The evolution of BrightHR
We started BrightHR with an idea: to create simple HR software that makes people management easier for SMEs. And ever since, we've worked hard to improve it. Here are our greatest moments:
2024
We launched our Performance Management feature - Goals!
A highly requested feature, Goals gives businesses the ability to set SMART goals that align with the companies own, allows employees and managers to track progress and set deadlines.
2024 Leaders in Tech Report: We Said, We Did!
We launched our second annual Leader in Tech report outlining our 2025 roadmap and the major product updates of 2024
Brand-new success centre tile in BrightHR
We’ve added a new tile on the dashboard to make it quicker and easier for admins, managers, and employees to access support features through BrightHR. Access FAQs, how-to videos, user-guides, and more! All from the comfort of your dashboard.
Employees can now clock-in and out on web
We’ve introduced the ability for employees to clock in and out from the ‘Clock-ins’ area in BrightHR as well as the Blip app, making it even easier for employees to accurately log their working times from their desktops.
New & improved BrightHR dashboard for all users
Easy navigation with all the real-time information you need in one place - making BrightHR the most user-friendly HR software to use.
Updated TOIL rate settings
We've added the ability to record overtime at a wider rate of hour such as time and a half.
New e-learning courses to grow product awareness
We rolled out three new e-learning courses to assist managers and admins in rolling out BrightHR within their business. They include an introduciton to the software, a guide to Blip and how users can make the most of their schedules.
Vacation countdown widget
We introduced a mobile phone widget feature that shows the number of days until the user's next vacation booking.
Calendar view for employee absences
We introduced a calendar view of absences on the employee profiles, which can assist in identifying themes and trends of absences.
Additional sick leave filters added
We've enabled the ability to filter sick leave absence listed on the employee profile for within the past 3, 6 and 12 months.
New: BrightHR Payback Calculator
See exactly how much money you can save your business with our Payback Calculator for HR, Health & Safety, or both! Try it today
BrightLightning is now Bright BrAInbox!
We’ve rebranded our AI powered chatbot to Bright BrAInbox, combining over 50 years of HR and H&S expertise to make sure you have the right answers whenever you need.
Admins and managers can now view and add multiple contracts
We’ve now made it possible for managers to add multiple contracts and see their teams contract history.
Shortlist: SaaS Company of the Year
We've been shortlisted in Global Business Tech Awards for SaaS Company of the Year!
Shortlist: Most Innovative Use of Software or Cloud Technology
We've been shortlisted in the innovation category of the highly esteemed 2024 Go:Tech Awards!
Easier than ever to view and adjust clock-in history
Employees can now view and submit requests to adjust their clock-in records on both mobile and web.
New manager specific e-learning courses
Upskill the managers on your team with tailored e-learning and learning management.
Introducing annual leave balance
See your entire organisation's holiday allowance, balance, and remaining leave in one handy hub.
View the percentage of unbooked leave in the year so you can promote a healthy holiday culture and stop employee burnout in its tracks.
Introducing document reporting!
Produce reports to see at a glance which of your team have read and accepted important documents.
2023
TOP 25 Work Tech Vendor!
We've been named one of the Top 25 Work Tech Vendors by Inspiring Workplace!
This is an incredible honor, and we are so grateful for the recognition. Our technology is designed to drive positive change for organisations and their people, and we are thrilled to be acknowledged for that impact.
Introducing our BRAND NEW Salary Calculator!
With BrightHR's new salary calculator, you can easily find out the market salary rate for ANY role you're hiring for, instantly. Edge out your competition with REAL TIME insights and make confident hiring decisions.
NEW release: Open shifts!
Open shifts are finally here—letting you create and notify your staff that an unassigned shift is ready for them to claim on a first-come-first-serve basis.
It’s a fair and easy way to fill up gaps in your roster. Plus, it lets your staff take control of their schedule and earn some extra cash by opting in for more shifts!
NEW: Employee Recognition Platform
Staff can now recognise and celebrate each other's hard-work by sending 'Praise' in our brand-new employee recognition platform.
Introducing our NEW Learning Management System (LMS)
We launched on-the-go e-learning as a feature earlier this year, but that was just the beginning! BrightHR is investing in your team’s development – launching BrightLearn, a fully integrated Learning Management System (LMS) that puts you in control of your whole team’s training. Assign courses to staff members, track completion and save certificates, so you comply with your mandated training requirements.
Blip now easier than ever to use!
Access Blip from PC, laptop, tablet or mobile. You can also add, edit and remove set geo-locations on all devices, giving you complete control from wherever you are.
NEW release: Custom reporting
Game-changing feature ALERT!
Admins and Managers can now create customised reports based on employee and absence data, giving you more control and insight into your HR management.
40 million clock ins on Blip globally!
Wow, we've hit a major milestone! We're thrilled to announce that we have reached 40 million clock ins on Blip globally, and it's all thanks to our amazing users, thank you!
NEW BrightHR release: UNLIMITED CASH REWARDS when you refer a business to BrightHR
Our new Bright Promoter Programme has launched! This is your chance to rack up UNLIMITED cash-building bonuses. Simply tell us who you’re referring, and if they sign up, we’ll reward you with every business you refer.
NEW BrightHR release feature: Manage documents in bulk on IOS & Android
Effortlessly manage documents on-the-go with the latest BrightHR app update!
No need to fuss with uploading and deleting files one-by-one. With the latest mobile update, you can now manage documents in bulk just like you would on the web app.
7 new e-learning courses given the stamp of approval
We’re pleased to announce that we have now received CDP Accreditation along with approval by The Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA) on 7 new e-learning courses in BrightHR!
BrightHR is a TrustRadius 2023 Top Rated Award winner!
We've been recognised as one of the best HR management companies by Trust Radius for Spring 2023! A big thank you to our staff, this wouldn't be possible without you!
BrightHR release: NEW e-learning course ‘Accessibility For Ontarians Act (AODA) Awareness’
A new e-learning course has been added on ‘Accessibility For Ontarians Act (AODA) Awareness’ in Canada.
Our new courses are based on in-demand skills, mobile optimised and include topical content. Boost your reputation and become an employer of choice by offering development for your staff.
Shortlist: Prolific North Tech Awards 2023
We're thrilled to announce we've just been shortlisted for Medium Tech Company of the year at the Prolific North Champions Awards 2023!
G2 recognises BrightHR as leaders
We're happy to announce that G2 have recognised us once again as leaders in the Test Automation category!
Shortlist: Global Business Tech Awards 2023
BrightHR has been shortlisted in the SaaS Company of the Year category for the second year running!
Brand-new! Bulk import employee data into your BrightHR
You can now save time on your onboarding by by importing bulk employee data via spreadsheet, making it even easier to swap to Bright!
BrightHR introduces on-the-go e-learning
Our brand-new expert e-learning courses are CPD-accredited and FREE for BrightHR customers, allowing you to encourage consistent training on a wide range of topics.
2022
BrightHR: SaaS Company of the Year winners!
BrightHR has been named SaaS Company of the Year at the Computing Technology Product Awards 2022. The awards count public votes to find the winners, so this accolade shows the incredible support from our community and beyond.
30 million global clock ins
Blip now has over 30 million global clock-ins!
This means that there's been over 20 million clock-ins in just over a year!
We've been ranked in Best Companies Q3 League Tables!
We're happy to annouce that we've been ranked in three different 'Best Companies to work for' categories! #19 in the UK Business Service sector, #95 in the North West and #121 of large companies in the UK.
BrightHR: Trust Radius Best Relationship Summer 2022
We've been recognised as one of the best HR management companies by Trust Radius for Summer 2022! A big thank you to our staff, this wouldn't be possible without you!
Updated: PoP on web application
This will provide admins & managers with the ability to view expenses submitted by employees, review the details, and update the status of the expenses record on the web, in addition to doing this via the PoP mobile app.
BrightHR ranked #58 in the TechRound SaaS for 2022
BrightHR have been ranked #58 in the TechRound SaaS for 2022. This award highlights the innovation and success of SaaS companies in the UK, Europe, and the rest of the world!
Updated: Second COVID-19 booster
Users can now record the date of their second COVID-19 booster, allowing employers to track the vaccination status of their employees.
Shortlist: Computing Tech Product Awards 2022
BrightHR's innovative suite of HR software has been shortlisted for Best Software-as-a-Service Provider at the Technology Product Awards 2022.
Enhancement to rotas
Admins, managers and employees now have the option of accepting and declining their shifts on a person-by-person or team-by-team basis.
Updated: Document Enhancements
Users can now upload documents in bulk within all folders, saving users time when they are looking to upload multiple documents.
BrightHR shortlisted AGAIN for the Personnel Today Awards
Having taken home the title in 2021, we’re elated to have been shortlisted AGAIN for HR Tech Provider of the Year at the Personnel Today Awards. The awards recognise excellence in people management.
One million users worldwide!
We're proud to annouce that we now serve one million users globally! Thank you to everyone who has made this possible, we couldn't do it without you.
Updated: Document Enhancements
BrightHR admins can now see who has access to documents, set and view the status of any read receipts.
Updated: PoP attachments
We've made filing for expenses even more flexible. You can now submit an expense with zero to five attachments, compared to having to attach only one receipt previously!
New: Incident Reporting
You can now report incidents in BrightSafe. Our smart software will even determine whether the incident is reportable to the relevant provincial Enforcing Authority based on the selections made when the ‘Responsible Person’ is conducting the investigation!
G2 recognises BrightHR as a Core HR Software Leader
We're happy to announce that G2 have recognised us as a Core HR Software Leader for Spring 2022. A big thank you to all the team at BrightHR, we couldn't do it without you!
A new look for the mobile dashboard
We have refreshed the BrightHR app on iOS and Android. The dashboard is now super-streamlined with a swish new look!
BrightHR awarded HR Specialist of the Year
Corporate LiveWire have named us HR Specialist of the Year at the Innovation & Excellence Awards 2022! The award celebrates the success of firms that have taken an innovative approach to demonstrate exceptional business performance.
BrightSafe On The Go: Introducing injury/illness reporting
Admins and users can now record basic details of an injury/illness report, attaching photos and videos as supporting evidence. This will allow clients to report injuries/illnesses quickly and easily at any location!
Global Business Tech Awards, we made the shortlist!
We're proud to announce that we have been shortlisted for SaaS Company of The Year at the Global Business Tech Awards, celebrating the best in business across the globe.
BrightHR shortlisted for innovation award
Management Today shortlisted us for the Management Today Business Awards in the ‘Best Use of Innovation in Business' category!
Updated: Blip timesheets
We've added absences and employee working ours to our timesheets, enabling managers to include more information that can help with timekeeping and payroll.
BrightHR: Crozdesk HR Scheduling Award
Expert software comparison site Crozdesk has, named us leaders in rota and shift scheduling software!
BrightHR named in Crozdesk Workforce Management Awards
BrightHR has been recognised as a product leader in workforce management software for the THIRD year in a row by Crozdesk.
Most Popular Software in 2022
What goes around comes around, and we love SMEs! SaaSworthy named us as the 8th most popular software at the start of 2022, and it's got us feeling all warm and fuzzy.
Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award
We've been awarded the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award for the second year running—meaning we’ve achieved GOLD for 4 years straight. Feefo only collects genuine customer reviews, so we’re very proud to have maintained a 4.9 star rating acorss 400 reviews.
Fastest Growing Software in HR
SaaSworthy have named us the Fastest Growing Software in HR. And since they help stakeholders make better product decisions based on unbiased reviews, product comparison, and social popularity, this one means a lot. Thanks SaaSworthy!
Colour coding for rota!
Now managers can colour code and label shifts in our rota software—meaning you can manage your staff by where they’re working, their pay, role, the possibilities are endless!
Blip just got an exciting update!
Our mobile clocking-in app now lets you filter your team to see ‘Who’s in’—letting you manage attendance quicker than ever.
Updated: Table View Rota
This intuitive update makes seeing details of your rota even easier. Plus, you can now duplicate shifts between staff or days, assign shifts across multiple days and employees in bulk, and filter your search to show specific shift types.
2021
Best HR Management Solution 2021
Thank you SME News for crowning us ‘Best HR Management Solution 2021’. We can't wait to support even more businesses in 2022!
Enhanced: Schedule details report
Admins and managers now have access to a more comprehensive schedule details report through BrightHR’s web application. It covers shift and break times, payroll info, vacation and sickness history and much more!
Updated: Mobile schedule view
Shifts are now grouped to ‘Today’, ‘Upcoming’, and ‘Further ahead’, alongside a new list allowing admins and managers to see all employee shifts on one dedicated screen, making team management even easier.
Updated: Single Sign-On
Users can now link all their BrightHR products with both their Google account and Microsoft account. And, if single sign-on is enabled you can login across all BrightHR products.
Documents is now even easier to use
This new update allows users to move documents between sub-folders within the ‘Company’ and ‘Admin’ folders- making managing HR documentation a breeze.
BrightHR: HR Tech Provider of the Year
We're thrilled to have been named 'HR Tech Provider of the Year' at the Personnel Today awards 2021. We’re so proud to be consistently recognised as leaders in HR and H&S software and support services, and even prouder to be a market-leading ally to businesses across the globe.
Updated: Two-factor authentication
Employees now have to use two-factor authentication to login to their BrightHR account. Showing every one of our users across the globe that we’re more secure than ever!
Updated: Edit overtime
Users can now update overtime details, in a click and ensure that all the details needed for payroll are up to date and accurate.
New feature: Single Sign-On
Users can now link their Google account with their BrightHR and BrightSafe accounts and use this to login—giving users peace of mind their data is safe.
Introducing our new Overtime Tracker
Track the extra hours your staff work, and repay them with a click, thanks to our new overtime tracker.
Blip – who’s out!
You can now head to the ‘who’s in’ section of the Blip app to see who’s clocked in or on a break and who is out, giving you full visibility of attendance in a click!
Blip has a new look
Following user feedback we’ve redesigned our app to make it even more user friendly when navigating across multiple screens.
We are pleased to introduce our Everything Button!
We’ve added a handy new button to the top of your dashboard, it's easily accessible and available from anywhere on BrightHR. Just click it to do everything from requesting time off to logging a sickness. Simple.
The Payroll Navigator is here!
Use it to store employee details and run reports, so you can generate important information quickly whenever you need to submit payroll reports.
10 million global clock-ins
We've reached 10 million global clock-ins!
Thank you to all of our customers and everyone at BrightHR who made it possible to reach this huge milestone.
VaccTrak: Mobile passes
Issue exclusive VaccTrak passes to staff to save in their smartphone wallets, so they always have quick and easy access to vital information.
Updated: BrightSafe Responsibilities Navigator
New statutory responsibilities added:
- COVID-19 Employee Active Screening
- COVID-19 Premises Check
Monitor responsibilities each day to ensure your business is COVID-secure and have an audit trail to prove it.
New BrightSafe feature: Hazard reporting
Our brand new tool helps keep track of workplace hazards whether staff are at home or back in the office.
9 million global clock-ins!
Blip has surpassed 9 million global clock-ins. Won't be long till we hit the 10 million milestone!
New Blip Feature: Shift Adjustments
Employees can now request an adjustment to their clocking in and out times with their manager directly from the app.
VaccTrak is now even better!
See who’s partially or fully vaccinated at a glance and update employee vaccination statuses in the new COVID-19 vaccine tab. Plus, you can now issue employees with VaccTrak passes—all you have to do is hit send and it goes straight to their email inbox.
We’ve released a superb new upgrade to your BrightHR rotas.
When creating a new rota, you can now choose a duration period of up to 14 days, helping to make your shift planning even easier.
8 million global clock-ins!
Blip has now surpassed over 8 million global clock-ins. We're so proud to support small businesses around the world with their employee time management. #NowIsTheBrightTime!
New to VaccTrak
You can now record proof of employee vaccination in VaccTrak, and store any supporting documents in unlimited document storage.
We won Feefo's Platinum Trusted Service Award!
Having secured Gold status for three years running we have achieved the platinum award! A huge thanks to all of our clients who left us 5-star reviews and to all at BrightHR who have supported our clients throughout 2020.
Updated: Permission page
This update gives BrightHR Admins a full list of what user roles their staff have and makes it easier for the Admins to revoke or assign permissions.
NEW BrightHR release: VaccTrak
Our brand-new tool makes it easy for you to record who’s had the COVID-19 vaccine and who’s still on the waiting list—helping you to protect your people and your business through the pandemic.
2020
BrightHR's payroll navigator is here!
Use it to store employee details and run reports, so you can generate important information quickly whenever you need to submit payroll reports to HMRC.
New Rota report
Our handy new 'Rota report' gives you a summary of the daily hours your staff have worked over a set period. It also includes the total hours worked, helping you speed up your HR tasks.
New e-learning course: Preparing method statements
This course gives you an understanding of what a method statement is, how to create a method statement and the difference between a method statement and a risk assessment.
BrightHR: Computing Tech Product Awards
We’re so excited to be shortlisted for Best Software-as-a-Service Provider at the Technology Product Awards this year.
New accessibility feature
We’ve integrated Android’s TalkBack and Apple’s VoiceOver screen reader features with the BrightHR mobile app, helping to make your BrightHR even more accessible!
Updated: PoP
You can now approve or decline your staff expenses in bulk.
Updated: Blip
Following client feedback, users are now able to add notes to their shift when clocking in. We've also updated the Blip event screens, making it even easier for our users to see their shift, break and reminder details.
New gender diversity update
Our new non-binary gender identity update helps you promote an inclusive workplace.
Blip integration with BrightHR
Admins and managers are now able to see who's clocked in on Blip directly from their BrightHR dashboard.
6 million Blips!
We've reached 6 million blips! We're so proud to have achieved this global milestone #NowIsTheBrightTime.
Get expert advice even quicker
Now you can use your BrightHR app to call one of our expert HR advisors in a tap.
Enable notifications via the new Settings page
Get handy notifications about new updates and features via the BrightHR app. This is will be automatically enabled and can be managed via the new Settings page.
Celebratory animations
Employees will now see fun animations on their birthday or work anniversary, helping to improve employee engagement!
Smart Reminders
With our new Smart Reminders feature, users will receive a handy reminder to clock out when they’re due to finish their shift, all based on their BrightHR working pattern or rota!
New BrightSafe dashboard
Check the status of your tasks, view risk assessments, and create accident reports - all from one central hub.
Introducing BrightSafe
It's brand-new health & safety software that helps you to meet the latest government guidelines & get your people back to work safely.
5 million Blips
Just 3 months after we hit 4 million global clock-ins, we've now surpassed a massive 5 million!
New Product: Redundancy Navigator
Introducing our new redundancy navigator tool. Get expert online tools and 24/7 advice to help make redundancy as stress-free as possible.
Read receipts
Admins and managers can now request read receipts from their employees when uploading documents into the company folder. Plus with real-time updates, check the date and time that your employee has viewed the document.
Blip reminders
You asked for it, and we listened. You can now set reminders to end your breaks and clock out. Just set the duration of your shift or break and Blip will send you an automatic notification.
BrightHR: Technology Provider of the Year
We’re thrilled to have been shortlisted for Tech Provider of the Year at the British Small Business Awards 2020. This category recognises the tech providers that best places SME services at the heart of their offering.
New product: Redundancy navigator
Introducing our new redundancy navigator tool. Get expert online tools and 24/7 advice to help make redundancy as stress-free as possible.
New look ‘Who’s off today’ dashboard tile
Our newly designed 'Who's off today' tile gives clients a detailed insight into the absences within their business, making the approval process much easier.
BrightHR: Absence & Leave Management Award
It's great to be listed as a product leader in absence & leave management software. Thanks for the recognition Crozdesk!
Introducing BrightSafe
It's brand-new health & safety software that helps you to meet the latest government guidelines & get your people back to work safely.
Update to the Blip timesheet report
Admins & managers can now generate a report that will show the number of shifts and hours worked, break duration & the total hours worked excluding breaks.
4 million Blips
Another milestone for Blip! After reaching 3 million global clock-ins in February, we have now surpassed 4 million.
Get your business back on it’s feet with BrightHR’s Back to Work Navigator
The brand-new hub that helps you manage all your back to work processes in one place.
Protect your staff’s privacy with Blip
Admins can now set geolocations as private so the details of employees' home addresses remain hidden.
Send alerts with BrightHR
Admins and Managers can now use BrightHR to send alerts directly to employees through the notifications tab in settings.
Blip geo
Blip's geolocation feature is now available to help you manage staff working from different locations.
3 million Blips
Blip usage keeps growing. Less than 3 months after passing 2 million global clock-ins, we surpassed 3 million.
BrightHR: HR Software Awards
Thank you Crozdesk for awarding us as a product leader in the HR Software Awards. It's great to see our hard work is being recognised.
New feature: Employees requesting absences using TOIL balance
Employees can now create absence requests using their TOIL balance and submit to their Manager for approval.
2019
New feature: Notification of personal information updates
Managers and Administrators are now alerted of updates to employee personal information to help you make sure records are kept up to date.
2 million Blips
Blip usage keeps growing. Less than 6 months after passing 1 million global clock-ins, we surpassed 2 million.
Australia and New Zealand launch
BrightHR's award-winning software is now available in Australia & New Zealand.
New feature: PoP by BrightHR
Manage staff expenses with ease and approve them on the go.
New feature: Document reminders
Get instant notifications for important dates, such as when it’s time to renew an employee’s driving licence.
New feature: Notes
Make notes against employee profiles so you can jot down any important information.
1 million Blips
Soon after celebrating Blip's 1st birthday, we surpassed more than 1 million global clock-ins.
2018
New feature: Time off in Lieu (TOIL)
This new feature lets you keep a record of the TOIL your staff earn and help them to book TOIL as an absence.
New calendar
Enjoy an easier-to-use calendar with a grid view and new filters.
Ireland launch
BrightHR’s now available in Ireland.
Extra absence types
Choose from more absence types like adoption and shared parental leave.
New and improved employee profile
Based on customer feedback, we made the employee profile easier to use and with a clearer absence tab.
Update to mobile planner
Based on customer feedback we improved the planner on our mobile app.
Assign start date to working time pattern
Set a working time pattern from a specific date in the past.
Vacation entitlement in hours
Regular employees can now enter their vacation request in hours and minutes.
Share documents securely
Control whether to share or hide important documents from your staff.
New feature: Blip by BrightHR
Free clocking in and out app available to BrightHR customers.
Canada mobile launch
BrightHR’s now available on mobile in Canada.
Employee start date and leave year
Amend an employee’s start date or leave year on their profile.
2017
Vacation carryover
Carry over leftover annual leave into the next year for your staff.
Payroll exceptions report
Download this new report to see all approved absences over a set period. This will help you to complete payroll.
Variable hour employees
Set up BrightHR for staff that work casual or irregular hours.
Canada launch
BrightHR’s now available on desktop in Canada.
Schedule improvements
Update includes being able to remove shifts from schedules, add notes to shifts and access schedules on your mobile.
BrightHR Alexa skill
Ask Alexa who is absent today and get a response without stopping your work. Plus, say “brewlette” and Alexa will randomly pick one of your team to make a cuppa.
New feature: Shifts and schedules
Enjoy a simpler way to make shifts and schedules. Plus, share them with your staff instantly.
2016
Vacation requests conflict
Get a notification when multiple staff request the same time off.
Sickness timeline
View a timeline of logged sickness.
Ongoing absence notifications
Get prompts to ask an employee to record their first day back to work.
Android mobile app
BrightHR’s mobile app now available to Android users.
New feature: Document storage
Keep all of your employee documents in one place with unlimited HR document storage.
2015
First release of BrightHR
Features include:
- Regular employees.
- Seven-day working time patterns.
- BrightHR iOS mobile app.
BrightHR Launch
BrightHR Launch Party