10 Employee Management Software for Busy HRs

Managing people is at the heart of every successful business, whether running a small startup or leading a large team. That’s why more HR teams are turning to employee management software to make life easier. It helps streamline everything—onboarding, payroll, performance reviews—but with so many choices, finding the best employee management systems can feel like a lot to tackle.

The right software not only handles the basics but will also help you to create a better employee experience, making sure your team feels supported from day one. You’ll be able to check off tasks, keep your employees happy, pay them on time, and ensure they settle in smoothly.

If you’re ready to cut down on paperwork, save time, and focus more on your people, here are 10 employee management tools that can help you do just that.

What is Employee Management?

Definition and Purpose

Employee management refers to the systematic and strategic approach organizations use to oversee their workforce effectively. It encompasses a range of activities, including recruitment, onboarding, training, performance management, employee engagement, benefits administration, and employee development. The primary purpose of employee management is to optimize employee performance, productivity, and job satisfaction, ultimately driving business success.

Effective employee management involves creating a positive work environment, fostering open communication, and providing opportunities for growth and development. It also requires managers to be aware of their employees’ strengths, weaknesses, and career aspirations, and to provide feedback and coaching to help them improve.

In today’s fast-paced and competitive business landscape, employee management has become a critical component of organizational success. By investing in employee management, organizations can improve employee retention, reduce turnover, and increase productivity, ultimately driving business growth and profitability.

Top 10 Employee Management Software: A Quick Snapshot

Employee management software	Ideal for	Top features	Pricing
1. Nifty	HR teams who want to manage the hiring experience, set employee-first goals, and ensure employees stay aligned as well as engaged with the organization’s goals	Time tracking, team collaboration, task tracking, milestones, and workflow automation	Free: $0Personal: $7/user/month, billed yearlyPro: $10/user/month, billed yearlyBusiness: $16/user/month, billed yearlyEnterprise: Contact sales
2. ClickUp	Automating key HR processes, from start to end	Reminders, checklists, ready-to-use HR templates	Free forever: $0Unlimited: $7//user/month, billed yearlyBusiness: $12//user/month, billed yearlyEnterprise: Contact sales
3. Connecteam	Driving communication on the go	Mobile-friendly, employee scheduling, approval workflows	HR & Skills Expert: $119/mo (For the first 30 users)HR & Skills Advanced: $59/mo (For the first 30 users)HR & Skills Basic: $35/mo (For the first 30 users)The Small Business Plan: $0 (For up to 10 users)
4. GoCo	Employee self-service	Onboarding, time and attendance, payroll, HR compliance	Custom pricing, contact the team
5. BambooHR	Performance management, payroll, and employee onboarding	Employee data and insights, payroll, tracking hours	Custom pricing, contact the team
6. Rippling	Monitoring IT, payroll, and HR processes	Integrations, analytics, personalized workflows	Custom pricing, contact the team
7. Lattice	Streamlining people management workflow	Employee engagement, feedback, performance reviews	Custom pricing, contact the team
8. Justworks	Remote employee management features	Time tracking, benefits administration, and benefits support	Payroll: $8/month/ person+ $50/month base feePEO Basic: $59/month/ personPEO Plus: $109/month/person
9. Deel HR	Driving scalable HR processes such as onboarding, payments, etc.	Payroll data, payment automation, localizing payroll taxes	Deel HR: $0Deel Engage: Starting at $20/employee/month
10. Kissflow HR Cloud	Creating custom employee workflows	All-in-one dashboard, customized workflows, integration	Basic: Starts at $1,500/month (Includes 50 users)Enterprise: Custom pricing

10 Best Employee Management Software HR Teams Need

1. Nifty

Nifty is a dynamic employee management software that helps HR teams streamline everyday tasks such as task management, scheduling, and collaboration. It brings everything together so you can focus on what matters most—supporting your employees.

Nifty Orbit AI, an AI-powered feature, deserves a special mention. Need to generate contracts or agreements for new employees? Nifty AI can handle this by developing custom documents based on your unique needs, so you don’t have to start from scratch!

Want to automate key HR workflows and streamline tasks that usually take hours? Here too, the feature can help.

For example, if you’re managing onboarding for new hires, you can simply prompt Nifty AI to create the workflow. Nifty also functions as a project management software, allowing you to create customized workflows for different HR processes. It will automatically generate tasks, assign responsibilities, and create goals for each step, from sending welcome emails to completing paperwork.

Another helpful feature is the ability to create tasks directly from conversations. Imagine you’re discussing a new HR policy in a team chat. Nifty AI can automatically create tasks with detailed descriptions, assign team members, and set deadlines—all without you needing to leave the conversation.

Key features:

• Centralized task management: Nifty lets you assign tasks and track their status in real-time. For example, if your team organizes an onboarding process for new hires, you can create a checklist of tasks such as document submission and training schedules. This ensures everyone knows their responsibilities, and you can adjust tasks as needed without confusion.
• Time tracking and reporting: Nifty makes tracking employee hours effortless. With just one click, you can log time accurately. Imagine you’re preparing payroll for the month. Nifty allows you to easily check how many hours each employee dedicated to their tasks. The reporting feature also helps you see trends over time and will enable you to identify where your team might need more support or training.
• Project planning and execution: Nifty makes project planning simple. You can create customized workflows for different HR processes. Suppose you’re organizing a company-wide training program. You can break down the process into manageable tasks, such as booking the venue, arranging materials, and sending out invites. Nifty helps ensure each task is completed on time.
• Seamless collaboration and communication: Nifty’s powerful built-in chat and email-sharing features keep your work organized. Whether it’s a quick check-in on a policy update or sharing feedback on a new initiative, you can keep all discussions within the platform. For example, while updating your employee handbook, team members can comment directly on the document. This way, everyone’s input is easily accessible, and employees can track changes and finalize details collaboratively.
• Resource allocation and scheduling: You can use Nifty to balance workloads like a pro. If your HR team juggles projects (think performance reviews and recruitment), you can see who is available and assign tasks accordingly. This ensures your team stays productive without burning out.

Pros:

• Versatile employee management tool that adapts to different working styles
• Project management with detailed task breakdowns
• Neurodiverse-friendly, offering kanban, swimlane, list, and calendar views
• Ability to manage projects and tasks with multiple variables
• Efficient task management with easy tracking of deadlines
• Seamless integrations with popular tools
• Continuous updates with new features and improvements

Limitations:

• While the platform is user-friendly, some employees may need time to adjust to its extensive new feature set

Ratings:

• G2: 4.7/5
• Capterra: 4.6/5

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2. ClickUp

ClickUp simplifies employee management for HR teams by keeping everything organized —and accessible. You can manage all your HR tasks and data in one place without wasting time searching for information.

Built-in project management tools help you stay on top of HR initiatives, while templates for documents and spreadsheets save you time and effort. You can easily communicate with your team, whether they’re in the office or remote, by using ClickUp’s video conferencing. The Whiteboards feature also helps turn ideas into actionable tasks.

For small businesses, ClickUp’s free plan provides the basic tools you need, and as your team grows, you can easily upgrade to unlock more features.

Key features:

• Dedicated space for tracking candidates and setting reminders for follow-ups
• Ready to use checklists for new hires to help develop structured onboarding plans
• Document templates for common HR needs
• Ability to build employee training programs with ClickUp Brain
• Customizable views such as Kanban boards or Gantt charts 
• Centralized dashboard offers an overview of HR metrics and team performance

Pros:

• Import data from other tools such as Asana, Trello, or Monday.com
• Customizable views (List, Kanban, Gantt) let you manage tasks in the way that suits you best
• Dashboards give you a quick overview of key HR metrics with the ability to dig into details
• Seamless integration with tools such as Outlook, Slack, Google Drive, and Salesforce
• Collaboration tools keep HR, payroll, and other departments aligned
• Easy-to-understand system that helps you get up and running quickly

Limitations:

• The mobile app still lacks some of the usability and accessibility of the desktop version

Ratings:

• G2: 4.7/5
• Capterra: 4.6/5

3. Connecteam

Connecteam is, at its core, one of the leading employee management apps that is divided into three core areas: operations, communications, and HR & skills. It is useful for HR managers, employee managers, and business owners.

The software allows users to handle communication, operations, and training for deskless employees. Whether your employees work in retail, construction, healthcare, or any other field where they’re not in the office, Connecteam offers tools to streamline day-to-day tasks and is accessible on mobile and desktop.

Key features:

• A dedicated communication channel to send targeted updates and engage with your team
• Tools for employee engagement, such as surveys, polls, and a suggestion box for feedback
• Searchable company directory and organizational charts for quick reference
• Onboarding and training modules to support new hires
• Time management tools, digital forms, checklists, and task management features
• Customizable and easy-to-use platform for automating daily workflows

Pros:

• End-of-shift reports that save time for your team
• Intuitive mobile app that makes management on the go simple

Limitations:

• Customization may take longer than expected
• The Basic and Advanced plans have limitations with sub-tasks

Ratings:

• G2: 4.7/5
• Capterra: 4.8/5

4. GoCo

GoCo’s self-service tools empower employees to manage their benefits, request time off, and access documents directly—reducing the need for HR involvement. This includes managing employee benefits such as health insurance and retirement contributions. This approach increases employee satisfaction and frees up HR teams to focus on strategic initiatives.

GoCo also offers features like employee tracking, performance management, and automated payroll. These tools ensure accuracy and save time when managing employee data.

Key features:

• Digital onboarding for new hires, allowing them to complete paperwork and training online
• Compliance tracking with automatic updates on labor laws and regulations
• Benefits administration and payroll automation to streamline processes
• Tools to manage employee performance and track workforce data

Pros:

• Integrates with Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zapier, QuickBooks Online, Greenhouse, etc.
• Streamlined employee onboarding process
• Centralized system for managing employee data

Limitations:

• Customization options are somewhat limited, which might not meet the needs of highly complex HR processes
• Reporting features could be more robust for deeper insights into employee performance and HR metrics

Ratings:

• G2: 4.6/5
• Capterra: 4.6/5

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5. BambooHR

BambooHR simplifies the way you manage key HR tasks by keeping everything in one place. Whether you’re handling new hires, organizing payroll, or keeping track of performance, BambooHR covers it.

The software makes it easy to keep up-to-date employee records, run engagement surveys, and track how your team is performing. Plus, you’ll have access to data that lets you see connections between engagement levels, performance, and employee turnover. 

Key features:

• Single platform for hiring, onboarding, payroll, and employee data management
• Tools for running performance reviews and employee engagement surveys
• Communication hub for sharing announcements and project-related discussions
• Digital confirmations from employees on important updates and policies
• Integrates with apps like Slack, TalentLMS, and Payscale for seamless operations

Pros:

• Mobile app provides access to HR tasks from anywhere
• Self-service features let employees handle updates and requests on their own
• Helps track performance and engagement for better team management

Limitations:

• Advanced features may come with extra costs
• Pricing details aren’t always clearly provided upfront

Ratings:

• G2: 4.4/5
• Capterra: 4.6/5

6. Rippling

Rippling automates routine HR-specific tasks such as onboarding, payroll processing, and offboarding so that your focus remains on higher-value work. Its automated onboarding process ensures new employees have all their accounts, such as email and software logins, set up in one place. Naturally, this means they’re ready to work right from day one. 

Key features:

• Payroll management that handles bonuses, deductions, and pay adjustments for each employee
• Real-time performance analytics to track employee performance across teams
• Custom roles and permissions to grant access to the right tools without complexity
• Offboarding tools to manage compliance and secure documentation
• Integration with tools like Slack, DocuSign, QuickBooks, and Microsoft 365

Pros:

• Features a clean, intuitive interface that everyone can navigate with ease
• Payroll templates automatically adjust to changes in roles and benefits
• The online learning center provides quick support when you need it

Limitations:

• Customization options for the interface and app layout are limited
• Some users have experienced challenges reaching customer support

Ratings:

• G2: 4.8/5
• Capterra: 4.9/5

7. Lattice

Lattice simplifies workforce management and lets you focus on talent management as well as employee engagement. It offers tools for ongoing employee feedback, reviews, and one-on-one meetings. It also provides valuable insights through analytics so you can make informed decisions that strengthen your team and support business growth. This software is particularly beneficial for teams that work remotely.

Key features:

• Performance management with tools for ongoing feedback, reviews, and one-on-one meetings
• Employee engagement tools, including surveys to track and respond to employee satisfaction
• People analytics for tracking HR metrics, spotting trends, and generating reports
• Goal setting and tracking with Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) to ensure company-wide alignment
• Compensation review feature that links performance to pay

Pros:

• Offers a range of tools for performance management and employee engagement
• Customizable for different review types and goal-setting
• User-friendly and easy to navigate
• Provides valuable insights through its analytics tool
• Excellent customer support

Limitations:

• Goal-setting platform can be less intuitive
• Mobile apps can be buggy with missing features
• Integration with other systems can be time-consuming
• Separating goals and Key Results (KRs) can cause confusion

Ratings:

• G2: 4.7/5
• Capterra: 4.5/5

8. Justworks

Justworks is a robust employee management platform that is wired for small and mid-sized businesses in sectors such as professional services, finance, tech, and nonprofits. It simplifies the complexities of HR by automating payroll, compliance, and employee management tasks.

The system also keeps employees informed about their work hours and payment schedules. Moreover, direct access to support means employees can easily get answers to questions about their healthcare, deductions, and taxes.

Key features:

• Online onboarding for employees and contractors
• Management of employee information
• Setup and oversight of paid time off (PTO)
• Secure storage of important employee documents, employee handbook, and company policies
• Company calendar synchronization with personal calendar
• Access permissions management

Pros:

• Streamlined onboarding and benefits enrollment for new hires
• Direct access to support for employees regarding benefits and payroll questions

Limitations:

• While aimed at smaller businesses, some may find Justworks to be on the pricier side

Ratings:

• G2: 4.6/5
• Capterra: 4.6/5

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9. Deel HR

Deel HR makes it easy for companies to hire, onboard, and pay employees around the world. With this platform, managing payroll and staying compliant with local laws is easier than you think. Whether you need to handle contractor invoices or track time off, Deel simplifies everything.

Deel stands out for its ability to simplify HR tasks without sacrificing ease of use. You get handy templates for employment contracts that cut down on paperwork and save you time. It takes care of collecting important details like bank information and permits automatically, so new hires can enjoy a smooth and hassle-free onboarding experience.

Key features:

• Pre-built templates for employment contracts and automatic collection of information, including bank details and permits
• Automatic contractor invoice generation and bulk payment capabilities, payroll reports available for HRIS employees paid outside of Deel
• Global compliance and payroll management in over 90 countries, including background checks and immigration support
• Time Off feature for efficient attendance tracking and absence management

Pros:

• International payroll features for managing global payments and compliance in multiple currencies
• EOR services allow hiring of international talent without the need for a local entity
• GDPR compliance ensures strong data protection

Limitations:

• Can be costly, particularly with per-worker pricing
• Steeper learning curve for users familiar with traditional payroll systems

Ratings:

• G2: 4.8/5
• Capterra: 4.8/5

10. Kissflow HR Cloud

Kissflow empowers HR teams to design custom workflows, dashboards, checklists, and forms with ease, no tech expertise needed. Built-in analytics and reporting help you monitor performance, ensuring that processes are effective. Collaboration features keep your team connected and engaged, streamlining teamwork across the board.

Key features:

• The visual Kanban board allows HR teams to drag and drop tasks between columns like “To Do,” “In Progress,” and “Completed”
• Document sharing, smart alerts, and social collaboration tools 
• Real-time analytics provide insights into employee performance metrics, such as task completion rates and average response times
• Users can upload, share, and collaborate on HR documents directly within the platform such as employee handbooks, policy manuals, and training materials
• Security is a priority for Kissflow, featuring strong privacy protections such as encryption and multi-factor authentication

Pros:

• Simplifies the creation of custom employee management systems without extensive coding
• Offers robust analytics to track and improve process efficiency
• Integrates well with widely-used applications

Limitations:

• Limited customization options for complex workflows with advanced business rules
• Non-technical users may face a learning curve when navigating more intricate functions

Ratings:

• G2: 4.3/5
• Capterra: 4.1/5

Choosing the Right Employee Management System

Key Considerations

Choosing the right employee management system is a critical decision for any organization. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to determine which system is best suited to your organization’s needs. Here are some key considerations to keep in mind when selecting an employee management system:

1. Scalability: Will the system grow with your organization, or will it become outdated quickly?
2. Ease of use: Is the system user-friendly, or will it require extensive training?
3. Customization: Can the system be tailored to meet your organization’s specific needs?
4. Integration: Does the system integrate with other HR systems, such as payroll and benefits administration?
5. Cost: What is the total cost of ownership, including implementation, maintenance, and support?
6. Security: Does the system provide robust security features to protect employee data?
7. Customer support: What level of support does the vendor provide, and what are the response times?

Evaluation Criteria

When evaluating employee management systems, consider the following criteria:

1. Core functionalities: Does the system provide the necessary features to manage employee data, time tracking, task management, and employee scheduling?
2. Additional features: Does the system offer advanced features, such as performance management, benefits administration, and payroll management?
3. Usability: Is the system easy to use, with an intuitive interface and minimal training required?
4. Onboarding: Does the system provide a smooth onboarding process for new employees?
5. Customer support: What level of support does the vendor provide, and what are the response times?
6. Value for price: Does the system provide a good return on investment, considering the cost and features?
7. Customer reviews: What do other customers say about the system, and what are their experiences?

By considering these key considerations and evaluation criteria, you can make an informed decision when selecting an employee management system that meets your organization’s needs.

What Should You Look for in Employee Management Software?

When selecting an employee management system, use these pointers as a guiding checklist:

• Ask – Who will use the software? Before anything else, think about who will need access—HR teams, managers, or all employees? Identify the most important users and their needs to prioritize must-have features.
• What are your pain-points? Ask the team what their biggest challenges are? Is it:
  • Managing employee data and records to reduce manual grunt work?
  • Streamlining scheduling and time-tracking to minimize conflicts and absenteeism?
  • Improving performance reviews and feedback cycles?
  • Enhancing onboarding experiences, particularly for remote staff?
  • Accessing self-service features for employees like shift swapping or leave requests?
  • Boosting productivity through workflow automation and AI-powered processes?
• What kind of budget are you working with? Estimate costs by calculating your current workforce and considering growth projections over the next several years. Most systems charge per employee, so this will help you plan ahead for your monthly costs.
• How will the tool integrate with your current setup? Does the system need to integrate with existing tools such as payroll or time-tracking ? It should fit into your existing tech setup, meet security standards, and offer a mobile-friendly version.

Nifty: A Custom Employee Management Software for A Productive HR Experience

An engaging HR process requires managers to focus on improving the employee experience instead of getting buried in admin work. Investing in an employee management software like Nifty is a smart choice.

For one, Nifty brings all your HR tasks into one place—from onboarding new hires to tracking performance and setting team goals. It cuts down on manual work and keeps everything organized. Plus, HR teams can automate repetitive processes according to their preferences and focus on the bigger picture—supporting employees and fostering growth. 

With Nifty’s customizable tools, your HR team can move away from time-consuming and boring HR paperwork and build a strong, engaged workforce from the ground up. Sign up today!