Your only HR person just resigned.
When the one person who held the portals, the bank file and the compliance calendar walks out, the risk is not abstract: it is the next payday. Here is what to secure first, and how to keep HR running.
What should I do when my only HR person resigns in Singapore?
Before their last day, secure access and continuity: confirm a second Corppass Admin, re-assign CPF, IRAS and MOM portal access, document the bank payment file with a tested dry run, and check for any IR21 filings due. Then arrange interim HR cover so payroll, CPF and filings continue without a gap.
8:30AM to 5:30PM
Why this is urgent
In a lean team, one person often holds everything: the Corppass admin rights, the bank file know-how, the CPF and IRAS logins, and the unwritten calendar of what is due when. When they leave, that knowledge leaves with them, and the consequences are concrete and dated.
Before the last day, secure the access that keeps the entity transacting: a second Corppass Admin, the CPF, IRAS and MOM portal assignments, and a tested run of the bank payment file. Those steps prevent a missed payday and a portal lock-out; documenting the rest of the handover prevents penalties and disputes in the weeks after.
Keeping HR running
Securing access stops the bleeding; it does not run HR. If there is no one to take over the function, interim HR cover keeps it moving (running payroll, handling employees and statutory filings) while you recruit a permanent replacement, or for as long as you need.
This is exactly the continuity gap Skillsforce exists to cover: step-in HR and payroll so the business does not skip a beat, then a clean handover when your new hire is ready.
Common questions
How do we make sure payday is not missed?
Document the bank payment file process (how the GIRO file is generated, the cut-off times and the Maker/Authoriser workflow) and have the successor do a tested dry run before the last day. Late salary is an offence under the Employment Act.
Can someone run our HR temporarily while we recruit?
Yes. Interim HR cover steps in to run the people function (payroll, employee support and statutory filings) for as long as you need, then hands over cleanly to your permanent hire. It is the fastest way to remove the continuity risk.
Sources & references
Figures are drawn from primary government and vendor sources. Always confirm against the live source before acting. Rules change.
- GovTech: Corppass FAQ (admin roles & recovery)Accessed 18 June 2026
- CPF Board: paying CPF contributionsDue on the last day of the calendar month, enforcement from the 14th of the following month; accessed 18 June 2026
- IRAS: tax clearance for foreign & SPR employees (IR21)Accessed 18 June 2026
- MOM: cancel a work passAccessed 18 June 2026
This page summarises official guidance as at the date shown above. Rules and figures change, so verify against the primary source before acting. It is not professional advice: for guidance on your specific situation, talk to Skillsforce.
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