Blog - openHR

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📅 4 November 2026: Public Holiday for Municipal Elections

President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially declared Wednesday, 4 November 2026 a public holiday across South Africa to allow citizens to cast their votes in the municipal elections. The proclamation was gazetted earlier this month under the Public Holidays Act, ensuring employees nationwide have the opportunity to exercise their constitutional right to vote. read more

How openHR Helps Businesses Unlock the Equivalent of 100 New Employees

Running payroll and staying compliant with SARS and the Department of Labour is often seen as a cost centre. Software licenses, manual processes, and the looming risk of penalties all add up. But what if those costs could be redirected into growth by using South Africa’s best FREE payroll and HR software? read more

September 16, 2026

🗓️ Mid‑Year IRP5 Recons Made Simple with openHR

SARS has officially announced the submission window for the 2026 Employer Interim Reconciliation (EMP501): 21 September to 31 October 2026 This period covers the first six months of the 2027 tax year (1 March 2026 to 31 August 2026). Employers are required to reconcile their PAYE, UIF, and SDL declarations, submit their EMP501, and ensure all IRP5/IT3(a) certificates are accurate. read more

September 1, 2026

When Your Bank Becomes Your Accountant, Auditor, and Gatekeeper

South African small businesses are facing a new reality: SARS has given banks the authority to monitor tax refunds and even hold them back if they suspect fraud. On the surface, this sounds like a safeguard. But combined with another trend - the rise of banks offering accounting and payroll software - it creates a dangerous concentration of power. read more

August 27, 2026

The Hidden Cost of "Free" Bank Payroll: Why SA SMEs Are Switching

For many South African small business owners, setting up payroll inside their business banking portal feels like a no-brainer. It promises convenience, single sign-on simplicity, and - at least initially - a price tag that looks remarkably close to zero. However, as a business grows from a founding team into a thriving workforce, that convenience often turns into friction. What starts as a bundled benefit can quickly evolve into a costly administrative ceiling. Here is why a growing number of SA businesses are decoupling their payroll from traditional bank apps and moving toward dedicated cloud HR platforms. read more

August 24, 2026

Free Payslip Generator for South Africa

Payslips aren’t just paperwork - they’re proof of compliance, trust, and transparency between employer and employee. Yet too many businesses still struggle with outdated templates or costly software. That’s why openHR offers a free payslip generator designed for South African businesses, built to simplify payroll while keeping you compliant. read more

August 11, 2026

🐇 When 2000 Payslips Feel Like 2

Most people expect “free” to mean slow, limited, or watered down. openHR proves otherwise. In fact, we’ve recently clocked over 2000 payslips generated in just 4 minutes and 30 seconds - without cutting corners, and without charging a cent. That’s not a stress test - it’s everyday reliability. read more

August 8, 2026

No Need to Prove Your UIF Number - openHR Does the Heavy Lifting

When it comes to UIF compliance, simplicity matters. Employers shouldn’t have to jump through hoops, upload documents, or manually re-format reference numbers just to get their declarations accepted. That’s why openHR takes care of the details for you. read more

August 4, 2026

📞 openHR Makes Telephone Extensions Smarter

At first glance, telephone extension management might sound like one of those “basic” HR features. You pick an employee, add their office extension, and you’re done. Simple, right? read more

August 3, 2026

BooksToday: Free Accounting, Transparent Reporting

At openHR, we’ve always stood for clarity, compliance, and user‑first design. Now, those same values have inspired a new platform: BooksToday, which officially soft‑launched. 🎉 read more

August 1, 2026

Notes & Audit Trails That Keep Your Payroll Honest

One of the things I love showing off in openHR is how it doesn’t just store your data - it tells the story behind it. Every entry, whether it’s a salary adjustment, a leave request, or a disciplinary note, carries its own little companion: a document note and a detailed audit trail. read more

July 31, 2026

📄 How to generate IRP5s for Free with openHR

When September rolls around, businesses across South Africa prepare for mid‑year reconciliations. With openHR, generating your IRP5s is not only free - it’s quick and effortless. read more

July 30, 2026

⚡ Rolling, Rolling… Still Rolling?

If you’ve ever sat through a payroll system’s “Rolling…” screen, you know the frustration. Minutes pass, deadlines loom, and you’re left waiting for the system to catch up. Payroll doesn’t wait. Employees don’t wait. SARS definitely doesn’t wait. read more

July 29, 2026

🧾 Why Accountants, Auditors, and Payroll Firms Love openHR

When we first launched openHR, our focus was on making payroll and HR software accessible to everyone - no hidden fees, no gimmicks, just transparent value. Over time, something interesting happened: accountants, auditors, and payroll firms began adopting openHR in growing numbers. read more

July 29, 2026

Listening Made Easy: Free Surveys in openHR

Running a business isn’t just about numbers and compliance - it’s about people. The best way to understand your team is to ask them directly, and openHR is more than just free payroll, we also make surveys effortless with built‑in surveys. No third‑party tools, no hidden costs, just simple feedback collection that helps you stay connected. read more

July 28, 2026

No More Messy Spreadsheets: Free Expense Claim Management with openHR

Managing employee expenses shouldn’t feel like detective work. With openHR’s free expense claim management, businesses can streamline the process - from capturing claims to running reports - all in one place. Whether you need a signed paper trail or prefer digital convenience, openHR makes it effortless. read more

July 27, 2026

🚀 Elevate Your Team with Free Performance Reviews

openHR doesn’t just give you free payroll - it empowers you with the HR tools that make managing people smarter and more transparent. read more

July 26, 2026

👔 Free Clothing Report in openHR

In industries like farming, automotive, and hospitality, uniforms aren’t just about appearance - they’re essential for safety, branding, and professionalism. Managing them, however, can be surprisingly complex: sizes, orders, replacements, and ensuring every employee has what they need. openHR’s Clothing Report takes the guesswork out of this process and giving you more than just 100% free payroll. read more

July 25, 2026

Stay Compliant and Covered with openHR’s Free Permit Tracker

Running a business means juggling more than just payroll and HR - it also means staying on top of legally required permits and licenses. Missing a renewal can expose your company to compliance risks, insurance headaches, and even operational downtime. That’s where openHR’s free permit manager steps in. read more

July 24, 2026

📚 Training Registers & SDL Claims

Investing in employee development isn’t just good for growth - it’s also a smart way to unlock financial benefits for your business. With openHR’s free training registers, you can easily track every workshop, course, or skills program your team completes. And because these records are structured and audit‑ready, they don’t just help you manage training - they also support your SDL claims, turning compliance into opportunity. read more

July 23, 2026

💰Free Salary Advance Management That Keeps You Compliant

Managing salary advances or employee loans can quickly become a compliance headache. Labour law requires that any deduction from an employee’s pay must be in writing and signed by the employee. For many businesses, this means juggling paperwork, tracking repayment schedules, and hoping nothing slips through the cracks. read more

July 22, 2026