Blog - openHR

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Preparing for Financial Year-End

As the financial year-end approaches, payroll and HR professionals have a pivotal role in ensuring a smooth transition and accurate reporting. It's a busy period that requires meticulous planning and attention to detail. Here are some practical steps to help you better prepare and navigate the financial year-end with confidence. 1. Review and Reconcile Payroll Records Start by conducting a thorough review and reconciliation of all payroll records. This includes checking for any discrepancies in employee data, ensuring that all wages, bonuses, and benefits have been accurately recorded, and ... read more

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. Thi... 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 ... 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 the red tape for y... 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 - Large company logos caused em... 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 licenses, first aid certificates to PDP’s. ... 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 reminders for both the employee and employer where email ad... 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 t... read more

February 22, 2024

Congratulations, HR Heroes!

[HR = Hero]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... 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 ea... 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, verifyin... 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 c... read more

January 16, 2024

Financial Risks of Employee Loans

[Bills Past Due!] Introduction 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... 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 emplo... 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 mul... 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 loa... 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 openH... 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 u... read more

September 15, 2023

Is Payroll Software Cloud-Based?

[Cloud based payroll and HR]Exploring the World of Cloud-Based Payroll and HR In the digital age, businesses are increasingly turning to software solutions to streamline their operations. One area that has seen significant transformation is human resources (HR) and payroll management. Today, we’re going to explore a specific type of solution in this realm: cloud-based payroll and HR software. What is Cloud-Based Payroll and HR Software? Cloud-based payroll and HR software is a type of Software as a Service (SaaS) that leverages cloud technology to revolutionize traditional human resources proce... read more

September 14, 2023