ChiefOnboarding
Self-hosted employee onboarding platform with automated sequences, Slack bot integration, and account provisioning. Build structured new-hire journeys with tasks, resources, and timed messages without a HR software subscription
Quick Start
git clone https://github.com/chiefonboarding/ChiefOnboarding && cd ChiefOnboarding && cp .env.example .env && docker compose up -d Overview
ChiefOnboarding is a self-hosted employee onboarding platform built for teams that want structured, automated new-hire journeys without paying for a full HRIS suite. You build sequences of tasks, resources, messages, and introductions, then assign them to new hires. ChiefOnboarding fires Slack messages and emails automatically on the schedule you define, so the first week unfolds without someone manually following up each day.
The Slack bot is the primary interface for new hires. Rather than asking someone to log into a separate web portal on their first day, the bot delivers their onboarding tasks as a checklist inside the Slack workspace they are already using. Tasks get checked off in conversation, resources are shared as links, and automated messages introduce them to teammates at the right moments.
Pre-boarding sequences are one of the more valuable features for small teams. Between offer acceptance and start date, you can send timed messages with company background, logistics for day one, and paperwork reminders. This reduces the no-call-no-show rate and means new hires arrive knowing where to go and what to bring.
Account provisioning works as a task list for IT rather than automated API calls. ChiefOnboarding will create reminders and notify the right people to set up accounts, but the actual account creation in GitHub, Google Workspace, or other tools still requires manual action. Teams wanting fully automated provisioning would need to integrate webhooks with their own scripts.
The stack is Django and PostgreSQL, deployed via Docker Compose. An SMTP server is required for email sequences to function. With 894 stars and active development, it is a legitimate open source alternative to the onboarding modules in BambooHR or Workday for teams under a few hundred employees.
ChiefOnboarding: Pros & Cons
| Pros (The Wins) | Cons (The Friction) |
|---|---|
| Timed sequences: Slack messages and emails fire automatically on schedule. | AGPL licence: Commercial embedding needs a licence review. |
| Slack-native: New hires work from a bot without a separate login. | Manual provisioning: IT still performs account setup; reminders only. |
| Pre-boarding support: Engage hires between offer and start date. | Onboarding only: No payroll, reviews, or broader HRIS features. |
| Active open source: Real alternative to BambooHR onboarding tier. | Needs email configured: SMTP required for email sequences to work. |
Use Cases
Specific ways to use ChiefOnboarding for your workflow.
Deployment Strategy
Recommended ways to host ChiefOnboarding in your own environment.