Employee self-service (ESS) allows workers to handle HR and payroll-related information. This reduces demand on HR teams and allows them to focus on more strategic initiatives for the business.
In addition to empowering employees, a well-designed and implemented ESS portal can improve data accuracy. This eliminates the need for manual document requests, decreases data reentry, and provides more accurate reporting.
Reduced Errors
Payroll employee self service reduces errors in HR and payroll processes by eliminating the need for employees to rely on HR staff for routine tasks. Instead, ESS offers self-service options allowing employees to manage their information and complete simple HR-related tasks, such as updating personal data or submitting leave requests.
By eliminating the middleman, ESS reduces the likelihood of error in HR processes such as emergency contact changes and direct deposit updates. Even a single incorrect number entered in a field could be costly for the company, especially if it results in missed paychecks or stalled direct deposits. With ESS, employees can easily update their information, ensuring that critical data is always accurate.
Additionally, ESS portals and applications allow employees to submit expense reports online, significantly reducing the time managers take to review and approve them. This improves the employee experience and reduces the number of emails, calls, and requests that HR professionals have to deal with.
The efficiency of ESS technology also allows HR teams to shift their focus from manual paperwork to more strategic activities. Many inbound questions and requests can often be handled through an ESS platform called “Case Deflection.” This can reduce HR staff’s time dealing with administrative tasks and improve their overall productivity and performance.
Increased Employee Engagement
Effective companies are built on dedicated, talented workforces. However, supporting these workforces can take a significant amount of time. Addressing payroll benefits, handling a mountain of essential yet time-consuming paperwork, and managing employee data tend to monopolize HR departments’ time, keeping them from becoming true strategic assets for their businesses. ESS technology alleviates this burden, digitizing and automating processes to make it easier for employees to handle HR and IT-related questions and tasks.
ESS increases employee engagement in HR operations by providing 24/7 secure access to personal and professional data. Employees who don’t have to rely on HR for basic questions may feel more connected to their organizations and happier in their jobs. This positive employee experience could ultimately contribute to higher retention and productivity levels.
ESS technology can also help reduce the number of inbound inquiries that HR teams receive from employees and their associated costs. By implementing an employee portal, HR leaders can cut inbound queries by as much as 50%, and the resulting cost savings could be significant.
In addition to providing 24/7 secure, mobile-accessible employee self-service, a comprehensive ESS system can integrate with other key business systems and applications like accounting software, time tracking, and performance management. This seamless digitization eliminates siloed data and enables HR leaders to spend less time troubleshooting and more time focused on employee development, talent acquisition, and organizational strategy initiatives.
Increased Compliance
Access to and using self-service tools allows employees to monitor and maintain their data, eliminating many time-consuming HR requests. It also eliminates the need for HR to check and double-check that information is constantly entered correctly. This reduces the likelihood of error and helps your team stay on track with compliance standards.
An ESS portal makes it easy to view and update personal information, access pay history, submit time off requests, and more. The system can also include a centralized location for submitting expense reports and tracking reimbursements. These features help to streamline HR tasks and save valuable time for managers and staff.
HR teams often feel overwhelmed with the number of questions and inquiries they receive each year. Employee self-service alleviates some of the burden and allows teams to focus on more strategic tasks contributing to company goals.
When looking for an HR solution, find a cloud-based platform offering mobile accessibility. This ensures employees can access their information 24/7, reducing data entry errors by automating processes and providing a central hub for document management. It also supports public sector compliance with streamlined employee data management, automated workflows, and self-service capabilities. This makes it easier to uphold regulations like union rules, federal laws, and local jurisdiction requirements.
Increased Productivity
The reliance on middlemen to process employee data can be costly. One number entered incorrectly could mean a paycheck is delayed or a benefit is interrupted. Using ESS portals, employees can change their information without a middleman, increasing productivity in HR departments.
ESS portals also serve as knowledge hubs, providing quick access to policies and procedures, FAQs, and other information. This reduces the time it takes HR professionals to respond to routine inquiries. It allows them to spend more time on high-value activities such as properly training new hires, setting up employee benefits, and tracking performance.
A recent study showed that companies with excellent employee experience outperformed their peers by 122%. While some fear that ESS will replace or decrease the value of HR, it’s important to note that a good employee self-service system only has access to employees’ information. In addition, best-in-class solutions have built-in safety nets to prevent data leaks.
Finally, the ability to handle routine requests through an ESS portal cuts down on inbound questions, concerns, and cases for HR teams. This is known as Case Deflection, and it can increase productivity in an HR team by up to 50%. These freed-up resources can be devoted to strategic business partnerships, training plans, and other initiatives that add to the bottom line.
