The Blues’ playbook for HR and payroll success

A high-performance club with a high-care culture

For the Blues, rugby’s about more than just what happens on game day – it’s about the people behind it, the pride in the jersey, and having a clear sense of purpose.  CEO Andrew Hore and People and Capabilities Manager Chris Kerikeri are leading the charge to build a strong, connected culture where  the team off the field feels just as supported as the team on it. But like many large sports organisations,  Andrew and Chris say managing the people admin behind the scenes had previously made that a little challenging.. With more than 100 staff rotating through the club each season, from full-time coaches and medical teams to part-time game day workers, keeping track of contracts, leave, and payroll was taking them away from the more important aspects of the game.

“Before Employment Hero, we had lots of spreadsheets, emails and paperwork. Everyone had their own system, and it was just messy and time-consuming. Now it’s all in one place, from induction to policies and pay slips, so we can focus on more strategic aspects of game,”  Chris shared. 

Before the tech: manual, messy and disconnected

Before bringing in Employment Hero, things were pretty disjointed. Teams were doing great work, but in isolation. There was no shared system, which meant a lack of visibility and lots of admin piling up day after day. Tracking leave across complicated employment types, onboarding new starters and chasing staff to complete crucial workplace policies was taking leaders away from more important tasks. 

Andrew adds that this lack of alignment made it harder to drive the club’s mission forward.

“Rugby clubs have often worked in silos – senior men’s, women’s, development, commercial, marketing, etc. Everyone had their own systems. 

Employment Hero helped standardise things across the board, from cleaners to coaches.”Employment Hero brought visibility and discipline to our operations,” Chris said.

One platform, one direction

The real game-changer? Bringing everything into one shared system. Chris tells us Employment Hero helped the team get on the same page. And that sense of alignment has been felt across departments. 

“Employment Hero has helped create business discipline and clarity. Everyone’s still doing their jobs, but with a shared direction.”

“It’s easier to manage leave, track objectives, and check in on wellbeing. It’s made development and wellness reporting more efficient and strategic,” Chris explained. 

And that matters. When you’re running a fast-moving sports club, clarity and simplicity are key. The platform has helped everyone – from fresh-faced interns to long-serving  staff – feel more connected to the club’s bigger picture.

Seamless onboarding (before day one)

First impressions matter, but before Employment Hero,  the Blues’ onboarding process just wasn’t working.  Chris shared that once Employment Hero was introduced,  new starters were able to get up to speed before they had even arrived at the office. 

“Onboarding allows early engagement before staff even arrive. Managers can send things in advance, and policies are easy to find,” said Chris.

That smoother experience helps staff hit the ground running and feel part of the culture from the get-go.

Payroll that just works

Payroll used to be a pain point. With staff coming and going, a mix of full-time and casual contracts, and different entitlements to manage, it took a lot of time and left plenty of room for errors.

“Employment Hero’s payroll is great, and it has clear payslip access. Now, people can find everything in one place. They’re not chasing HR for answers,” Chris said.

The result? Less admin stress, fewer mistakes and a team that knows they’ll be paid correctly and on time.

Supporting people to grow

For the Blues, development isn’t just a tick-box exercise – it’s part of the culture. Using Employment Hero, they’ve created space for meaningful conversations about growth and performance.

“Growth –for everyone. If people outgrow you, you’ve done your job,” Chris says. “We want everyone to lift together and contribute to a great club.”

Now, managers can easily use performance management and 1:1s to check in on progress and support their teams to help their teams thrive. That kind of visibility wasn’t possible before.

Looking ahead: technology as a teammate

Sport is changing fast, and the Blues see tech as a key player in staying ahead. From streamlining HR to exploring AI-driven tools, Employment Hero is helping the club stay focused on what matters.

“From analysis to operations, tech like Employment Hero brings structure and alignment. The future’s exciting,” said Chris.

In a high-performance world, Employment Hero has helped the Blues make work easier, clearer, and more valuable. And in doing so, it’s given their people the space to do what they do best – build a club that’s proud, united, and ready for anything. Book a demo today to see how Employment Hero can help your organisation thrive.