Employment Hero has expanded from its Australian roots to serve UK businesses with a comprehensive HR and payroll platform. The software combines employee management, benefits administration, and automated payroll processing into a single system designed for small to medium-sized enterprises.
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Employment Hero UK offers HMRC-compliant payroll processing, employee self-service portals, and HR automation tools from around £4 per employee per month on the Standard plan, with Premium from £6 per employee per month – though UK pricing is quote-based and varies by modules and business size. The platform aims to reduce administrative burden by centralising workforce management tasks that typically require multiple software solutions.
UK businesses considering Employment Hero will find features tailored to British employment law, including automatic pension contributions and statutory leave tracking. See how it compares in our best HR software roundup. This review examines the platform’s pricing structure, user experience, integration capabilities, and data security measures to help determine if it suits specific business needs.
- Plans start from £6 per employee monthly - competitive pricing for Australian-built platform expanding into UK market
- Strong fit for retail and hospitality sectors - industry-specific features like shift scheduling and award interpretation tools
- Complex setup process takes 4-6 weeks - longer implementation than UK-native alternatives requiring immediate HR system deployment
- 25% more features than PeopleHR at similar price - comprehensive platform including payroll, performance management and employee benefits
Key Features
Employment Hero provides payroll automation that integrates with HMRC’s Real Time Information system. The platform calculates PAYE, National Insurance contributions, and pension auto-enrolment directly within the software. Users can process payroll in minutes rather than hours, with automatic submission of payroll data to HMRC.
The employee self-service portal allows staff to access payslips, request annual leave, and update personal details without HR intervention. This reduces administrative workload and gives employees 24/7 access to their employment information.
HR document management centralises contracts, policies, and compliance documents in one secure location. The system tracks document versions and maintains an audit trail for regulatory purposes.
The platform includes performance management tools for setting objectives, conducting reviews, and tracking employee development. Managers can schedule one-to-one meetings and document performance discussions within the system.
Time and attendance tracking captures clock-in and clock-out data, which feeds directly into payroll calculations. The system supports multiple pay rates and calculates overtime based on custom rules.
Employment Hero offers recruitment features for posting job adverts, managing applications, and onboarding new hires. The applicant tracking system streamlines the hiring process from initial contact through to first day documentation.
Reporting capabilities provide insights into payroll costs, headcount, absence rates, and other workforce metrics. Users can generate custom reports or use pre-built templates to analyse HR data.
The platform charges in GBP and provides UK-based customer support during business hours.
Pricing Breakdown
Employment Hero’s UK pricing is quote-based – you’ll need to contact their sales team for an exact figure. However, based on publicly available information, the platform operates on a per-employee, per-month (PEPM) model across two main tiers:
| Plan | Estimated Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | From £4/employee/month | Paperless onboarding, HR platform, Swag employee benefits app, leave management, timesheets |
| Premium | From £6/employee/month | Everything in Standard + performance reviews, goal setting, custom reporting, asset management |
| Payroll Add-on | Additional fee (quote-based) | Automated pay runs, HMRC RTI reporting, pension auto-enrolment, self-service payslips |
Prices are estimates based on publicly available information as of February 2026. Contact Employment Hero for an exact quote.
Employment Hero bundles HR, payroll, and employee benefits together rather than selling them as entirely separate products. The Standard plan covers core HR needs, while Premium adds performance management and advanced reporting.
Payroll is an add-on module with its own pricing. It includes HMRC-compliant RTI submissions, automatic pension auto-enrolment calculations, and employee self-service payslips. Auto-enrolment pension management and statutory payment calculations are built into the payroll module rather than charged separately.
The pricing scales with headcount – larger teams get lower per-employee rates. Our HR software costs guide benchmarks these prices against the wider market. Implementation costs may apply depending on data migration complexity, though onboarding support is typically included.
User Interface & Experience
Employment Hero presents a dashboard-focused interface that prioritises quick access to payroll and HR functions. The platform uses a card-based layout where administrators can navigate between employee records, leave requests, and compliance documents.
The system displays payroll information in GBP with clear breakdowns of National Insurance and POTS contributions. Users can process payroll runs through a step-by-step wizard that guides them from data entry through to HMRC submission.
Key interface features include:
- Employee self-service portal for viewing payslips and submitting leave requests
- Mobile app for iOS and Android with core HR functions
- Drag-and-drop document management system
- Customisable reporting dashboard
The learning curve is moderate for new users. Basic tasks like adding employees and running payroll become straightforward after initial setup, though more complex functions such as configuring custom leave policies require familiarity with the system.
| Aspect | Rating |
|---|---|
| Navigation clarity | Good |
| Mobile responsiveness | Good |
| Setup complexity | Moderate |
| Search functionality | Basic |
The platform loads quickly for most functions, though report generation can take several seconds for larger datasets. The colour scheme uses blues and greys, maintaining a professional appearance without overwhelming users.
Support documentation is accessible through contextual help buttons within each section. The interface receives regular updates, with new features rolled out gradually to avoid disrupting established workflows.
Customer Support & Service
Employment Hero provides customer support through multiple channels including email, live chat, and phone. UK customers can access support during business hours, typically Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm GMT.
The platform includes a comprehensive help centre with articles, guides, and video tutorials covering payroll, HMRC compliance, and system navigation. Users can search for answers independently before contacting the support team.
Support channels include:
- Live chat – Available during UK business hours
- Email support – Response times typically within 24 hours on business days
- Phone support – Direct line for urgent queries
- Help centre – Self-service knowledge base with searchable articles
Employment Hero assigns dedicated account managers to larger businesses on higher-tier plans. These account managers provide personalised guidance on payroll setup, pension schemes, and HMRC submissions.
The platform offers onboarding assistance for new customers, helping them migrate employee data and configure payroll settings. Implementation support includes guidance on setting up auto-enrolment pensions and connecting to HMRC systems.
Users on basic plans rely primarily on email and chat support rather than phone access. Response quality remains consistent across channels, though complex HMRC-related queries may require escalation to specialist teams.
The mobile app includes access to help documentation but directs users to desktop support channels for live assistance. Software updates and system maintenance are communicated through email notifications and in-app messages.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- HMRC-compliant payroll handles automatic pension contributions, RTI submissions, and statutory payments without manual intervention.
- All-in-one platform combines payroll, HR, recruitment, and performance management in a single system.
- Employee self-service portal reduces administrative burden by allowing staff to access payslips, request leave, and update personal details independently.
- Competitive pricing from around £4 per employee per month on the Standard plan, with bundled HR + payroll + benefits packages.
- Mobile app provides on-the-go access for both employers and employees.
- Integration capabilities connect with accounting software like Xero and QuickBooks.
Cons:
- UK support hours are limited to business days, which may not suit businesses requiring weekend or evening assistance.
- Learning curve can be steep for teams unfamiliar with comprehensive HR software.
- Feature complexity might overwhelm very small businesses that only need basic payroll functionality.
- Additional costs apply for premium features like advanced reporting and recruitment tools.
- Setup process requires time investment to configure properly for specific business needs.
- Limited customisation in certain areas compared to enterprise-level HR systems.
The platform delivers strong functionality for UK businesses managing payroll and HR processes. However, companies should assess whether they need the full suite of features or if simpler alternatives would suffice.
Integrations
Employment Hero connects with a range of third-party applications to streamline HR and payroll workflows. The platform integrates with popular accounting software including Xero, QuickBooks, and FreeAgent, allowing automatic synchronisation of payroll data and reducing manual data entry.
Key Integration Categories:
- Accounting Software – Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent
- Pensions – NEST, The People’s Pension, NOW: Pensions
- Time Tracking – Deputy, When I Work
- Recruitment – Various applicant tracking systems
- Single Sign-On – SAML-based SSO options
The pension provider integrations are particularly relevant for UK businesses managing auto-enrolment obligations. Employment Hero can automatically submit contribution schedules to pension providers and maintain HMRC compliance records.
The Xero integration is bidirectional, meaning payroll journals flow automatically into the accounting system while employee cost centre codes sync back to Employment Hero. This eliminates reconciliation issues common with manual exports.
Time and attendance integrations pull shift data directly into payroll, reducing errors from manual timesheet entry. The system supports custom API connections for businesses with bespoke requirements, though this typically requires developer resources.
Employment Hero provides a public API with documentation for building custom integrations. The API uses REST architecture and supports webhook notifications for real-time data updates.
Most standard integrations activate through simple authentication steps within the platform settings. Pension integrations require additional setup including scheme details and HMRC gateway credentials.
Security & Compliance (GDPR)
Employment Hero maintains ISO 27001 certification and undergoes regular third-party security audits. The platform uses AES-256 encryption for data at rest and TLS 1.2+ for data in transit.
GDPR Compliance Features:
- Data processing agreements available for UK clients
- Right to access, rectification, and erasure tools built into the platform
- Data portability options for exporting employee information
- Automated data retention policies configurable by administrators
The system hosts UK employee data in European data centres to maintain GDPR compliance. Employment Hero acts as a data processor while employers remain the data controllers.
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is available for all user accounts. Role-based access controls allow administrators to limit which team members can view sensitive payroll and personal information.
The platform provides audit logs that track user activity and data changes. These logs help businesses demonstrate compliance during regulatory reviews or internal audits.
Employment Hero includes data breach notification protocols that align with the 72-hour GDPR reporting requirement. The company maintains cyber liability insurance and has documented incident response procedures.
Businesses can configure consent management for employee data collection. The system supports documenting legitimate interest assessments and maintaining records of processing activities as required under UK GDPR.
Access permissions can be customized at a granular level, restricting visibility of protected characteristics and other sensitive data categories.
Final Verdict
Employment Hero holds a 4.6 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot and delivers a comprehensive HR and payroll solution for UK businesses, particularly those with 10-250 employees. The platform handles HMRC-compliant payroll, pension auto-enrolment, and Real Time Information submissions with accuracy.
Key Strengths:
- Automated payroll processing with accurate tax and National Insurance calculations
- Integrated employee self-service portal for leave requests and document access
- Performance management tools including review cycles and goal tracking
- Mobile app for on-the-go HR management
Notable Limitations:
- Pricing from around £4-£6 per employee per month (quote-based), which adds up for larger teams
- Learning curve for initial setup and configuration
- Some users report slower UK-based customer support response times
- Limited customisation options for complex payroll scenarios
The software suits growing businesses that need to streamline HR processes and reduce manual administrative work. Companies already using spreadsheets or basic systems will find significant efficiency improvements.
Employment Hero works best for organisations seeking an all-in-one platform rather than specialised point solutions. Businesses with highly complex payroll requirements or those needing extensive custom workflows may need additional tools or integrations.
The platform’s regular updates maintain HMRC compliance, which removes a significant burden from internal teams. UK support operates during standard business hours (9am-5pm GMT), though phone support requires higher-tier plans.
SMEs prioritising automation, employee engagement, and compliance will find value in the platform. Those needing basic payroll only might find more cost-effective alternatives.
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Independent Employment Hero review for UK businesses. HMRC-compliant payroll, HR automation from ~£4/employee/month. Rated 4.6/5 on Trustpilot.
