Rippling Helps HR Leaders Break Free from Outdated Software

SLMBR PRTY, the creative powerhouse known for bold storytelling, has partnered with Rippling to produce the centrepiece of its new campaign, 'Because HR Deserves Better.' Directed by Abby Horton, the film takes a sharp, relatable look at HR leaders’ frustrations with outdated, disconnected software - and the moment they realise they deserve better.

HR teams have long been expected to do it all: hiring, onboarding, payroll, benefits, compliance, and countless employee requests - all with limited resources. Yet, the very systems meant to support them have only made their jobs harder, forcing them into an endless cycle of admin work. Rippling’s campaign makes one thing clear: It’s not you. It’s your software.

The film captures this struggle through a compelling, relatable narrative -depicting the frustration of being trapped in a bad relationship with your software and the empowering moment of realising you deserve better. More than just a commercial, it’s igniting a conversation among HR professionals ready to break up with outdated systems and embrace a platform that truly works.

On directing the film, director Abby Horton says, “I wanted to treat this software breakup like a classic cinematic scene you’d see in a romantic drama. The comedy of this spot stems from a serious performance amidst an offbeat, absurd situation because, truly, this relationship has come to a crossroads - only it’s not a person, it’s HR software. The sense of humour in this spot is very clever and the script spoke to me immediately. Breakups are always hard, but thankfully, with Rippling, our hero is on to greener pastures and software platforms.”

Mark Donnelly, creative director at Rippling adds, “The goal of the creative was to really hit the pain point that every HR leader and professional feels: working with bad software is like being in a bad relationship. You do all the work and get very little in return. And SLMBR PRTY really took that idea to heart, helping focus the work and deliver creative that resonates with HR leaders out there who feel overworked and underappreciated."

Across TV, social media, and billboards, Rippling is spotlighting real HR leaders who have made the leap, including:

• Taylor Baisey, head of people at Forterra, who streamlined payroll, benefits, and IT into a seamless system.
• Claire Davidson, SVP of people at Therabody, who now manages a global workforce with unparalleled compliance and visibility.
• Evangeline Vassiliou, director of people operations at Faherty Brand, who has automated processes to keep her team lean and focused on innovation.

'Because HR Deserves Better' isn’t just another campaign - it’s a wake-up call. SLMBR PRTY collaborated closely with the Rippling team to amplify this message, proving that HR leaders don’t have to settle for outdated tools. The time to move on is now.