By Brett Ransley • 23 Jan 2026
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We have released a major GoCasual update focused on automation, contractor support, security, and overall usability. This update introduces new features alongside important fixes and visual improvements across the platform.
Below is a summary of what has changed and how it benefits your business.
Refreshed Look and Feel
GoCasual has been updated with a refreshed purple theme to improve clarity, consistency, and ease of use across the app.
What changed
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Clearer primary and secondary buttons
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Improved form focus states and inputs
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More consistent colours for links, badges, progress bars, and navigation elements
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Better contrast and readability across key workflows
The sidebar navigation has been left unchanged to keep the interface familiar.
Automations (Pro Plan)
Automations are now available for Pro plan users, allowing common payroll tasks to be scheduled automatically.
Available automations
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Add timesheets
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Approve timesheets
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Reporting tools (currently in development)
Scheduling options
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Daily at a set time
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Weekly on selected days
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Monthly on the 1st, 15th, or last day of the month
Key features
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Start and end dates
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Email notification on completion
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Active or inactive toggle
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Safe test mode to preview what will happen before enabling
Automations are clearly marked as a Pro feature, with upgrade prompts shown where applicable.
Contractor Support
GoCasual now supports both employees and contractors, each handled correctly based on their engagement type.
Contractor handling
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No PAYE, KiwiSaver, ACC, or student loan deductions
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Gross pay equals net pay
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No holiday pay calculations
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Contractors manage their own tax obligations
Contractor documents
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Contractors receive payment summaries instead of payslips
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Clear display of hours worked and hourly rate
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No tax or deduction sections
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Separate contractor payment reports and exports
This makes GoCasual suitable for businesses that use a mix of employees and contractors while keeping payroll simple and compliant.
Improved Role Based Access
Access across the platform has been tightened to ensure users only see what is relevant to their role.
What this means for users
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Employers, employees, and admins see only the areas relevant to them
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Reduced risk of accidental changes
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Clearer navigation and workflows
This improves both security and usability, especially for growing teams.
New App Footer
A new footer has been added across the application, providing quick access to important information.
Includes
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Privacy Policy
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Terms and Conditions
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Product information
The footer is responsive and accessible on all devices.
Bug Fixes and Improvements
This update also includes several important fixes and refinements.
Pay runs
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Archived pay runs now display correctly when filtered
Payslips
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Total hours worked are now clearly shown for better transparency
Contractor payment summaries
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Correct terminology and layout improvements
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Clearer payment confirmation wording
General improvements
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Better consistency across buttons, cards, and layouts
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Improved clarity across payroll and reporting views
What Is Coming Next
This update lays the foundation for future improvements, including:
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More automation options
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Expanded reporting tools
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Additional usability enhancements
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Optional appearance customisation
Need Help or Have Feedback?
Some features in this update are new and still evolving. If you notice anything unexpected or have suggestions, please contact [email protected].
Thank you for using GoCasual.