Comparing EnableHR Alternatives for HR Compliance and Workplace Relations

Managing HR compliance in Australia is not a passive exercise. Between the Fair Work Act, more than 120 modern awards, state-based legislation, and frequent regulatory updates, businesses must actively manage risk across the entire employee lifecycle.

If you’re reviewing options beyond EnableHR, this guide outlines the best EnableHR alternatives for organisations that want robust HR compliance software, stronger employee relations management, and scalable workforce management capabilities.

Why Businesses Look for EnableHR Alternatives

EnableHR has earned recognition for employee relations case management. However, many organisations seek alternatives when they require:

Broader HR management functionality beyond case tracking

Integrated payroll and workforce management tools

A more comprehensive onboarding module

Built-in compliance training such as workplace health and safety training and slavery awareness training.

Greater scalability as headcount grows

For Australian employers, compliance cannot sit in a silo. It must integrate with onboarding, payroll, performance management, learning, and reporting. The best HR software solutions provide that unified ecosystem.

What to Look for in HR Compliance Software in Australia

Effective HR compliance software in the Australian context should include:

• Modern award and Fair Work alignment
• Structured employee relations workflows
• Policy acknowledgement and document control
• Automated audit trails
• Integrated onboarding module
• Workforce reporting and analytics
• Learning management for compliance training
• Local support familiar with Australian legislation

Compliance failures can result in underpayment claims, penalties, and reputational damage. A well-configured system shifts you from reactive to preventative compliance.

Leading EnableHR Alternatives in Australia

1. Sentrient HRMS

Sentrient is purpose-built for Australian and New Zealand businesses. Unlike retrofitted global platforms, it natively understands modern awards, Fair Work obligations, and local compliance requirements.

Key Strengths:

• Comprehensive HR management and compliance tracking
• Structured employee relations workflows with audit-ready documentation
• Integrated onboarding module covering Fair Work Information Statements and superannuation setup
• Built-in workplace health and safety training
• Integrated slavery awareness training aligned to Modern Slavery reporting obligations
• Payroll integration that understands Australian awards

Sentrient combines HR compliance software, learning, and workforce management in a single environment. This reduces duplication and creates a defensible compliance framework.

Best suited for: Australian SMEs to large enterprises requiring end-to-end compliance oversight and structured employee relations management.

2. HappyHR

HappyHR delivers straightforward HR management with local legislative awareness.

Strengths:

• Policy and incident reporting workflows
• Fair Work-aligned updates
• Responsive local support

It provides solid baseline compliance features without excessive complexity.

Best suited to: Australian SMEs wanting local support and practical compliance tools.

Pricing: On request.

3. ELMO Software

ELMO is a comprehensive Australian cloud platform with strong governance and learning functionality.

Key Advantages:

• Policy version control and acknowledgement tracking
• Document management with audit trails
• Integrated learning management system

For organisations needing demonstrable training compliance, ELMO simplifies reporting on workplace health and safety training and modern slavery education programs.

Best suited to: Medium to large organisations prioritising compliance training and structured workforce development.

Pricing: Quote-based.

4. BrightHR

BrightHR focuses on simplifying compliance for small businesses.

Features:

• Library of Australian-compliant employment documents
• Absence and shift management
• Health and safety management tools

While not enterprise-grade HR compliance software, it provides practical tools for small employers managing risk without dedicated HR teams.

Best suited to: Small Australian businesses seeking affordable compliance support.

Pricing: Approx. $5–$8 per employee per month.

5. BambooHR

BambooHR is recognised for its intuitive interface and strong employee experience design.

Strengths:

• Core HR management functionality
• Leave tracking and performance management
• Strong reporting tools

However, Australian businesses must configure the platform to align with award conditions and local leave structures. It can function effectively as HR software, but compliance settings require customisation.

Best suited to: Growing organisations with relatively straightforward award structures.

Pricing: From approximately USD $6–$8 per employee per month.

6. Breezy HR

Breezy specialises in recruitment with integrated HR functionality.

Strong as an applicant tracking system and recruitment tool, but less comprehensive as standalone HR compliance software.

Best suited to: Businesses with high recruitment volume and moderate compliance complexity.

Pricing: From USD $143 per month.

7. HiBob (Bob)

HiBob is employee-experience focused and modern in design.

It supports performance management and engagement but requires configuration for Australian compliance frameworks. Strong for culture and hybrid workforce management, but not inherently compliance-centric.

Best suited to: Tech-forward organisations comfortable managing local compliance configuration internally.

Pricing: Quote-based.

8. Employment Hero

Employment Hero provides an integrated HR and payroll ecosystem tailored to Australian SMEs.

• Compliance Capabilities
• Award interpretation tools
• Fair Work update integration
• Payroll compliance including STP and superannuation

Its employee relations tools are functional, though less specialised than platforms dedicated to compliance-first workflows.

Best suited to: SMEs wanting all-in-one HR management and payroll integration.

Pricing: Tiered per-employee pricing.

9. Citation HR

Citation blends HR software with advisory support.

For organisations without in-house HR expertise, access to professional consultants alongside digital compliance tools reduces risk exposure in complex employee relations matters.

Best suited to: SMEs seeking both technology and advisory support.

Pricing: Quote-based.

10. Sage HR

Sage HR integrates closely with Sage accounting systems.

Advantages:

• Financial and workforce reporting integration
• Core HR and scheduling tools

Australian localisation exists, but compliance configuration should be validated carefully, particularly for award-heavy industries.

Best suited to: Businesses already embedded in the Sage ecosystem.

Pricing: Quote-based.

11. Breathe HR

Breathe focuses on simplicity.

While effective for employee record management and leave tracking, complex award interpretation and structured employee relations workflows may require additional tools.

Best suited to: Small teams with straightforward employment arrangements.

Pricing: From approximately £21 per month.

12. Rippling

Rippling integrates HR, IT, and finance.

Its automation is powerful, particularly for onboarding and offboarding workflows that provision systems and payroll simultaneously. However, Australian compliance configuration requires careful setup.

Best suited to: Tech-driven organisations with global workforce structures.

Pricing: From USD $8 per user per month plus modules.

13. Wageloch

Wageloch combines payroll, HR, and rostering.

Its Australian payroll foundations make it particularly strong in award interpretation and shift-based industries. Tight HR–payroll integration supports compliance accuracy.

Best suited to: Hospitality, healthcare, retail and other award-intensive sectors.

Pricing: Quote-based.

Critical Features for Managing HR Compliance and Employee Relations

When comparing alternatives, prioritise these capabilities:

1. Award and Fair Work Alignment

Your platform must natively support Australian legislative requirements.

2. Structured Employee Relations Management

Performance improvement plans, grievance tracking, investigation documentation, and termination workflows must be defensible and audit-ready.

3. Integrated Onboarding Module

Compliance begins at hiring. A strong onboarding module ensures:

• Correct documentation
• Policy acknowledgements
• Training allocation
• Superannuation enrolment

4. Compliance Training Integration

Demonstrable training completion records for:

• Workplace health and safety training
• Slavery awareness training
• Code of conduct and anti-bullying modules
• Integrated learning reduces regulatory risk.

5. Workforce Management Reporting

Real-time visibility into:

• Leave liabilities
• Disciplinary trends
• Policy acknowledgements
• Training completion
• Strong reporting transforms HR from administrative to strategic.

Implementation Considerations

Even the best HR software fails without structured implementation. Australian organisations should:

• Conduct thorough award configuration
• Validate leave accrual calculations
• Test reporting outputs
• Plan change management carefully
• Ensure compliance verification before go-live

HR compliance software is not “set and forget.” Legislative updates require continuous oversight.

Pricing Considerations

Most providers use:

• Per-employee-per-month pricing
• Tiered workforce brackets
• Module-based add-ons
• Enterprise quote structures

Look beyond subscription fees. Consider implementation, integration, training, and support costs when evaluating ROI.

Making the Right Choice

Selecting the best EnableHR alternative depends on:

• Your workforce size and industry
• Complexity of awards and rostering
• Need for integrated compliance training
• Internal HR capability
• Growth projections

For Australian businesses seeking a purpose-built solution that integrates employee relations, onboarding, learning, and compliance within a single ecosystem, Sentrient stands out as a comprehensive option.

If you’re reviewing platforms and want to see how integrated HR compliance software can reduce administrative load while strengthening compliance posture, Request a free demo to assess suitability for your organisation.