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Employee management software is a handy way to keep staff on track. Designed mainly for managers and HR teams, they are a useful means to ensure that everyone is performing their role to the best of their ability, unhindered by any dissatisfaction with aspects of their work environment.
The precise definition of employee management software can be fairly broad, depending on who you ask, encompassing a huge range of HR functions. For the purposes of this article, we’ve streamlined the concept to include the most important features.
1. What Is Employee Management Software?
Employee management software is a group of tools that manages staff performance, engagement, and information. These tools may include task tracking, performance appraisals, and pulse surveys. Data gathered from these processes can then be transformed using real-time reporting into helpful visualizations and charts.
2. What Is the Purpose of Employee Management Software?
The principal purpose of employee management software is to improve productivity. This is done through methods such as monitoring staff engagement and analyzing trends regarding performance. As an added function, an EMS may also include data storage that captures information about staff skills, salary, and more, in order to make targeted reporting easier.
3. 12 Best Employee Management Software 2023
| Monday.com | Best employee management software for task tracking |
| Leapsome | Best employee management software for usability |
| Deel | Best employee management software for global teams |
| Rippling | Best employee management software for range of integrations |
| Bonusly | Best employee management software for recognition and rewards |
| Zenefits | Best employee management software for filtering staff data |
| ManageEngine | Best employee management software for monitoring staff productivity |
| Workday | Best employee management software for gauging engagement |
| ClickUp | Best employee management software for free unlimited users |
| BambooHR | Best employee management software for performance management |
| Paycor | Best employee management software for pulse survey analysis |
| Eddy | Best employee management software for a digitized filing cabinet |
4. Selection Criteria for Best Employee Management Software
- UI
The user interface is how staff interact with the employee management software. A user-friendly, intuitive UI translates into easy navigation and optimized workflows.
- Scalability
As a company grows, the software it uses needs to grow with it. Employee management software that has scalability will be able to cope with larger staff sizes without diminished efficacy.
- Data storage and retrieval
Employee management software should be able to store large amounts of data in a manner that makes it readily retrievable by the people who require access.
- Usability
Usability refers to how easy it is to use employee management software. Ideally, users should need minimal support to understand a program and its functions.
- Value for money
The employee management software you acquire should produce a good return on investment (ROI), saving you more money than it costs.
- Integrations with other tools
Purchasing employee management software that integrates with your existing one will lead to a more streamlined digital architecture and, therefore, greater efficiency.
- Security
What safety measures does the employee management software have in place? It’s important that your company and staff data is securely stored, both for peace of mind and compliance reasons.
5. Key Features
- Engagement and productivity
Engagement and productivity are two sides of the same coin, as they often affect one another. Employee management software should be able to help you monitor both to see which members of staff may need motivation or upskilling.
- Surveys and feedback
Employee management software will often allow you to construct and send out surveys and feedback forms to gauge employee sentiment. This can enable you to make improvements to your company processes.
- Real-time reports
Having data is one thing, but transforming data into useful reports is another. Good employee management software will help you segment information according to your needs as well as offer data visualization options.
- Advance filters
The ability to search according to skills and roles makes it easier to pull up data related to specific areas you want to track.
- Employee details
The best employee management software database stores basic employee details regarding their skills, employment history, salary, benefits, and contact information.
- Payroll management
Beyond just storing staff details, employee management software can also facilitate the management of pay slips, overtime, bonuses, and health insurance claims.
6. Overview of Employee Management Software for 2023
6.1 Monday.com – Best employee management software for task tracking
Monday.com was originally designed to drive project management, but its easy-to-use system of boards, tables, and forms can also be deployed to oversee productivity.
What makes it unique?
The most obvious way this can be done is through tracking the number of tasks completed by employees, in addition to the amount of time spent per task. The system also allows you to send out simple surveys to gauge employee satisfaction and visualize the results in a series of color-coded charts. All employee details can be stored in one place for ease of retrieval. Integrations include Excel, Slack, and Google Calendar, among others.
Key features -
- Customizable task management
- Time tracking
- Communication tools
- Integration with other tools
- Resource management
- Reporting and analytics
Pros -
- It has a modern and intuitive interface that is easy to navigate
- It can be used for a wide range of tasks and projects
- It provides detailed analytics and reporting features
Cons -
- It is more expensive for smaller businesses or teams with tight budgets.
- It requires a learning curve to become proficient
Pricing -
Pricing starts from $8 per person per month for unlimited boards and 5GB of storage, though there is a free option for up to two seats with limited boards and less storage.
6.2 Leapsome – Best employee management software for usability
Describing itself as a people enablement platform, Leapsome has most of the tools a company needs to get its employee management software project started.
What makes it unique?
The solution enables managers to set goals with their staff, which can then be synced with built-in development frameworks, 1-on-1 reviews, and progress timelines. Build your own pulse surveys to better understand employee sentiment, which can then be analyzed individually or in aggregate using the data dashboard and visualization tools. Leapsome features single sign-on (SSO) and encryption as part of security measures that ensure it is fully GDPR compliant. It integrates with common apps like Slack and MS Teams.
Key features -
- Continuous performance management
- Employee engagement surveys
- Learning and development
- People analytics
Pros -
- It is easy to use and navigate, even for non-technical users
- It allows for custom performance management workflows and feedback templates to fit your specific needs
- It offers great customer support and resources
Cons -
- Leapsome currently has limited integrations with other software
- The mobile app has limited functionality compared to the web version
Pricing -
Pricing starts from $8 per user per month and is based on company size and the number of modules you desire.
6.3 Deel – Best employee management software for global teams
Deel specializes in global hiring and payroll, but it also has a robust system for managing employee data.
Information on compensation, job title, payment details, and more can be easily searched and filtered using the dashboard. As part of ensuring the security of this information, the app is hosted on the AWS cloud and undergoes annual third-party audits to check its infrastructure is watertight.
What makes it unique?
Integration with Slack means you can create pulse surveys. The responses can then be linked to your human resources information system (HRIS) for further analysis. Deel allows you to manage documents, benefits, time off, expenses, and pay slips for free, but you’ll have to upgrade if you want to utilize its hiring and recruitment functionality.
Key features -
- Global compliant contracts
- Digital signature and document management
- Automated payment and invoicing
- Integrated payroll and benefits management
- Time tracking and invoicing
- Team and project management
- Contractor compliance and management
Pros -
- Compliance with labor laws and regulations
- Good customer support
Cons -
- Limited integrations with other tools
- May not have all the features needed for larger businesses
Pricing -
Pricing is available upon request.
6.4 Rippling – Best employee management software for range of integrations
Rippling is an all-in-one HR and employee management software that offers a range of features for managing HR tasks and integrating them with other software. It combines payroll and IT provisioning with applicant tracking and training.
What makes it unique?
There’s a sturdy survey function that comes with lots of prebuilt templates – or you can custom create your own questionnaires with automated trigger actions. Beyond that, it offers integrations with performance management specialists like 15Five and Lattice. Multifactor authentication and SSO make it safe for staff to access company apps anywhere in the world.
Key features -
- A full-service payroll management system
- Employee benefits management and administration
- Allows for time tracking, scheduling, and overtime management
- Automated onboarding workflows
Pros -
- It offers a comprehensive suite of HR and employee management features
- It allows for custom workflows and automations
- It offers great customer support
Cons -
- It is more expensive than some other HR and employee management software
- It requires a learning curve to become proficient in using all its features and customization options
Pricing -
Prices start from $8 per month per user.
6.5 Bonusly – Best employee management software for recognition and rewards
Increasing engagement and productivity through impactful recognition, Bonusly is one of the best employee management software when it comes to workplace gamification.
What makes it unique?
The interface encourages company members to award each other points for realizing company goals or objectives. This recognition not only translates into increased employee satisfaction – who doesn’t like being praised for hard work? – but also tangible rewards. Points can be redeemed against Bonusly’s catalog of gift vouchers, or you can create your own custom prizes.
Points can also be translated into data about which departments and staff are performing well according to the recognition metrics. The whole platform is designed to work just as well on mobile devices as it does on desktops.
Key features -
- It allows team members to give recognition to each other in real-time for their work and achievements
- It allows companies to set up rewards programs
- Integrates with a range of other software and tools
- Provides detailed reporting and analytics on recognition and rewards usage
Pros -
- Bonusly has a user-friendly and intuitive interface that is easy to use and navigate
- It allows for custom rewards programs and integrations to fit your specific needs
Cons -
- It may not have as many features as some other employee management software
- Bonusly's pricing can add up quickly if you have a large team
Pricing -
Pricing starts from $2.70 per user per month.
6.6 Zenefits – Best employee management software for filtering staff data
Zenefits bases its offering around three pillars: core HR, payroll (including reporting and tax filing), and benefits administration.
What makes it unique?
As part of its core HR module, companies can create and track goals, customize and initiate performance reviews, and facilitate 1-on-1 catchup sessions. Stay on top of employee engagement with the surveys function, which comes with readymade templates as well as a wizard to help you build your own from scratch.
Employee details are synced up across the different Zenefits modules, making them easily searchable. At the same time, the self-service interface means staff can keep their records up to date so there aren’t any avoidable errors.
Key features -
- HR management
- Benefits administration
- Time and Attendance
- Payroll & performance management
- Range of integrations
Pros -
- Zenefits offers a comprehensive suite of HR and employee management features
- It has a user-friendly and intuitive interface
Cons -
- It is more expensive than some other HR and employee management software
- It not be as robust as some other tools
Pricing -
Prices start from $8 per month per user, including basic employee data management. For performance management, you’ll have to upgrade to the $16 per month per user tier, while engagement surveys are only available as part of the most premium subscription, which costs £21 per month per user.
6.7 ManageEngine – Best employee management software for monitoring staff productivity
ManageEngine is an IT management software suite that offers a range of features for managing various aspects of IT operations. A subsidiary of the Zoho Corporation, ManageEngine is specifically focused on IT management.
What makes it unique?
As part of its ADAudit system, companies can observe user activity in real-time to see how staff spend their working hours. This data can also be translated into graphs that help you visualize individual productivity. Admittedly, ManageEngine is far from the most comprehensive option if you’re looking for an EMS, but it can be useful as a way to accurately track time and hold staff accountable for lapses in activity.
Key features -
- IT service management (ITSM)
- Network and server management
- Active Directory management
- Security management
- Analytics and Reporting
Pros -
- It offers a comprehensive suite of IT management tools
- It has a user-friendly and intuitive interface
Cons -
- The mobile app has limited functionality compared to the web version
Pricing -
Pricing is available upon request.
6.8 Workday – Best employee management software for gauging engagement
Workday is a cloud-based human capital management software that provides a range of features for managing HR tasks and processes. Workday’s cloud-based suite of software includes several useful features for employee management.
What makes it unique?
In particular, Peakon Employee Voice is a fantastic solution for continuously tracking employee engagement. The platform is able to send out automated surveys to gauge staff sentiment on a range of issues, which are then used to populate a personalized engagement dashboard. Using machine learning, Peakon Employee Voice can then suggest actionable insights to improve a particular person’s satisfaction and motivation. This can be complemented by the wider human capital management (HCM) module, which features detailed people analytics and compensation management that helps managers make decisions about salaries, bonuses, and benefits.
Key features -
- HR management
- Benefits administration
- Payroll management
- Talent management
- Time and Attendance
- Analytics and Reporting
Pros -
- A comprehensive suite of tools
- User-friendly interface
- Customizable
- Great customer support
- Strong reporting and analytics capabilities
Cons -
- May not be suitable for smaller businesses or teams with tight budgets
- A steep learning curve for fully understanding and utilizing all features
- Limited integrations with third-party software
Pricing -
Pricing is available upon request.
6.9 ClickUp – Best employee management software for free unlimited users
Cloud-based project management tool ClickUp is similar to Monday.com in that its contribution to employee management is primarily related to task tracking.
What makes it unique?
Through the sleek UI, you can monitor the workload of each member of staff working on a project, assessing productivity using the built-in time tracker. As with Monday.com, ClickUp also has a simple survey tool that can be used to garner feedback. Plus, you can analyze performance through customizable dashboards.
Key features -
- Task management
- Project management
- Collaboration
- Time tracking
- Reporting and analytics
Pros -
- Integration with other software tools, including Slack, Trello, and Google Drive
- It offers a range of pricing plans, including a free plan and affordable paid plans
- It offers excellent customer support, including video tutorials and a customer support team.
Cons -
- While ClickUp offers time-tracking features, they may not be as comprehensive as other time-tracking software tools
Pricing -
What makes ClickUp stand out is that it is completely free for an unlimited number of users over an unlimited amount of time. The principal limitation is that the free plan only provides 100MB of storage. If you want unlimited storage, it’s $5 per user per month.
6.10 BambooHR – Best employee management software for performance management
BambooHR is a cloud-based human resource management software designed for small and medium-sized businesses.
What makes it unique?
The performance management module is based on the precept that staff want frequent (if not continuous) feedback, rather than annual reviews. The system encourages brief but ongoing appraisals to improve engagement, with goal tracking and data visualization to aid transparent progress monitoring.
BambooHR also boasts a user-friendly central HR database, as well as an employee satisfaction survey based on the net promoter score (NPS) concept.
Key features -
- HR management
- Benefits administration
- Time and attendance
- Performance management
- Applicant tracking system
- Reporting and analytics
Pros -
- It has a user-friendly and intuitive interface that is easy to navigate
- The software follows industry-standard data security practices to ensure the safety
Cons -
- Lack of advanced features or functionalities as some of the larger HR management software tools
- It has limited integrations with other software tools
Pricing -
Pricing is available upon request.
6.11 Paycor – Best employee management software for pulse survey analysis
Paycor’s HCM has a full suite of HR programs, including payroll, talent management, workforce management, and benefits administration.
What makes it unique?
Drive engagement and empower staff with a robust pulse survey platform, which includes both readymade templates and bespoke form creation. The results can then be easily outputted into detailed reports and visualizations built around custom filters.
Through Paycor’s core HR, you can also access and update employee details with ease, including compensation, contact information, and more. Additionally, the software’s employee management software website features numerous whitepapers and webinars to facilitate complex implementation in the shortest time possible.
Key features -
- Employee onboarding, offboarding, and compliance
- Open enrollment and renewals
- Time tracking, scheduling, and overtime management
- Tax filings, compliance, and direct deposits
- Performance reviews and feedback
Pros -
- It offers a range of pricing plans
- It provides excellent customer support
- It has a user-friendly interface
Cons -
- Limited features for larger businesses
- Limited integrations and customization
Pricing -
Prices are available upon request.
6.12 Eddy – Best employee management software for a digitized filing cabinet
Recruitment and payroll are the primary functions of Eddy, an employment management system that also incorporates onboarding, time tracking, and PTO plans.
What makes it unique?
One of the software’s strongest features is its digital filing cabinet, which features self-service portals that are designed to work flawlessly on mobile devices. Profiles for each new hire can be automatically populated with personal and contact information, compensation details, job title, and responsibilities, and all the associated paperwork needed for contractual and compliance reasons. You can also track training and recommend courses through Eddy’s LMS partner, Mineral.
Key features -
- Streamlined employee onboarding
- Automated document management
- E-signature and document templates
- Compliance and HR policy management
- Customizable workflows and automation
- Time off and vacation tracking
- Employee directory and profiles
- Reporting and analytics
Pros -
- Simple user interface
- Affordable pricing
- Good customer support
Cons -
- Limited integrations
- Fewer features compared to larger HR software
- No performance management or learning management features
Pricing -
Pricing is available upon request.
7. FAQs
- What should be included in an employee management software?
An employee management software design should include a way to monitor productivity, engagement, and satisfaction. These three areas are key to ensuring your staff is working at optimum efficiency.
- What is advanced employee management software?
An advanced employee management software will incorporate a full suite of functions designed to power up performance, while at the same time storing complete staff records in a secure database that can be easily accessed by HR teams.
- Which model is used in the employee management software?
The model used by employee management software varies for different use cases. Some focus more on tracking workload and project completion, while others give greater weight to staff engagement surveys.
