsApp. read more

June 4, 2024

Benefits of Handling Payroll & HR Internally

Cost Savings: Outsourcing HR and payroll can be expensive. By handling these tasks internally, companies can often save money in the long run. Control: Internal management of HR and payroll gives businesses more control over these critical functions. Customisation: Every business is unique. Handling HR and payroll in-house allows for customisation that fits the specific needs and culture of the business. Confidentiality: HR and payroll involve sensitive information. Managing these functions internally can provide better security and confidentiality. Having external contractors deal with employee personal information without written consent may land you in hot water with the... read more

May 27, 2024

Lazy Labour Lawyers

[A Misinterpretation of South African Labour Laws]When it comes to labour law, accuracy and precision are paramount. However, there are instances where even professionals can misinterpret the law. A recent example involves a popular South African labour lawyer on TikTok who claimed that an employee is entitled to 1.25 days of annual leave every month. This statement is not only incorrect but misleading on several levels. The Misconception of Monthly Leave Accrual The lawyer's claim suggests that annual leave accrues at a fixed rate every month, irrespective of the number of days worked. This is a gross misinterpretation... read more

April 18, 2024

What Sets openHR Apart

Free and Unlimited Unlike many other providers, openHR offers its software completely free of charge. This includes unlimited users, company profiles, and employees. But it doesn’t stop there. openHR also provides free support, ensuring that users have all the help they need to make the most of the platform. We Use Our Own Software At openHR, we don’t just develop the software – we use it too. This means we’re constantly maintaining and improving the platform. Comprehensive Features openHR boasts a multitude of features designed to streamline HR and payroll processes. These include: • Detailed employee profiles • Payslip generation... read more

April 10, 2024

New: employee surveys & training registers

[Instantly create a survey from the services menu] We bring you a fast and easy way to find out if employees want to have a braai for year-end or go ten pin bowling. Introducing surveys. Simply give it a title, description, select the employees, add some questions and send. Want a more detailed survey with labour related work satisfaction questions? Create what your business and HR department requires. Free. Also added at no cost to you: an easy way to keep track of all employee training. External or on the job. Simplifying your skills development levy claims. Happy to cut... read more

April 3, 2024

Small but big updates

Lightning Fast Although we wanted to give small businesses a free HR and payroll platform to use, we have been excited to see larger businesses join us. This have caused loading issues for them specifically with the employee index page and the payslip index page as those are limited to thirty and trying to load more took some time. Without the need to acquire additional infrastructure and with minor cosmetic changes, we were able to reduce loading speeds at least 20 times. Some other updates: - We corrected the time of the audit trail from GMT to GMT +2... read more

March 10, 2024

Free permits and much more goodness

We have exciting news! We now offer free permit management on openHR.co.za! Never have a driver with an expired driver’s license be in the middle of an insurance dispute with your company vehicle. Never have the Department of Labour pitch up asking for work permits and having to look for that one small piece of paper. Create and store a scanned copy safely on openHR. What is more, we will notify you and the employee one month prior to expiration via email so you do not have to worry about anything. You can add everything from passports to forklift... read more

March 4, 2024

The Road Ahead

We are adding more features. With most payroll features moving out of beta testing and with all the new users we've added it is only best we move towards our HR features and expand them further. Yes, there are still some payroll features we are working on like payment batch exports, but these will come at a later stage. We are hard at work adding permit management which will also bring file uploads and storage to openHR. Due to it being part of our free offering as well, file sizes will be limited, but it will offer great features like... read more

February 23, 2024

Hidden Tax Increase: 2024 Budget Speech

In the recent 2024 Budget Speech of South Africa, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana outlined the new (or not so new) tax brackets for personal income taxpayers. The budget proposes tax increases totalling R15 billion for the 2024/25 fiscal year to alleviate “immediate pressures” on the budget. However, a closer look reveals a hidden tax increase that may have slipped under the radar for many South Africans. [South African politician in their natural habitat]No Inflation Adjustments: A Stealthy Tax Increase One of the key points in the budget speech was the absence of inflation adjustments to the personal income tax tables.... read more

February 22, 2024

Congratulations, HR Heroes!

If you’re reading this, you've made it! Jou Yster! You’ve not only navigated through a challenging financial year, but you’ve also weathered one of the most difficult years South Africa has ever faced and you've still made it to the financial year end! South Africa experienced the worst rolling blackouts the world has ever seen, yet you found the energy to cheer the Springboks on! The government failed in protecting the vulnerable against crime, yet you saw Dricus du Plessis punch his way to victory! Our currency reduced to peanuts, yet you still trade! You persevered! You are our heroes... read more

February 18, 2024

Experience Exceptional Support For Free!

At openHR, we believe in empowering businesses with effective and efficient HR solutions. But we also understand that even the best solutions can raise questions or challenges. That’s why we offer free support alongside our suite of free services. [Sharing is Caring] Why Free Support? We are committed to ensuring that every user has a smooth and seamless experience with our platform. Our free support service is designed to provide immediate assistance and guidance, helping you navigate any issues you might encounter while using our services. How to Access Our Support We’ve made it incredibly easy to reach out to... read more

February 16, 2024

Revolutionising HR and Payroll in South Africa

[Quickly generate documents] In an era where technology is reshaping businesses and industries, openHR, an innovator HR and payroll software provider in South Africa, is setting a new standard. We now offer the automatic generation of essential HR documents, a feature that is a first for a no-cost payroll and HR software in South Africa. [Available on the employee profile] A Single Click, Multiple Solutions With just a single click, users can now generate a variety of important documents. These include: • Confirmation of Employment Letters: These letters serve as proof of employment, verifying that an individual works at a... read more

January 22, 2024

Streamlining Employee Onboarding

[Blank employee information sheet] In the world of Human Resources (HR), efficiency and simplicity are key. The process of onboarding new employees, in particular, can be time-consuming and complex. However, with the advent of HR software like openHR, these processes are becoming increasingly streamlined. One of openHR’s latest features - the ability to print a blank employee information sheet - is a game-changer in the realm of employee onboarding. The openHR Advantage openHR has always been at the forefront of HR solutions, providing user-friendly interfaces and comprehensive features that cover all aspects of HR management. The newly added feature of... read more

January 16, 2024

Financial Risks of Employee Loans

The holiday season is a time of joy and celebration, but it can also be a period of financial stress for many employees. This is especially true in January, colloquially known as "Januworry", when the bills start rolling in after the December spending spree. One common solution that employees turn to is salary advances from their employers. However, this practice carries significant financial risks, particularly when the employee has exhausted all their paid time off (PTO). Understanding Salary Advances A salary advance is essentially a short-term loan from the employer to the employee. It's an advance payment on the employee's... read more

November 21, 2023

The Most Affordable Payroll Software in South Africa

[Free Payroll and HR on openHR]In the world of business, managing payroll and human resources can be a complex and time-consuming task. However, with the advent of payroll software like openHR, these tasks can be streamlined, making them more efficient and less daunting. Comprehensive Features openHR is not just a payroll software, but also an HR software that includes leave, loans, and warning management. It offers a comprehensive suite of features that cater to both the needs of payroll service providers and businesses with internal HR. Employee Profiles With openHR, you can create employee profiles. This feature allows you to... read more

October 18, 2023

The Open Source Payroll Software Alternative

When it comes to managing payroll, businesses often look for solutions that are efficient, reliable, and cost-effective. Paid payroll software has been a popular choice due to being over marketed and overpromised. However, there’s an alternative that offers great benefits without the high price tags: openHR. What is OpenHR? openHR is a comprehensive human resources platform that caters to both the needs of payroll service providers and businesses with internal HR or even the small business where the owner does his own books. It stands out in the competitive market with its ability to handle multiple companies and multiple users... read more

September 22, 2023

Payroll Software for Small Businesses

In the world of small businesses, managing payroll and human resources (HR) can be a complex and time-consuming task. However, with the advent of payroll software like openHR, these tasks can be streamlined, making them more efficient and less daunting. openHR is not just a payroll software, but also an HR software that includes leave, loans, and warning management. Payroll Management One of the key features of openHR is its payroll management system. It allows you to generate unlimited payslips without any additional cost. What sets openHR apart is its ability to automatically pull through loans on the payslips. This... read more

September 20, 2023

Payroll Software for Payroll Service Providers

In the world of payroll service providers, the need for efficient, reliable, and cost-effective payroll software is paramount. One solution that stands out in this competitive market is openHR. This software offers a comprehensive suite of features that cater specifically to the needs of payroll service providers, making it an ideal choice. Multiple Companies, Multiple Users One of the standout features of openHR is its ability to handle multiple companies and multiple users per company. This is a crucial feature for payroll service providers who manage payroll for several companies. With openHR, you can easily switch between different companies and... read more

September 18, 2023

Is There Any Free Payroll Software?

An Introduction to openHR In the world of business, managing payroll is a critical task. It involves not just paying employees, but also tracking hours, calculating taxes, and ensuring compliance with labour laws. For many businesses, this process can be time-consuming and complex. But what if there was a solution that could simplify this process? What if there was a payroll software that was not only efficient and user-friendly, but also free? Enter openHR, a free payroll software that is changing the game for businesses everywhere. Why is openHR Free? The reason openHR is free is simple: we use it... read more

September 15, 2023