usefulapiBreathe HR MCP server
Read Breathe HR employees, absences, sickness and leave; create and review leave requests. Hosted by usefulapi: connect it to Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or any MCP client.
What can I ask?
Turn on the Breathe HR connector, then ask in plain words. The AI picks the tools.
- Who is off on holiday next week, and for how many days each?
- How many holiday days has Jane Smith used and how many are left?
- Show leave requests starting next week with their approval status.
- How many sickness absences did we have last month?
What you can do with Breathe HR in Claude and ChatGPT
For HR managers and small business owners who track people, leave and absences in Breathe HR.
See who is off and for how many days
The AI lists approved absences with employee, dates, half days and days deducted, filtered by employee, department, type or dates. You see who is away next week.
Check an employee's holiday allowance and days left
The AI reads an employee's holiday years with allowance, days or hours taken, booked and remaining. It can pass a date to get the right year.
Review leave requests and their approval status
The AI lists leave requests with employee, dates, type and status, filtered by employee, department or start-date range, and opens one by id.
Look through employees, departments and expense claims
The AI lists employees with job title, department, line manager and working pattern, and expense claims by employee and state. You get a view of your team and pending claims.
Request leave and approve or reject leave requests
The AI creates a leave request for an employee, approves a pending request so it becomes an absence, or rejects it with a reason the employee sees.
Changes dataHow do I connect Breathe HR?
Before you connect
Personal data: This server returns personal data about your employees, including sickness records. Sickness records are health data under GDPR Article 9: you need your own lawful basis to process them with an AI client. Bank details and national insurance numbers are never returned. See Terms, Health data.
The login page asks for your Breathe HR API key.
In Breathe, an account administrator enables the API and copies the key from Configure → Settings → API setup. Production keys start with prod; a sandbox- key connects to the Breathe sandbox instead. Your key is used only to call the Breathe HR API on your behalf; it is never shown to anyone.
Claude claude.ai · Desktop
- Open Customize → Connectors, then click + Add → Add custom connector.
- Enter the name Breathe HR and this URL, then click Add:https://
breathe-hr. usefulapi. io/ mcp - Claude opens the login page: enter your Breathe HR API key.
- In a chat, click + → Connectors and turn on Breathe HR.
Team and Enterprise: an Owner adds the connector for the organization first.
ChatGPT chatgpt.com
- Open Plugins, click +, then Add custom MCP server.
- Enter the name Breathe HR and this URL, choose OAuth as the authentication, confirm the warning and create it:https://
breathe-hr. usefulapi. io/ mcp - ChatGPT opens the login page: enter your Breathe HR API key.
- In Plugins, install Breathe HR, then choose it in a chat.
No Add custom MCP server option? It depends on your account or workspace settings: see OpenAI's guide.
Claude Code
Run this command, then run /mcp in Claude Code to log in:
Cursor
Add to Cursor or add this to ~/.cursor/mcp.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"breathe-hr": {
"url": "https://breathe-hr.usefulapi.io/mcp"
}
}
} VS Code
Add to VS Code or add this to .vscode/mcp.json:
{
"servers": {
"breathe-hr": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://breathe-hr.usefulapi.io/mcp"
}
}
} Codex
Run these commands. The second one opens the login page:
Other clients
Windsurf, Cline, Zed and other MCP clients: add this URL as a remote MCP server (Streamable HTTP). The client then opens the login page in your browser.
Add only the URL. Do not add an Authorization header or an API key to the client config. The server signs you in with OAuth: the login page asks for your Breathe HR API key. If the config has such a header, remove it: some clients then send that header instead of the login token, and every call fails with 401.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 50 tool calls / month |
| Proper user | $9/mo · $90/yr | 10,000 tool calls / month |
| Pro+per user | $39/mo · $390/yr | 100,000 tool calls / month |
Each paid plan covers this Breathe HR server only. Ask your AI to run breathehr_upgrade and choose Pro or Pro+, billed monthly or yearly (it returns a Stripe Checkout link). If you already have Pro, ask to change it to Pro+. The change requires your confirmation, keeps your billing interval and charges the price difference for the rest of the period immediately. Cancel any time with breathehr_cancel_subscription: your paid plan continues to the end of the paid period, with no refund for the current period, and asking to resume the same plan with breathehr_upgrade before then undoes the cancel. Or write to support@usefulapi.io.
Tools 29
Show all 29 tools (the AI picks them for you)
Read only · 22
- Get account
breathehr_get_accountThe Breathe HR account (company) this API key belongs to: id, name, domain and enabled modules. - List departments
breathehr_list_departmentsList the company's departments (id, name). Use the ids to filter absences, leave, sickness and pay. - List divisions
breathehr_list_divisionsList the company's divisions (id, name). All of them are returned in one reply. - List locations
breathehr_list_locationsList the company's work locations (id, name). All of them are returned in one reply. - List working patterns
breathehr_list_working_patternsList the working patterns (hours per weekday, total weekly hours, default flag). All of them are returned in one reply. - List holiday allowances
breathehr_list_holiday_allowancesList the holiday allowance schemes (id, default flag, year_1 to year_10 = the allowance for each year of service, created_at, updated_at). All of them are returned in one reply. - List other leave reasons
breathehr_list_other_leave_reasonsList the reasons for non-holiday leave (e.g. compassionate, jury service). Use the ids to filter absences. All of them are returned in one reply. - List employees
breathehr_list_employeesList employees with job title, department, division, location, line manager, holiday approver, working pattern, join/leaving dates and status. Bank details and National Insurance numbers are never returned. - Get employee
breathehr_get_employeeOne employee's record by id (personal and job details, contacts, manager, working pattern). Bank details and NI number are never returned. - Get holiday years (allowance balance)
breathehr_get_holiday_yearsAn employee's holiday years: start/end, allowance, days or hours taken, booked and remaining. Pass for_date to get only the year that contains that date. - List absences
breathehr_list_absencesList approved absences (holiday and other leave) with employee, dates, half days, days deducted and cancelled flag. Filter by employee, department, type, other-leave reason and dates. - List leave requests
breathehr_list_leave_requestsList leave requests (pending, approved, rejected and cancelling requests) with employee, dates, half days, type, status and notes. Filter by employee, department and start-date range. - Get leave request
breathehr_get_leave_requestOne leave request by id, with its status. - List sickness records
breathehr_list_sicknessesList sickness absence records (health data): employee, sickness type, dates, half days, days deducted, status (open, returned, closed…) and reason. Filter by employee, department and start-date range. - List salaries
breathehr_list_salariesList salary records (amount, basis, payment schedule, start date) for the whole company, one employee or one department. - List bonuses
breathehr_list_bonusesList bonus records (amount, date, description) for the whole company, one employee or one department. - List benefits
breathehr_list_benefitsList employee benefits (type, value, start/end) for the whole company, one employee or one department. - List employee jobs
breathehr_list_employee_jobsList job history records (job title, start/end dates, department, location) for all employees or one employee. - List training courses
breathehr_list_training_coursesList employee training records (course name, type, status, dates, cost) for all employees or one employee. - List expense claims
breathehr_list_expense_claimsList expense claims (employee, total, state, approver) filtered by employee and state. - List expenses
breathehr_list_expensesList individual expense items (date, description, type, amount, VAT, project). By default only unclaimed items; set include_claimed to see all. - List change requests
breathehr_list_change_requestsList employee self-service change requests (field, requested value, approval state) for all employees or one employee. Requested values of bank and NI fields are redacted.
Changes data · 3
- Create leave request
breathehr_create_leave_requestWRITE: request leave for an employee (holiday by default, or other leave). It is created as a request, then follows the account's approval rules; the employee's approver is notified. Each call creates a new request. - Approve leave request
breathehr_approve_leave_requestWRITE: approve a pending leave request; it becomes an absence and is deducted from the allowance. Recorded as done by the "API Employee". - Reject leave request
breathehr_reject_leave_requestWRITE: reject a pending leave request with a reason the employee will see. Recorded as done by the "API Employee".
Your usefulapi plan · 4
- Usage status (free-tier meter)
breathehr_usage_statusReport the caller's current usage: the plan, calls used this month, the limit of the plan (the free monthly cap or the Pro fair use limit), remaining, and whether the limit is reached. Read-only; does not count against the meter. - Request a missing feature
breathehr_request_featureTell usefulapi that the user needs something the Breathe HR tools cannot do yet (a missing tool, field or filter). Call it only when the user asks for something none of the tools can do, and tell the user that you send the request. Do not call it for errors or for normal requests. Do not include personal data, credentials or customer records. Stored with the product name and the client type (for example Claude or Cursor), without the user's account. At most 5 requests per day. Does not count against the meter. - Upgrade to Pro or Pro+
breathehr_upgradeGet a paid plan for Breathe HR (the free tier caps monthly usage). Pro: 10,000 tool calls a month, for normal use — plan "monthly" ($9/month) or "yearly" ($90/year, 2 months free). Pro+: 100,000 tool calls a month, for automations and heavy use — plan "plus" ($39/month) or "plus_yearly" ($390/year). Without a plan it returns both Pro and Pro+, each with a payment link, for the user to choose; with a plan, one link. An existing Pro subscription changes to Pro+ in place: call without confirm first, as the reply states the exact charge for this account (the price difference for the rest of the period, or in a free Pro trial the full Pro+ price, as the trial ends); then call with confirm: true. Cancel any time: the plan then runs to the end of the paid period, so it also suits a one-time job. A link opens Stripe Checkout in the browser; after payment the account upgrades automatically. Does not count against the meter. - Cancel the Pro subscription
breathehr_cancel_subscriptionCancel the caller's Breathe HR Pro subscription at the end of the paid period (no refund for the current period; Pro continues until then, then the free tier applies). Requires confirm: true. Run breathehr_upgrade later to undo the cancel before the period ends. Does not count against the meter.
FAQ
What can I do with Breathe HR in Claude or ChatGPT?
See who is off and for how many days. Check an employee's holiday allowance and days left. Review leave requests and their approval status. Look through employees, departments and expense claims. Request leave and approve or reject leave requests. See what you can do for the details.
Is this an official Breathe HR product?
No. usefulapi is an independent service. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Breathe HR. The server calls the Breathe HR API with your own Breathe HR access, so it sees only the data that your account can see.
Does this server handle personal data?
Yes. This server returns personal data about your employees, including sickness records. Sickness records are health data under GDPR Article 9: you need your own lawful basis to process them with an AI client. Bank details and national insurance numbers are never returned. See Terms, Health data.
Can I connect Breathe HR to Claude or ChatGPT?
Yes. In Claude, add this server's URL as a custom connector. In ChatGPT, add it as a custom MCP server in Plugins. Then log in once. Cursor, VS Code, Claude Code and Codex work too. See the setup steps.
What do I need to connect?
The login page asks for your Breathe HR API key. See Before you connect for where to find it.
Do I put my Breathe HR key or an Authorization header in the client config?
No. Add only the URL. Do not add an Authorization header or an API key to the client config. The server signs you in with OAuth: the login page asks for your Breathe HR API key. If the config has such a header, remove it: some clients then send that header instead of the login token, and every call fails with 401.
How do you keep my Breathe HR credentials?
The login stores them encrypted in the authorization grant of your connection. The server uses them to call the Breathe HR API for you and to derive a private account id for usage metering. usefulapi does not show them on any page or in any reply. To stop all access, remove the connector and change or delete these credentials in Breathe HR.
Can the AI change my Breathe HR data?
Yes, if you approve it. 3 of the 25 Breathe HR tools can create or change data. The other 22 are marked read-only. Most MCP clients ask you to approve a tool call before it runs.
What does it cost?
The Free plan gives 50 tool calls / month. Pro costs $9/mo or $90/yr, with 10,000 tool calls / month. Pro+ costs $39/mo or $390/yr, with 100,000 tool calls / month. Each subscription covers this Breathe HR server only. Cancel any time: your paid plan then runs to the end of the paid period. Run breathehr_usage_status to see how many calls you used.
How do I subscribe or cancel?
Ask the AI to run breathehr_upgrade and choose Pro or Pro+, billed monthly or yearly: it returns a Stripe Checkout link. If you already have Pro, ask to change it to Pro+. After you confirm, your existing subscription changes in place, keeps its billing interval and charges the price difference for the rest of the period immediately. To cancel, run breathehr_cancel_subscription. Your paid plan continues to the end of the paid period.
What if a Breathe HR tool that I need is missing?
Tell the AI what you wanted to do. It can send the request with breathehr_request_feature. We store the text with the server name, the type of AI client and the tool you tried, not with your account, and read every request when we plan new tools. You can send up to 5 requests per day.
Which AI clients can I use?
Any client that supports remote MCP servers (Streamable HTTP) with OAuth login: Claude (web and desktop), Claude Code, ChatGPT, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf and others.
This is a Model Context Protocol endpoint — meant to be connected from an AI client, not opened in a browser. An invalid_token response at the URL is the auth gate working as designed; clients authenticate automatically.
Need a tool this server does not have, or a connection to another system? We build custom integrations and MCP servers.