Back to the switch plan

Switching HR system to Leavely — checklist

Tick off each item as you go. Most teams complete the whole list in an afternoon, spread around their notice period.

Before you start

  • Find your current contract and note the initial term and renewal date
  • Diary the written-notice deadline — fixed-term agreements commonly require three to six months' written notice before the end of the term
  • Check your own agreement for the exact cancellation method and address for notices
  • Export your employee directory (CSV)
  • Export current leave balances for every employee and leave type
  • Export sickness/absence records if you use them
  • Download any documents stored in the system
  • Take screenshots of your current leave policies and settings

Send notice

  • Send written notice to your current provider (a template letter is in our cancellation guide)
  • Ask for written acknowledgement of your notice and keep it on file
  • Confirm the final billing date so there are no surprise instalments

Set up Leavely

  • Create your Leavely account — the 14-day free trial needs no card
  • Import your team from CSV (or send us your export and we’ll do it for you)
  • Set starting balances to match what everyone has remaining
  • Configure leave policies (annual, sick, TOIL and any custom types)
  • Select your UK bank holiday region
  • Set up departments and reporting lines
  • Re-enter any future-dated approved leave

Go live

  • Send invite emails to all employees
  • Tell the team the switch is happening and when
  • Run both systems in parallel for a week
  • Verify leave balances match before you rely on Leavely alone
  • Archive your old data exports somewhere safe (keep 6+ months)

Notice periods and renewal behaviour described here are patterns common across the UK HR software market, not a statement about any particular supplier; individual contracts differ — always check your own. Full steps and a notice-letter template: leavely.online/how-to-cancel-hr-software