# Importing many employees

The **Employees** screen has an **Import** entry for bringing in many employees from a file instead of
adding them one at a time (see [Adding an employee](https://docs.blueonehr.com/books/employees/page/adding-an-employee) for the one-at-a-time form).
This page describes the Import dialog and the template it offers. It does **not** describe a complete
import, because the upload step has not been tried; see **Not confirmed** below.

<div class="bon-video">
<iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/CUnsgJ_0kXQ" title="Look at the Import Employee dialog (a tour)" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUnsgJ_0kXQ">Look at the Import Employee dialog (a tour)</a></p>
</div>

## Before you begin

Sign in as someone who can manage employees (see [Roles and permissions](https://docs.blueonehr.com/books/employees/page/roles-and-permissions)).
The steps below were looked at as an HR Head.

## Open the Import dialog

1. Go to **Employee → Employees**.
2. Select **Actions**. The menu lists **Import**, **Export**, **Archive**, **Un-Archive**, **Bulk Mail**,
   **Bulk Update** and **Delete**.
3. Select **Import**.

A dialog titled **Import Employee** opens. It contains:

- a large area that reads **Upload a File** and **Drag and drop files here**;
- a **Choose file** button, which shows **No file chosen** until you pick one;
- a **Download Template** link;
- an **Upload** button.

## Download the template

Select **Download Template**. A prompt asks **Do you want to download the template?** with **Confirm** and
**Cancel** buttons. Choose **Confirm** to download the file, or **Cancel** to leave the dialog as it was.

The file is a spreadsheet named `work_info_template.xlsx`, with one sheet, a single header row and no example
rows. The header row has 19 columns:

| | | |
|---|---|---|
| Badge ID | First Name | Last Name |
| Email | Phone | Gender |
| Department | Job Position | Job Role |
| Shift | Work Type | Reporting Manager |
| Employee Type | Location | Date Joining |
| Basic Salary | Salary Hour | Contract End Date |
| Company | | |

## Not confirmed

These have not been tried, so this page does not say what happens:

- Choosing a file and selecting **Upload**, and what appears afterwards.
- Which of the 19 columns are required, and what format each value must have (for example dates, gender,
  or how a department or reporting manager is matched).
- What happens with a badge ID or email that already exists, or with a row that has an error.
- Whether a file with fewer or more columns than the template is accepted.
- Whether new employees receive a sign-in or other notification.
- The maximum file size or number of rows, and which file types besides `.xlsx` are accepted.
- Whether a partly valid file imports the good rows or none.

## Related

- [The employee directory](https://docs.blueonehr.com/books/employees/page/the-employee-directory)
- [Adding an employee](https://docs.blueonehr.com/books/employees/page/adding-an-employee)
- [Roles and permissions](https://docs.blueonehr.com/books/employees/page/roles-and-permissions)