342 verified reviews

Sage Pastel Payroll reviews

Every published review of Sage Pastel Payroll, unedited beyond length and clarity. Vendor responses are shown alongside the review they answer.

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342 reviews match · page 32 of 35

Zodwa van der MerweVerified

Accountant

Agriculture

Somerset West201 to 500 employees

5.0

19 Jan 2024

Payroll stopped being the worst week of the month

The tax year end is what convinced me. Nothing broke. Strong multi company handling for practices. That is the part that genuinely changed how we work. Nothing has come up in the last year that I would call a real problem. Worth the migration effort, which is not something I say often.

What works

Runs locally, so month end is not a connectivity risk. Support answers in South African hours and understands the question. IRP5 files validated in e@syFile without a single rejection.

What does not

There is no real HR functionality, so we run a second system.

Reabetswe AbrahamsVerified

Owner

Retail

PolokwaneSole trader

5.0

17 Jan 2024

Payroll stopped being the worst week of the month

We switched after our previous provider got an ETI calculation wrong. The largest pool of trained operators in the country. That is the part that genuinely changed how we work. Nothing has come up in the last year that I would call a real problem. Two years in and nobody has suggested we look at alternatives.

What works

The largest pool of trained operators in the country. Employee self service cut payslip queries almost to zero. BCEA leave accruals are right without configuration.

What does not

There is no real HR functionality, so we run a second system.

Rajesh ReddyVerified

People Operations Lead

Information technology

Witbank2 to 10 employees

3.0

09 Jan 2024

Good product, frustrating support queue

Compliance side is solid, the day to day is more of a slog than it should be. Runs locally, so month end is not a connectivity risk. Beyond that it is more ordinary than the marketing suggests. It sits squarely in the middle for us, useful but not something I would champion. I would shortlist it, not necessarily pick it.

What works

Strong multi company handling for practices. Payslips are clear and employees understand them.

What does not

No bargaining council support. Support queues get long towards month end.

Ashwin MokoenaVerified

Senior Payroll Consultant

Professional consulting

Bloemfontein51 to 200 employees

5.0

26 Dec 2023

Three tax year ends without a single correction

The tax year end is what convinced me. Nothing broke. Complete SARS statutory coverage, maintained for decades. That is the part that genuinely changed how we work. Nothing has come up in the last year that I would call a real problem. I would recommend it to a business of our size without hesitation.

What works

Runs locally, so month end is not a connectivity risk. The ACB file imports into our bank without a support call. Employee self service cut payslip queries almost to zero.

What does not

There is no real HR functionality, so we run a second system.

Elmarie NelVerified

Industrial Relations Manager

Engineering

Vereeniging51 to 200 employees

4.0

26 Dec 2023

Our IRP5 files validated in e@syFile first time

I have run payroll on four different systems and this is the one I would choose again. Complete SARS statutory coverage, maintained for decades. That is the part that genuinely changed how we work. There are irritations, and none of them are the kind that make you look elsewhere. It is not perfect, and it is the right choice for us.

What works

Complete SARS statutory coverage, maintained for decades. EMP201 and EMP501 submissions have been correct every period. Employee self service cut payslip queries almost to zero.

What does not

Reporting outside the statutory pack is thin.

Retha Nkosi

HR Officer

Recruitment

Vereeniging11 to 50 employees

2.0

26 Dec 2023

Wage payroll is clearly an afterthought

We had to rebuild two EMP501 submissions by hand. In practice, the parts we were sold on never worked the way they were demonstrated. The gaps are the kind that create work rather than save it. It may suit a simpler business than ours.

What works

The payslip layout is clean.

What does not

Leave accruals did not follow BCEA rules. ETI required manual correction for months. Support could not explain their own statutory outputs.

Rudzani ChettyVerified

Senior Payroll Consultant

Motor trade

VereenigingSole trader

5.0

24 Dec 2023

Leave finally follows the BCEA without a spreadsheet

I have run payroll on four different systems and this is the one I would choose again. Strong multi company handling for practices. That is the part that genuinely changed how we work. Nothing has come up in the last year that I would call a real problem. It is not perfect, and it is the right choice for us.

What works

The largest pool of trained operators in the country. EMP201 and EMP501 submissions have been correct every period. IRP5 files validated in e@syFile without a single rejection.

What does not

Reporting outside the statutory pack is thin.

Willem DavidsVerified

Practice Manager

Accounting

Sandton11 to 50 employees

3.0

21 Dec 2023

Good product, frustrating support queue

It works. It is not enjoyable, but payroll rarely is. The largest pool of trained operators in the country. Beyond that it is more ordinary than the marketing suggests. It sits squarely in the middle for us, useful but not something I would champion. It is a reasonable choice, provided you know what it does not do.

What works

Runs locally, so month end is not a connectivity risk. Payslips are clear and employees understand them.

What does not

No bargaining council support. Wage and shift payroll is weaker than salaried.

Craig NdlovuVerified

Owner

Information technology

Witbank2 to 10 employees

3.0

21 Dec 2023

Fine for salaried staff, weak on wages

It works. It is not enjoyable, but payroll rarely is. The largest pool of trained operators in the country. Beyond that it is more ordinary than the marketing suggests. It sits squarely in the middle for us, useful but not something I would champion. Fine for our needs. Test it properly against your own requirements.

What works

The largest pool of trained operators in the country. Payslips are clear and employees understand them.

What does not

No bargaining council support. Wage and shift payroll is weaker than salaried.

Kabelo SinghVerified

Audit Manager

Legal services

Gqeberha11 to 50 employees

4.0

20 Dec 2023

Leave finally follows the BCEA without a spreadsheet

The tax year end is what convinced me. Nothing broke. Complete SARS statutory coverage, maintained for decades. That is the part that genuinely changed how we work. There are irritations, and none of them are the kind that make you look elsewhere. I would recommend it to a business of our size without hesitation.

What works

Strong multi company handling for practices. EMP201 and EMP501 submissions have been correct every period. IRP5 files validated in e@syFile without a single rejection.

What does not

There is no real HR functionality, so we run a second system.

342 verified reviews

It works. It is not enjoyable, but payroll rarely is. The largest pool of trained operators in the country. Beyond that it is more ordinary than the marketing suggests. It sits squarely in the middle for us, useful but not something I would champion. Fine for our needs. Test it properly against your own requirements.

What works

The largest pool of trained operators in the country. Payslips are clear and employees understand them.

What does not

No bargaining council support. Wage and shift payroll is weaker than salaried.

Kabelo SinghVerified

Audit Manager

Legal services

Gqeberha11 to 50 employees

4.0

20 Dec 2023

Leave finally follows the BCEA without a spreadsheet

What works

Strong multi company handling for practices. EMP201 and EMP501 submissions have been correct every period. IRP5 files validated in e@syFile without a single rejection.

What does not

There is no real HR functionality, so we run a second system.