Web-Based Employee Self Service

Update your personal details, access payslips, book training and manage leave requests

ANYWHERE AND ANYTIME.

Overview of Employee Self Service (ESS)

                                                                                                                       

ESS is a web base application that enable employee to interact directly with their human resource data to inquire, review and act upon transactions in the workplace. ESS allows users to change their own address, contact detail and so on. ESS also involves the use of internet based technology to allow all employees to access human resource database using internet. Internet or Intranet is two ways that a company can provide access to employee self-service. Employee can access self-service from anywhere in the by using a computer, a browser and a phone line connection to the internet if the company choose to open access via Internet. There are several types of self-service application which are Interactive Voice Response, Internet and intranet. In this blog, I focus on web-based self-service via a company intranet or the Internet.

Features are usually used

Basically, ESS includes of administrative service such as employee communication and personal data updates for employee such as address, emergency contact, bank account detail and leave request. So employees can manage their personal detail anytime and anywhere. HR may choose to give employees the ability to view and update information when a company implements ESS. There are two factors that employee allows update their information, first if the information is the employee’s own personal information and second if the employee is given management right. Below are examples of features:

Employee Self Service Application:

•   Personal data maintenance 
•   Employee communication 
•   Benefit inquiry 
• Family status change

 Manager Self Service Applications:

• Management report 
•  Time card approval 
• Travel and expense management 
•   Leave management

 Advantages of using web-based employee self service

              There are several advantages of implementing ESS. First of all is about cost saving. When employees have access to self-service, they are able to answer many questions independently, thus lowering the number of phone calls to the HR or payroll department. Moreover, less money is spent on paper forms if employees and managers are able to update information online because employee information is captured electronically and sent to the appropriate approver, so there is no rekeying or data from paper forms.

              Next is cost avoidance. Satisfactory service can provide by HR department to more workers without department headcount. HR manager also can rest easier knowing the information in their database will have higher degree of accuracy than ever before. When managers can submit new hires, salary increases, and performance reviews to the appropriate HR manager for approval, transactions are processed faster than paper-based system. Research shows that most organization indicate that the main reason for implementing ESS technology are to reduce cost and to improve HR service and employee satisfaction, (The Hunter Group,2001)

             Besides that, employee also get some benefit include better option for communication with management team, the collaboration between employee department will be improved, and variety human resource document  and file can access easily. Finally, employee and manager self-service result in key benefit for the HR department. 

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References:

The Hunter Group. (2001). 2000 Human resources self-service survey. In: A. Doran (Ed.), E-Work    architect: How HR leads the way using the internet (pp. 135–154). Austin: Rector Duncan & Associates, Inc.

Janet H. Marler, James H. Dulebohn, (2005),"A Model of Employee Self-Service Technology    Acceptance",   Joseph J. Martocchio, in (ed.) Research in Personnel and Human Resources Management (Research in Personnel and Human Resources Management, Volume 24), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp. 138

http://www.hrrevolution.com/Articles/ESS/