How Sigma saved 10 hours of weekly onboarding time with Employment Hero

Onboarding shouldn’t feel like a slow-churning cog in the HR system. But when businesses rely on outdated and manual processes to onboard new hires, it often does. For many, the reality of onboarding sees a back-and-forth process riddled with paperwork, long email chains, never-ending checklists and training sessions. 

This is how Sigma felt before Employment Hero. The retail fit-out business with clients like Primark, Marks & Spencer, and Sainsbury’s, faced the ‘good problem’ of managing a fast-growing team. With 350 employees and a steady influx of new starters, HR Coordinator Alix Moody and her team were constantly churning those cogs—pushing their processes forward, but often at a grind. 

From outdated and faded to freshly upgraded 

Sigma’s previous HR and payroll system was cumbersome, tedious, and left their HR team feeling like they’d gone back in time. But fast forward to now and the picture couldn’t be more different. Since switching to Employment Hero, Sigma has saved at least 10 hours every week on onboarding-related tasks alone. Yes, 10 hours. That’s a whole week’s worth of work freed up each month to focus on more important things like supporting employees and driving the business forward.

“The contrast in onboarding time between our previous system and Employment Hero is remarkable. What used to take nearly an hour per new starter, primarily due to manual contract handling and system entry, now takes us around 20 minutes. And we anticipate even further reductions once we fully integrate contract generation within Employment Hero.”

Before Employment Hero, Alix’s team was stuck spending hours each week on repetitive tasks like onboarding new starters, monitoring compliance, and processing leavers—and we know how quickly those hours add up. However, with the switch to Employment Hero, the time taken saved means the team can focus their time on other important aspects of the business, such as employee welfare and strategy. 

Here’s the lowdown on weekly time saved with Employment Hero 

Task	Time in Previous Platform (weekly)	Time in Employment Hero (weekly)	Time Saved Weekly
Onboarding New Starters (5 per week)	4 hours	1 hour	3 hours
Monitoring Completion of Onboarding Tasks	1 hour	0 hours	1 hour
Processing Leavers (3 per week)	2 hours	0.5 hours	1.5 hours
Navigating Disconnected Systems/Logins	1 hour	0 hours	1 hour
Manipulating Report Data	1 hour	0 hours	1 hour
Chasing Managers for Return-to-Work Forms	1 hour	0.5 hours	0.5 hours
Manually Updating Org Chart	2 hours	0 hours	2 hours
Total Time Saved Weekly	12 hours	2 hours	10 hours saved

Amazing, right? But it goes beyond just saving time…

Beyond time-saving: Providing accessibility for a diverse workforce

For businesses with employees on the move, being able to self-serve via the Employment Hero Work app has changed the game. At Sigma, the app is a quick and convenient way for employees to book annual leave, access important updates and information, resulting in a more inclusive and empowered workforce.

“The introduction of the mobile app has been a game-changer for employee accessibility. Previously, those without laptop access, like our warehouse staff, faced real hurdles with basic HR tasks. Now, the intuitive app allows everyone, even those less familiar with technology, to manage their information with just a few clicks.”

An informed and up-to-date team

Keeping everyone informed and connected is key to a thriving workplace, particularly when not everyone works from the head office. Employment Hero’s company feed feature has become a valuable tool for building connection and engagement, offering a streamlined way to share important updates, all in one place.

“The company feed has been fantastic for internal communications. When we launch a new benefit or have an event, the announcement goes straight to everyone’s phones via the app. This means everyone receives important updates instantly without having to use emails. It really levels the playing field.”

And what’s more, aside from solely business updates on the company feed, Alix and her  colleagues have adopted the feed for messages of well wishes, congratulations and celebrations, spreading positivity and encouraging interconnectivity with each member of the team.

“I didn’t fully grasp the power of the company feed initially. It’s been wonderful to see how many employees across the company have embraced it, using it for well wishes and updates in a way our old system simply didn’t allow. It’s really improved engagement.”

A cost-effective, all-in-one HR solution which saves time and money

Each week, Sigma saves 10 hours a week with Employment Hero. That’s 10 hours they’re no longer wasting on manual data entry, following up with managers, and fixing errors. And let’s face it, that’s valuable time. But that’s not the only value when it comes to Employment Hero. Alix and her team explored other options, but Employment Hero stood out for its value for money and cost-effectiveness, as well as being a user-friendly all-in-one solution.

“With other platforms, the price was just astronomical. Employment Hero provided all the same features, but without the huge price tag, and it offered an all-in-one solution, something the other platforms couldn’t provide.”

With Employment Hero, Sigma transformed their HR processes into a well-oiled machine, freeing up time to focus on what truly drives their business forward.

The world’s first Employment Operating System from Employment Hero

Employment Hero’s Employment OS is more than just a platform–we’ve taken the traditional isolated aspects of employment and integrated them into a seamless, human and AI-powered solution that empowers employers, employees and job seekers alike. Find and hire top talent with SmartMatch, seamlessly onboard new hires, automate complex payroll, drive employee engagement and more.

See what you could do with the world’s first Employment OS.

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