What is ESS?
ESS means Employee Self Service.
Through ESS, employees can:
- access payslips and P60s - payslips are often available on ESS up to five days before the printed copy arrives;
- request annual leave and view leave already booked;
- view and change personal details;
- change bank account details securely;
- view sickness history and end a period of sickness (record themselves as back at work);
- record special or unpaid leave if they have previously agreed it with their manager;
- submit claims for travel and expenses;
- book on to a range of learning activities using the learning and development option, if their manager has already agreed that the training is appropriate.
How do I access ESS? How do I log in to ESS?
To go to ESS Mobile, click the link at the top of this page or go to https://esser.eastriding.gov.uk
(You may need to 'pinch'/resize your screen to see the log in boxes)
Enter your username and password. You will then need to enter selected characters from your memorable password. These characters are entered using a drop down menu, which is case sensitive. The drop down list contains capitals and lower case letters, numbers and symbols. When entering letters, please make sure you select the correct case.
What kind of password can I use for ESS?
Your password needs to be at least 8 characters long and include capitals, lower case letters and at least one number.
What do I do if I forget my password?
If you forget your password, click the 'Forgotten password' link on the ESS log in page. By entering your username and email address, you will receive an email that will allow you to reset your password within ESS. You must use the email address linked to your ESS account.
You can reset your password via the email link, but it is not possible for you to reset your memorable password yourself. Your memorable password is the key to accessing ESS and therefore can only be reset by contacting the iTrent Service desk (email itrent.servicedesk@eastriding.gov.uk). For your own data security, please ensure that you do not forget your memorable password.
If you need more help, please see the user guide.
How can I get help using ESS?
User guides are available on this web page.
If you can't find the information you need from the user guides or in this FAQ section, please contact us by email at itrent.servicedesk@eastriding.gov.uk or by phone on 01482 391253 (between 0830 and 1700 Monday to Thursday and between 0830 and 1630 on a Friday).
Can I book leave on ESS?
Yes, you can book leave, view leave already booked and check how much leave you have left on ESS.
To book leave, click on 'Links from self service', then select 'Book leave', OR click on 'Menu' at the top left of your screen and select 'Holiday and Absence'. If you need more help, please see the user guide.
To view holiday balances and leave already booked, click on 'Links from self service', then select 'Check my holiday balance' from the dropdown list.
Can I download my payslip on ESS?
Yes, your payslip appears on ESS up to five days before you receive the paper version. Click on 'Links from self service', then select 'View my latest payslip', OR click on 'Menu' at the top left of your screen and select 'Pay and Expenses'. Select 'Click to view details' for the relevant month. Your payslip will download.
Can I use ESS to report myself as back at work after a sickness absence?
Yes, when returning to work following a sickness, log into your ESS to review the information recorded by your manager. Enter the date of the last day you were absent from work and contact your manager if you wish to have a structured discussion regarding your sickness. If you need more help, please see the user guide.
Can I book training on ESS?
Please discuss training requirements with your manager in the first instance. You can then use ESS to book places on available internal training courses and make waiting list requests. If you need more help, please see the user guide.
For external courses and activities, please contact the Training Co-ordinators at training.coordination@eastriding.gov.uk.
Can I record special/unpaid leave on ESS?
Please discuss special and unpaid leave requests with your manager in the first instance. You can then use ESS to record special or unpaid leave, with your manager's prior agreement. If you need more help, please see the user guide.
What does an email from ESS look like? How do I know it's genuine?
ESS will use the email address you provide to send emails advising you when requests have been authorised (e.g. if your manager approves a leave request) or tasks have been completed on your behalf (e.g. if your manager records you as off sick). All emails from ESS will be sent from 'noreply@eastriding.gov.uk'.
ESS will never send you unexpected emails.
If you forget your password, you can reset it to get back into your account. To do this, click 'Forgotten password' on the ESS log in page. Enter your username and email address. You will then receive an email that looks like this:

If you receive an email without requesting a password re-set or any other unexpected emails, or if you forget your memorable password, please contact: itrent.servicedesk@eastriding.gov.uk
How is my leave entitlement calculated?
Annual leave entitlement is made up of two separate parts. Firstly, you have an entitlement of annual leave hours; how much you get is dependent on your contracted hours, scale point and length of service. To find out how much you get, please check the annual leave guidelines or your contract. The second part of your balance is your bank holiday entitlement: please see 'How is my bank holiday entitlement calculated?' below to find out how this is calculated.
How is my bank holiday entitlement calculated?
For your bank holiday entitlement, you are given of the equivalent of one fifth of your weekly hours for each bank holiday, concessionary and statutory day that falls within an annual leave year. For example, if you work 25 hours per week, you will receive a balance of five hours for each of the days. These dates are then pre-booked for you and ESS will deduct the amount of hours you are due to work on each date.
What happens with my leave if I work a bank holiday, statutory or concessionary day?
Working on the following days entitles you to time off in lieu:
- Good Friday
- Easter Monday
- Christmas Day
- Boxing Day
- New Year’s Day
- The concessionary day between Christmas and New Year
After you work one of these bank holidays or the concessionary day, your manager should email the Information Team (itrent.ss@eastriding.gov.uk) and tell them what hours you worked. The date(s) will be marked as ‘not taken’ on the system and any hours that have been deducted from your leave balance will be given back to you for you to book at a date of your choice. If you worked more hours than your entitlement (see ‘How is my bank holiday entitlement calculated?’ above), a further adjustment will also be made to pay you back any annual leave entitlement that has been deducted.
Working on the following Bank Holidays does not entitle you to lieu time:
- May Day
- Spring Bank Holiday
- Summer Bank Holiday
- The two statutory days between Christmas and New Year
After you work one of these bank holidays or the statutory days between Christmas and New Year, your manager should email the Information Team (itrent.ss@eastriding.gov.uk) and tell them what hours you worked. If you worked more hours than your bank holiday entitlement (see ‘How is my bank holiday entitlement calculated?’ above), an adjustment will be made to pay you back any annual leave entitlement that has been deducted.
How do I record leave if I am working a night shift?
If you are working a shift that goes from one day to the next (across midnight), please remember that ESS Mobile uses calendar days. To book the shift off, you would need to book this as two part days. The first day would be the amount of hours up to midnight and the second day would be the hours after midnight.
When you book more than one shift as leave, this also applies for the first and/or last day of your leave booking.