An HRIS (human resource information system) is the system a business uses to store and manage employee data - personal details, employment history, position, reporting line, leave balances and documents. It is the master record HR works from day to day.
What it means
An HRIS is broader than payroll software: payroll needs only what is required to calculate pay, while an HRIS holds the full employment record over an employee's entire tenure. In many businesses the two are integrated or are the same system, with payroll consuming the employee master data the HRIS maintains.
Where it fits in
Changes captured in the HRIS - a new hire, a promotion, a termination date - need to flow through to payroll accurately and on time, since payroll calculations depend on having current, correct employee data.
Key rules
- HRIS = human resource information system, the system of record for employee data.
- Broader in scope than payroll software, covering the full employment record.
- Often integrated with or shared with the payroll system.
- Payroll accuracy depends on the HRIS data feeding it being current.
