Release notes

Ciphr’s February 2026 release (2026-2) was a significant step forward. It brings AI-powered performance form summarisation to life, strengthens reporting navigation, and delivers a range of accessibility, usability, and payroll integration improvements. It’s all to help HR teams work smarter, not harder.

We're excited to share that AI-powered performance form summarisation is live for customers using our full talent management module. This means:

• Automatic summaries of completed performance review forms — for example, using monthly one-to-ones to effortlessly generate an annual review
• Clearer AI reviews messaging: the confirmation modal now explains when only some answers could be generated, or when no suitable answers were available, so you always know where you stand

This is a real gamechanger for managers and HR teams who want to reduce the administrative burden of performance management while maintaining quality and consistency.

• Reporting View has been renamed My Generated Reports and moved directly under the Reporting menu, making it quicker and easier to find the reports you need  

• Company configuration for payroll integration has moved into the payroll integration settings, and the previous limit of four companies has been removed, giving larger organisations the flexibility they need
• Backpay calculations are simplified, removing the need to revisit old pay runs, spreadsheets, or manual calculations

Make every interaction count:

• Better keyboard navigation: The burger menu button is now correctly positioned in the tab order on smaller screens
• Improved screen reader labels: Live Chat and Dashboard header labels now read correctly for assistive technology users
• Clearer status indicators: Completion, download, and upload icons now display correctly in bulk change and letters runs
• More consistent workflows: Button order improvements to absence verification and letter distribution
• Cleaner display and formatting: Case history no longer shows raw HTML tags, and policy document downloads now retain file extensions
  

• Future starter absences now record the correct Department (Org Unit 1)
• Add New Employee (Workflow): Default starter reason now applies correctly from system settings
• Leaver Workflow: Improved completion messaging clarifies that managers retain access until the employee's leave date
• Payments: "Restrict own payment entries" now correctly prevents hourly rate edits

• CIPHRFLEXI work pattern: Absence days are now recorded correctly on mobile
• Public holidays: Absences that include public holidays now correctly include bank holiday dates

• More accurate headcount data: Multi-post role logic now applies correctly to dataset metrics, ensuring headcount calculations are spot on

• Easier attendance management: Alphabetical delegate lists and more reliable booking status tracking
• Greater accuracy: Fixes to Training History, workbook completions, and externally hosted video playback

• Ready for the new tax year: All HMRC 2026/27 legislative changes applied automatically, from PAYE tax bands and NI thresholds to updated statutory pay rates and Student Loan Plan 5 support
• SSP reforms built in: Full support for the major Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) changes effective April 2026, including removal of waiting days, the new 80% earnings rate, and updated eligibility rules
• Smarter parental pay handling: Improved accuracy when Average Weekly Earnings are missing or below the Lower Earnings Limit, with payments clearly flagged for review

February’s release helps amplify the impact of HR. AI summarisation takes hours of admin off your plate. Smarter reporting puts insights at your fingertips. And every accessibility fix reiterates that great HR software should work brilliantly for everyone, not just ‘most’ people. 

Sources

Ciphr HR February 2026 release (2026-2). Full details: Ciphr Release Notes

Ciphr LMS release Q12026. Full details: Ciphr LMS Release Notes

Ciphr Analytics. Full details: Ciphr Analytics Release Notes

Ciphr Payroll. Full details: Payroll Cloud Release Notes (February 2026)