What are Employee Management Systems?

The term "employee management systems" is used broadly to describe a range of

software systems that cover key aspects of HR admin. They are also known by other
names too. Some vendors refer to their products as employee databases, while others
use acronyms like HRIS (human resources information system), HCM (human capital
management), or HRMS (human resource management system).

Regardless of the name used, they are a type of workforce management tool that acts
as a single source of truth for all your employee data. The key functions they cover
include recruitment & onboarding, time and attendance tracking, performance
management, training & development, payroll, and benefits administration.

Detailed Overviews of the 10 Best Employee Management

Systems
Below you’ll find detailed descriptions of the 10 best employee management systems that
made my shortlist, including their key features and the reasons why I picked them. I’ve also
included a screenshot of each system to give you a taste of their user interface too. Plus, in case
you’d like even more choices to review, I’ve included 10 more bonus options below.

1Connecteam:
Best all-in-one employee management app for mobile teamsConnecteam is an employee
management app that allows HR people, employee managers, and business owners to
communicate, operate, and train deskless employees.

Why I picked Connecteam: The software is divided into three main modules: operations,
communications, and HR & skills. The software is available on mobile, desktop, or as a kiosk
app for tablets, and it’s intended for organizations where employees don’t spend their working
time in the office. Connecteam can adapt to the needs of a variety of industries, including
retail, restaurants, manufacturing, construction, field services, and healthcare.

Connecteam Standout Features and Integrations:

Standout features include Connecteam's dedicated employee communication channel with

targeted updates, team engagement features, surveys, polls, and a suggestion box to collect
employee feedback. Their platform also includes a searchable company directory,
organizational charts, training and onboarding capabilities, a company library, time
management, digital forms and checklists, quick tasks, and more.

Their comprehensive platform is designed for out-of-office use, and it’s easy to use,
customizable, and quick to set up. You can leverage their wealth of features to automate daily
procedures, improve team communication via direct messaging, and help boost employee
engagement.

Integrations include Google Calendar, Gusto, QuickBooks Payroll, and others.

2Deel:
Best for managing global teams of international employees and contractorsDeel is a
global employee management platform that enables hiring in over 150 countries. You
can hire full-time employees from anywhere in the world and manage their payroll,
compliance, and administration from one single platform.

Why I picked Deel: Deel's platform includes management features for both
contractors and employees. For employees, Deel works as the employer of record,
handling payroll and benefits, so you don’t need to open up a foreign entity. Their full-
featured UI also includes features such as contract management, expense
reimbursements, and off-cycle payroll adjustments too.

Deel Standout Features and Integrations:

Compared to other employee management systems, Deel stands out with several new
offerings over the past year, including global payroll, global mobility support,
integrated Slack tools, and advanced integrations. The global mobility service helps
companies with visa sponsorship, allowing them to bring in new employees from
abroad. The Slack plugins can be used to create an accessible organizational chart,
provide self-service PTO management, and even track applicant referrals.

Deel also complies with SOC2 and ISO 27001 security standards, meaning it follows
international guidelines for securing your data.

Integrations are available with major HR and accounting platforms, including Ashby,
BambooHR, Expensify, Greenhouse, Hibob, NetSuite, Okta, OneLogin, QuickBooks,
Xero, Workday, and Workable. The software’s open API can support additional
custom software integrations.

3TalentReef:
Best for recruiting and retaining hourly workersTalentReef is a talent recruitment and
management system that covers candidate sourcing, hiring, and onboarding, as well
as monitoring employee engagement on an ongoing basis.

Why I picked TalentReef: This platform has everything you need to recruit and hire
hourly workers. You can post jobs, parse through resumes, and schedule interviews
through the system. Plus, you can set up automated onboarding workflows to get new
hires up and running quickly.

But the main reason I included this software on my list is for its retention tools for your
existing staff. Once you've hired a highly skilled team, you can keep them engaged
with the goal setting, feedback exchange, and recognition tools. You can also set up
training and learning modules with the platform, and provide an employee self-serve
portal for assessments, evaluations, and more.

TalentReef Standout Features and Integrations:

Some of the standout features in this platform are its performance management
tools. You can conduct check-ins, set and track goals with employees, and conduct
performance evaluations. This includes self-evaluations, so employees have a chance
to highlight their hard work.

Integrations include payroll systems, candidate assessment tools, background check

providers, and learning management systems, though individual platforms are not
specified.

4Lattice:
Best for incorporating performance-related feedback from multiple sourcesLattice’s
people management platform is designed to help HR teams and managers get the most out of
their employees through its primary focus on performance and goal management. It's cloud-
based system is also accessible on mobile devices too.

Why I picked Lattice: Their platform is designed to help organizations develop employees
into high performers with tools to help them set, monitor, and achieve their personal and
professional goals. In addition to their performance management module, Lattice also offers
integrated solutions to manage objectives and key results (OKRs) and goals; employee
engagement tools like surveys, pulses, and eNPS ratings; and employee growth tools that help
staff and their managers develop career growth plans and track skill competencies.

Lattice Standout Features and Integrations:

Standout features in Lattice's employee management software include modern continuous

performance management features such as continuous loops, one-to-one templates, and 360-
degree feedback. This means performance reviews prepared within Lattice incorporate a blend
of feedback sources from managers, colleagues, direct reports, and the employees themselves,
creating a well-rounded profile of how each employee is performing. Lattice also supports
project-based reviews too.

Integrations are available with many commonly used human resource information systems
(HRIS), including ADP, BambooHR, Namely, Personio, Rippling, Workday, and Zenefits, as
well as other popular software platforms such as Gmail, Outlook, Microsoft Teams, Slack, and
others.

5Paycor:
Best for a comprehensive system with flexible payment optionsPaycor is a
comprehensive employee management system that helps businesses manage payroll,
employee hours, HR, and benefits.

Why I picked Paycor: I included Paycor in this list for several reasons. First, its ability
to track employee time and attendance helps employers identify patterns of
absenteeism and tardiness, allowing them to take steps to improve employee
productivity.

Second, I appreciate how the software includes a dashboard to help managers track
the progress of each new hire, as well as a set of tools for creating and managing
employee files. It also includes a built-in e-signature function, which allows new hires
to sign their employment contracts electronically.

Its integrated payroll software offers a range of features, including flexible pay options
like direct deposit, earned wage access, pay cards, and automatic tax filing. Paycor
also provides a mobile app that allows employees to access their payroll information
on the go with features that enable them to view pay stubs, request time off, and
check accruals.

In addition, managers can track employee performance using customizable templates,

goal-setting tools, real-time feedback, and 1-on-1 sessions.

Paycor Standout Features and Integrations:

Standout features for Paycor include their detailed analytics covering employee pay
and benefits. By tracking this data, employers can identify trends and make informed
decisions about compensation strategies. You can also generate reports that show
employee pay by job title, location, or department. Additionally, you can analyze data
on employee benefits usage, such as vacation days and health insurance coverage.
Integrations include HireTech, Emburse Certify, Zillion, Points North, FMLA,
Tapcheck, Instant Pay, Sterling, Wageworks, Ignite, and other digital workforce tools.

Businesses can choose from various pricing plans based on the number of employees
and the level of service required.

6monday.com:
Best for employee time & task trackingmonday.com is marketing mainly as a workflow
tool for scaling organizations, but they’ve also built in several HR features, many of
which can be used well for employee management.

Why I picked monday.com: The platform has features to build collaborative

workflows and schedules, assign tasks and projects to your team, track time, report on
key performance indicators (KPIs), solicit feedback from your staff, and send
automated reminders for important to-dos.

Their platform is also a good choice for organizations with heavy document-
processing needs thanks to their workflow management tools for deadlines and built-in
communication features like commenting, approvals, @-tagging, notifications & alerts,
a built-in inbox, social media-esc 'likes,' and email integration.

monday.com Standout Features and Integrations:

Standout features include customizable reports and dashboards that you can set up
to capture the valuable metrics needed for proper employee management: capacity
limitations, progress tracking, time management, budget totals, and missed deadline
warnings.

Part of managing your employees is making sure they aren't bogged down in admin
and data entry when they could best be using their skills elsewhere. monday.com
offers automations that can handle basic, recurring tasks without live intervention,
freeing up your people for more creative and complex work.

Integrations include project management apps like Slack, Google Workspace, Gmail,
Google Calendar, Jira, GitHub, Trello, Dropbox, Typeform, and many more, accessible
through a paid plan with Zapier.

7Trinet:
Best for performance management and employee learningTrinet offers HR software
and services to help businesses manage various HR functions, including payroll and
employee benefits, employee performance and learning, and workplace analytics. The
software's features cover the entire employee lifecycle, from hiring and onboarding
through to offboarding.

Why I picked Trinet: Their performance management module has cascading goals,
performance evaluation templates, and real-time employee feedback. Managers and
their team members can track goal progress and connect employee milestones to their
performance reviews. Plus, Trinet also gives you access to over 500 courses to help
employees learn on the job and train for their roles.

Employee time tracking and scheduling can also be managed through the software.
As you manage employee time, you can also manage employee pay and benefits.
Payroll and tax filings can be conducted in several countries, making this a good
option for global businesses.

Trinet Standout Features and Integrations:

Standout features for Trinet, in addition to those mentioned above, include their
workforce analytics capabilities. You can customize their dashboard to track key
metrics like your headcount, turnover rates, employee tenure, new hires, and
terminations.

Integrations are available with BambooHR, Bob, Carta, ChartHop, Compt,

Greenhouse, Lattice, Oracle NetSuite, Sage Intacct, QuickBooks, Xero, and many
others.

8Insperity:
Best for growing businesses wanting additional PEO supportInsperity is an all-in-one
employee management system designed to help businesses streamline their key HR
processes, from onboarding and payroll to benefits and retirement planning.

Why I picked Insperity: I included Insperity in this list because of its comprehensive
set of features for employee management. Their software combines a wide range of
HR functions, including payroll, time and attendance tracking, performance
management, and employee benefits administration.

These features are supplemented by their additional PEO (professional employer

organization) services, which are run by their in-house experts in payroll, performance,
safety, and other HR-related compliance issues. This combination of software plus
additional expertise makes them an ideal solution for small to midsize businesses that
have limited in-house resources and want to access expert HR support.
Insperity Standout Features and Integrations:

One of Insperity's standout features is its Workforce Synchronization tool, which

allows users to easily manage employee information across multiple systems,
ensuring that all employee data is consistent and up-to-date. Also worth mentioning is
Insperity's Employee Service Center, which provides employees with a central location
to access all of their HR-related information, such as pay stubs, time off requests, and
benefits information.

Additionally, Insperity's platform is user-friendly, making it easy for HR professionals to

navigate and manage employee information.

Integrations are available with several other HR software systems including ADP,
Oracle, Sage, and QuickBooks. It also offers an API that allows users to build custom
integrations with other applications to facilitate seamless data transfer between
systems, eliminating the need for manual data entry and saving HR professionals
valuable time.

9Justworks:
Best for benefits administration and a blend of software & HR servicesJustworks is a
comprehensive HR solution that provides payroll, benefits, compliance support, and
HR consulting services.

Why I picked Justworks: Employee management is easy with this platform thanks to
its mix of tech solutions and HR services. Justworks provides access to a team of
certified HR professionals who can help businesses navigate complex employment
laws and regulations, manage employee performance, and provide guidance on best
HR practices.

In addition, its payroll services will provide you with automated payroll management,
including tax filing and compliance. And speaking of compliance, you can use
Justworks to send out sexual harassment prevention training, keep an eye on
timesheet errors, and keep up with the ever-changing employment regulations and tax
season payments.

Justworks Standout Features and Integrations:

The biggest standout feature for Justworks is the wide range of benefit options you
can access through their platform, including health insurance (medical and dental
coverage), vision insurance, life insurance, 401(k) plans, and commuter benefits. Their
software simplifies the benefits administration process, allowing you to choose the
best options for your employees.
Integrations are available with popular accounting software including Bookkeeper360,
QuickBooks, Xero, and others.

10Leapsome:
Best for people enablement & learningLeapsome’s all-in-one platform helps companies
strengthen their employee satisfaction through a comprehensive suite of tools focused
on employee engagement, performance and learning & development.

Why I picked Leapsome: To help with employee upskilling, their learning and
development module can create learning paths using customized curriculum, or
curated third-party content from their built-in learning library. Knowledge acquisition
can also be measured using short quizzes with a variety of question formats. Their
learning path dashboard also makes it easy to keep track of internal enrollment
numbers, progress status, and completion rates for individuals or at the company-wide
level.

Leapsome Standout Features and Integrations:

One of Leapsome's standout features is the depth of its integrated performance

review system. This module includes modern elements like 360-degree feedback,
agile project reviews, and anonymous leadership reviews, to give employees a voice
during the feedback process. Goal setting is also well-integrated into the system so
employees always know what’s expected of them, and how their goals are contributing
to the bigger picture.

Integrates are available with 15+ common HR software applications including

Personio, BambooHR, Bob, Workday, Rippling, PayFit, ADP, Active Directory, SFTP,
Okta, OneLogin, GSuite, Slack, Jira Software, Microsoft Teams, and common
calendar apps.

Other Employee Management Systems

Here are a few more options that didn’t make the best employee management software list. If
you need additional suggestions for helpful HR systems, check these out:
 Eddy: Best all-in-one HR software for small, local businesses
VERIATO: Best employee management system for tracking employee productivity
15Five:Best for linking employee performance with OKR management and employee
engagement

Gusto: Best payroll service for international contractor-based teams

Zenefits: Best for paperless employee onboarding
Bullhorn: Best for employee staffing & recruitment
Workday: Best for business & professional services companies
SAP SuccessFactors: Best EMS for enterprises
SYNCHR: Best employee management system for employee self-service
Rippling: Best all-in-one platform for managing HR, payroll, and IT needs
efficiently

Key Features
In addition to the core functionalities above, here are some additional features I also
paid close attention to when evaluating the best employee management systems for
this list. To determine their strength, I asked myself the following questions:

 Engagement and Productivity - Are there features designed to encourage employee

engagement or monitor employee satisfaction and sentiment? Are there any productivity tools
that can be put to use to increase profitability?
 Surveys & Feedback - Are employees encouraged or enabled to provide some sort of
feedback? Are work culture signifiers like mood, conflict, and satisfaction recorded somehow?
 Real-Time Reporting and Analysis - Are the reporting features useful and intuitive? Is there
a variety of export and visualization options? Can you easily pull information for top
performers?