Workflow for Human Resources | Tools and Use Cases

This article was first published in February 2018 and was updated in November 2024.

Making HR forms and processes easier to distribute, process, and review with workflow for human resources can make a world of difference for your onboarding/offboarding, training, hiring, and managing the employee lifecycle. Cut down on administrative oversight for workforce management.

What Is Workflow for Human Resources?

Human resources workflow is when you automate documentation submissions, such as leave of absence, timesheets, internal surveys, and performance reviews, and deliver superior support to your employees by providing a centralized portal for submitting, approving, and tracking HR requests.

Benefits of automating HR Workflow:

• Labor cost savings

• Reduced HR risk

• Reduced employee frustration

• Reduced re-work and duplicative work

• Improved decision-making power

• Effective use of human capital

• Better accountability

• Reduced conflicts of interest

• Improved internal customer service

• A better working environment

Resources

• Workflow Management Guide for HR

• Why You Should Automate Your Offboarding Process

• Automate Request and Approval Workflow

Customer Quote

“When new employees need to be set up in the system, HR receives requests to set them up on payroll as well as complete other new employee paperwork. There is also a process through HR that allows managers to maintain performance notes and yearly review information. Getting new employees on board faster means our clients will get medical professionals ready to deliver care more quickly.”

– Tim Sahouri, CIO, Medcor.

Read the Full Case Study

Customer Case Study: City of Baltimore

HR Workflow Examples

Get an in-depth look at some of our human resources solutions:

• New Hire Management

• Time Sheets

• Employee Change of Status

• Employee onboarding/offboarding

• Employee self-service

• New Hire Approvals

• Job postings

• Leave management

• Payroll change approvals

• Performance management

• Time off requests

• Training requests

Illustrated Example: Employee Leave Request Workflow

Below is an example of an Employee Leave request with a request form and full process. You can view the process in our Process Apps library for more information.

HR Workflow

Interested in Automating Your Workflow?

We have various resources to help you on your journey to an automated workflow. 

• HR wrkflow Tools and eBooks

• Workflow Ideas Weekly eMail Newsletter

• Recorded Demonstration of our Workflow Automation Software

• Request a Live Demonstration

FAQ

What is HR workflow automation?

HR workflow automation is the process of streamlining HR tasks like document submissions, approvals, and tracking through automated systems, reducing manual effort and errors.

How can HR automation improve efficiency?

By automating repetitive tasks, HR teams can focus on strategic initiatives, reduce processing times, and enhance overall employee satisfaction.

Is HR workflow automation suitable for small businesses?

Yes, automation tools can be customized to fit the needs of small businesses, offering cost-effective solutions for managing HR processes.

What processes can be automated in HR?

Processes like onboarding, leave requests, performance reviews, and payroll changes are commonly automated in HR workflows.

Do I need technical expertise to implement HR automation?

No, many HR automation tools are user-friendly and require minimal technical expertise to set up and manage.