How to Add an Employee

Create a complete employee profile in Vendra — work details, private information, HR settings, and an active contract — so the employee is ready for payroll from day one.

Updated June 2026 Employees module 5 min read

Adding a new employee in Vendra involves filling in several tabs on the employee form. The minimum required for payroll is a name, department, and an active contract with a salary structure. The additional tabs — Work Information, Private Information, and HR Settings — hold details that are used across the HR, Payroll, and POS modules.

Once the contract is confirmed, the employee is automatically included the next time you create a payslip batch in the Payroll module.

Step-by-step: adding a new employee

1

Go to Employees and click New

Open the Employees module from the sidebar. Click New to open a blank employee form. The form is organised into tabs — the main header area contains the most visible fields.

2

Enter name, job position, and department

Type the employee's full name in the Employee Name field. Select or create their Job Position (for example, Cashier, Accountant, Store Manager). Assign them to a Department. These three fields place the employee in the organisational structure and affect payroll filtering and HR reporting.

3

Work Information tab — line manager, work location, schedule

Open the Work Information tab. Set the Manager (their direct line manager), the Work Location (office, remote, or a specific site), and the Working Schedule (Full Time 40h, Part Time, or a custom schedule). The working schedule determines how leave and attendance are calculated in payroll.

4

Private Information tab — nationality, date of birth, national ID

Open the Private Information tab. Enter the employee's nationality, date of birth, and national ID number. This information is kept confidential — only users with HR manager access can view it. It is used for statutory compliance and for identifying the employee in government records.

5

HR Settings tab — employee number and POS PIN

Open the HR Settings tab. Assign an Employee Number (your internal HR reference). Set a PIN (4 to 6 digits) in the POS PIN field if the employee needs to log in to a Point of Sale terminal. Link a Vendra user account here if the employee needs system access beyond POS.

6

Contract tab — create a new contract

Open the Contract tab and click New Contract. A contract form opens in a new view. Set the Contract Start Date, the Contract Type (permanent, fixed-term, casual), the Salary Structure (for example, Standard Kenyan Payroll), and the Monthly Wage.

7

Save and confirm the contract

Save the contract record. Click Confirm to move the contract status to Running. An active, confirmed contract is required for the employee to appear in payroll batch processing. An employee with only a draft contract will not be included in payroll runs.

8

Employee is now ready for Payroll

Return to the employee record and save. The employee now appears in the Employees list and will be included in payslip batches for any pay period that falls within their contract dates. Their POS PIN is active immediately if set.

You can add skills and resume history to the employee's Skills and Resume tabs at any time. Skills data is used in the HR skills gap analysis report and can help you match the right people to internal opportunities as the business grows.

What the tabs cover at a glance

Work Information

Line manager, work location, working hours schedule, and work email. Used for org chart display and attendance calculations.

Private Information

Personal details including nationality, date of birth, national ID, emergency contact, and marital status. HR manager access only.

HR Settings

Employee number, POS login PIN, linked user account, and employment type. Controls how the employee interacts with POS and the system.

Contract

Start date, contract type, salary structure, and wage. Must be confirmed and active for the employee to appear in payroll.

FAQ

Employee setup questions

Common questions about adding and configuring employees in Vendra.

Contact support
Why does my new employee not appear in the payroll batch?
The most common reason is that the employee's contract is still in Draft status. Go to the employee's Contract tab, open the contract, and click Confirm to set it to Running. Only employees with an active confirmed contract appear in payslip batch selection.
Can an employee log in to the POS terminal without a user account?
Yes. For POS-only access, set a PIN in the HR Settings tab. The employee can then log in to any POS terminal using their name and PIN without needing a full Vendra user account or password. This is the standard setup for cashiers and floor staff.
Who can see the Private Information tab?
The Private Information tab is only visible to users with HR Manager access rights. Standard users and employees cannot see another employee's private details. You can review and adjust access rights in Settings → Users and Companies → Users.

Your whole team, one place

Employee records, payroll, and POS access — set up in minutes on Vendra.