If you’re building integrations or connecting your own software to HR, payroll and workforce management software like Employment Hero, two questions come up every time. What’s the return for my business? And is this platform worth putting my name behind?

This article covers both. You’ll find out what Employment Hero’s HR API makes possible, why it’s worth building on, how the Referral Partner Program works and whether it’s the right fit for you.

Why partners build on Employment Hero

A number of integration partners become part of our Referral Partner Program where partners earn commission for recommending and connecting clients with Employment Hero, while building integrations to existing or new software. The deeper reason most partners build here isn’t solely commission, but what a well-placed integration (whether pre-built or custom built) does for their own business.

Here’s what that looks like across the three partner types most active in the Employment Hero ecosystem.

If you’re a developer or development agency

When you build a custom integration on Employment Hero, you’re embedding yourself into your client’s employment infrastructure. Payroll, HR records, leave, onboarding are all mission-critical systems. An integration that connects a client’s existing tools to Employment Hero becomes critical to business operations, saving your clients time with connected systems and removing manual re-entry. 

Developers can either build custom APIs and become accustomed with Employment Hero or create pre-built connector services for multiple clients to use. 

If you’re a consultant or tech stack advisor

Your value to clients is recommending tools that support your clients. Employment Hero’s open HR API and active development roadmap means you can place it in a client’s tech stack without worrying it’ll stagnate. 

A platform with AI capability and strong compliance support is also the kind of recommendation that signals you’re thinking ahead, not just solving today’s problem.

If you’re a software company or SaaS vendor

For software partners, an Employment Hero integration does three things:

1. Services clients who already have (or are considering) Employment Hero. You can even refer your clients through the Referral Partner Program.
2. Strengthens your competitive positioning in sales conversations.
3. Makes your own platform stickier as clients who are integrated through Employment Hero are harder to churn. 

It also means you avoid building payroll and HR functionality from scratch, with all the compliance complexity that comes with it. There’s also a compliance benefit. Employment Hero handles award interpretation, legislation updates and STP compliance on the platform’s side. You offload HR logic that isn’t your core product and isn’t an area you want to own.

Why your clients will thank you for it

Here’s what clients get by recommending to integrate with Employment Hero.

Employees get a more connected experience

Onboarding, leave, payroll and HR sit in one place rather than across disconnected systems, which means fewer data entry errors, less admin friction and clearer visibility for everyone involved.

Business owners spend less time on manual processes

Automated workflows cut the back-and-forth between systems. Employment Hero helps manage payroll compliance and award interpretation, which means your clients spend less time tracking legislation and more time running their business.

The integration grows with the client

As new endpoints are introduced, the integration grows with your clients. You can connect more systems and reach new use cases over time.

What you can build with the Employment Hero HR API

Employment Hero’s HR API is open. There’s no closed program or approval gate required to start building. You can access the developer documentation and start reviewing today.

The API covers core employment data including employee records, leave management, onboarding, payroll information and more. New endpoints are being introduced on an ongoing basis, which means the integration surface is growing. 

Getting started is low-friction. You can set up a 14-day Partner Demo Account to build and test. You can also build directly on an existing account if you’re already working with the platform, with apps saved at the user level. Referral Partners can request extensions to their trial account through their Partner Manager.

What partners are building

The range of what’s possible reflects the different partner types active in the ecosystem.

Custom API developers are building bespoke integrations that connect client tools, like practice management software, project platforms, industry-specific applications, directly to Employment Hero’s HR data. The result is real-time data flow between systems that would otherwise require manual export and re-entry.

Software partners are building pre-built integrations at scale. Shiftcare, for example, built an integration that connects their rostering and care management platform with Employment Hero, giving aged care and disability support providers a connected workflow between workforce scheduling and HR. Other software integrations in the Employment Hero ecosystem cover employee provisioning and onboarding, specialised time and attendance for specific industries, and job and project management tools.

You can see the full range of existing integrations on the Employment Hero Integrations page.

How the Referral Partner Program works

Once the technical foundation is there, the Referral Partner Program is the mechanism for turning client referrals into ongoing revenue.

Here’s how it works. 

Partners refer clients to Employment Hero and earn commission on the referred client’s subscription. Commission starts at the introductory Gold rate, which is 15% of eligible referred client’s subscription for the first year. As you refer more clients, you progress through Silver, Gold and Hero tiers, each unlocking higher commission rates, trailing commission, co-marketing funds, Partner Directory listing and a dedicated Partnership Manager.

There’s no minimum referral volume and no cost to participate. You make the introduction and Employment Hero handles sales, onboarding and ongoing support for the referred client.

Beyond commission, partners also get:

• A listing on the Employment Hero Partner Directory or Integrations page, which is visibility to Employment Hero’s website.
• Access to the Partner Community, a network of 500+ partners with shared resources and peer connections.
• Co-marketing opportunities at Gold and Hero tier.
• Ready-to-use sales and marketing materials from day one.

For full tier details and program mechanics, the Referral Partner Program page covers everything.

Is this the right Referral Partnership for you?

The Employment Hero Referral Program works best when Employment Hero enhances and complements what you already offer your clients.

It’s likely a good fit if:

• Your clients are SMBs managing employees, payroll or HR processes.
• Employment Hero fills a gap or enhances your offering rather than duplicating it.
• You’re already advising on or building in the HR and workforce management space.
• You’re looking to build an ongoing referral relationship.
• You want your business visible alongside complementary products in the Employment Hero ecosystem.

It’s an active partnership. Employment Hero is looking for partners who will grow with them over time. If that matches how you work with your clients, it’s worth considering.

Ready to build?

If Employment Hero fits what you’re working on, pick your starting point.

Become a Referral Partner or start learning about the API.