10 best employee feedback tools to boost engagement in 2024

Employee feedback tools are quickly becoming the norm for companies looking to enhance workplace engagement and retention. These vital tools help employers understand employee sentiments, foster open communication, and drive continuous improvement. That’s why, as organizations strive to create more inclusive and responsive work environments, choosing the right feedback tool can significantly impact morale and productivity.

To understand the importance of employee voice, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 best employee feedback tools designed to boost engagement, streamline feedback processes, and help organizations thrive. Dive in and discover how these tools can transform your workplace dynamics in the coming year and beyond.

The importance of employee feedback

Employee feedback is crucial in shaping a positive workplace culture. Yet, a recent report by Calm revealed that when employees were asked to describe their workplace, 49% used negative terms, while only 35% used positive terms. This disparity underscores the need for effective feedback mechanisms to amplify employee voice. Here’s why employee feedback is important:

• Identifies areas for improvement: Feedback highlights pain points and areas needing attention.
• Boosts employee engagement: Regular feedback makes employees feel heard and valued.
• Enhances performance: Constructive feedback helps employees grow and improve their skills.
• Strengthens relationships: Open communication fosters trust between employees and management.
• Drives organizational success: Addressing feedback leads to a more motivated and productive workforce.

How employee feedback impacts workplace culture

Employee feedback profoundly impacts work culture by fostering a more engaged and motivated workforce. In fact, a striking 96% of employees believe that regular feedback is beneficial, and 75% of those who receive it feel it is crucial to their work. Despite this, less than 30% of respondents actually receive feedback, and 65% want more than they’re currently getting.

However, feedback can negatively impact workplace culture if not handled properly. Here’s how:

• Inconsistent feedback: Irregular or biased feedback can lead to perceptions of unfairness and favoritism.
• Negative tone: Harsh or critical feedback can demotivate employees and create a toxic work culture.
• Lack of follow-up: Ignoring feedback can make employees feel unheard and undervalued.
• Overemphasis on criticism: Focusing only on negatives without recognizing achievements can lower confidence and engagement.

Avoiding these pitfalls is crucial for maintaining a positive workplace culture. Effective feedback makes employees feel respected, valued, and motivated, driving productivity and success. Properly addressing feedback helps create a supportive environment that encourages growth and engagement, ensuring feedback strengthens your team rather than undermines it. Remember, feedback should uplift and empower, not tear people down.

Overview of employee feedback tools

Feedback tools are crucial for gathering, analyzing, and acting on employee feedback to improve workplace culture and performance. They include pulse surveys for quick sentiment checks, 360-degree feedback for comprehensive insights, real-time feedback for immediate recognition and constructive criticism, and employee engagement surveys for understanding job satisfaction and engagement levels.

These tools offer numerous benefits, including fast issue identification and resolution, improved communication, and a positive work environment. They also enhance employee satisfaction, morale, and retention rates while supporting data-driven decision-making through targeted interventions. Ultimately, feedback tools empower employees, leading to a more engaged, motivated, and productive workforce.

Top 10 best employee feedback tools

1. Achievers Listen

Achievers Listen is an employee feedback software solution for organizations looking to harness the collective voice of their workforce. By allowing administrators to craft detailed surveys tailored to specific needs, it helps gather insights on various topics, from job satisfaction and workplace culture to feedback on recent initiatives.

With its pulse survey capability, organizations can conduct frequent, succinct surveys that capture real-time employee sentiment. These pulse checks are invaluable for monitoring morale, gauging reactions to changes, and swiftly addressing emerging issues. The focus on anonymity encourages employees to express their opinions freely, fostering a culture of openness and trust.

Achievers Listen’s robust analytics and reporting functionalities transform raw data into actionable insights. Real-time dashboards highlight trends, pinpoint areas of concern, and showcase positive developments, enabling decision-makers to make informed choices quickly. This data-driven approach supports the development of targeted action plans aimed at improving processes and enhancing employee engagement.

Seamless integration with other HRIS systems ensures streamlined data collection and comprehensive analytics, enhancing efficiency and reducing administrative burdens. Achievers Listen empowers organizations to achieve their employee feedback goals (OKRs), driving success through informed decision-making and continuous improvement.

Best features

1. Real-time feedback: Achievers’ platform enables instant sharing of thoughts and concerns, fostering continuous improvement and prompt issue resolution to boost employee satisfaction and engagement.
2. Customizable surveys: Organizations can create tailored surveys aligned with specific goals, gathering insights on culture, leadership, and projects to drive meaningful business outcomes.
3. Anonymous responses: Achievers’ platform supports anonymity to encourage honest feedback, providing comprehensive insights into employee sentiment and organizational health.
4. Actionable insights: Using robust data analytics, Achievers empowers HR and leaders to identify trends, pinpoint areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions for enhanced employee engagement and business success.
5. Mobile accessibility: Designed for flexibility, employees can access surveys and engage from smartphones or tablets, ensuring participation and engagement regardless of location.
6. Integration with Achievers’ platform: Seamless integration with the all-in-one recognition platform ties employee feedback directly to appreciation efforts, reinforcing motivation and enhancing morale.
7. Collaborative action planning: Teams collaborate on action plans based on feedback, fostering accountability, ownership, and alignment towards achieving organizational goals.
8. Benchmarking: Organizations benchmark performance against industry standards, gaining context to interpret survey results and set realistic improvement targets aligned with best practices.
9. Automated reporting: Achievers’ platform automates report generation, saving time and ensuring timely communication of insights for proactive decision-making and interventions.
10. Scalability and flexibility: Designed to grow with organizations, Achievers’ platform adapts seamlessly to changing workforce needs, maintaining high engagement and satisfaction levels as organizations evolve.

2. CultureMonkey

CultureMonkey is an employee feedback app designed to gather insights on workplace culture. It enables organizations to collect, analyze, and act on employee feedback through surveys and data analytics. By providing actionable insights, it helps improve employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention by addressing key areas of concern and fostering a positive work environment based on real-time feedback.

Best features

1. Anonymous surveys: The tool allows employees to provide feedback anonymously, encouraging honest responses without fear of reprisal.
2. Customizable feedback forms: Organizations can create tailored surveys to gather specific insights on culture, engagement, or other topics relevant to their goals.
3. Real-time analytics: The platform provides immediate access to analytics and trends, enabling HR teams to identify issues promptly and take proactive measures.
4. Sentiment analysis: Utilizes advanced algorithms to analyze sentiment within feedback, providing deeper insights into employee emotions and attitudes.
5. Pulse surveys: Offers quick, frequent surveys to capture ongoing employee sentiment, ideal for tracking changes and addressing issues in real-time.

3. 15Five

15Five is an employee feedback tool that facilitates continuous feedback and performance management. It allows employees to share progress, achievements, and challenges through weekly check-ins, providing managers with insights to support their teams effectively. By streamlining communication and goal tracking, it enhances employee engagement, fosters transparency, and promotes alignment with organizational objectives. This platform encourages ongoing dialogue, enabling timely feedback loops that drive individual growth and organizational success.

Best features

1. Customizable pulse surveys: Tailored feedback on employee satisfaction, culture, or project progress, scheduled regularly for ongoing insights.
2. OKRs tracking: Sets, aligns, and monitors goals across teams. Promotes clarity and accountability in achieving objectives and key results.
3. One-on-one meeting agendas: Structures and documents meetings with tools and templates focusing on goals, challenges, and development opportunities.
4. Performance reviews: Continuous feedback and evaluations based on predefined criteria or custom forms, fostering fair and constructive feedback loops.
5. Reporting and analytics: Robust capabilities to visualize survey results, goal progress, and performance metrics, aiding informed decisions for enhancing engagement and performance.

4. Officevibe

Officevibe is a feedback tool focused on improving workplace culture and engagement. It collects feedback through pulse surveys and anonymous feedback channels to assess employee satisfaction, morale, and overall well-being. It provides actionable insights and data analytics to help organizations identify trends, prioritize initiatives, and enhance employee experience. By fostering open-ended communication and addressing areas for improvement, it aims to boost retention, productivity, and organizational success through continuous feedback loops and personalized action plans.

Best features

1. Customizable surveys: Tailored surveys to gather feedback on culture, management, or specific workplace issues.
2. Real-time analytics: Instant access to data for timely decision-making and trend identification.
3. Anonymous feedback: Encourages candid responses to promote transparency and trust.
4. Personalized action plans: Provides actionable insights and suggestions based on survey results.
5. Peer recognition: Facilitates peer-to-peer appreciation to foster a supportive team culture.

5. Qualtrics

Qualtrics functions as an employee feedback app by enabling organizations to gather and analyze employee insights through surveys, 360-degree feedback, and experience management. It offers robust analytics to understand employee sentiment, engagement levels, and satisfaction across various touchpoints. It helps businesses uncover actionable insights to improve workplace culture, leadership effectiveness, and employee experience. By providing real-time feedback mechanisms and customizable reporting, it empowers organizations to make data-driven decisions that enhance employee retention, productivity, and overall organizational performance.

Best features

1. Customizable surveys: Tailored surveys are available to gather feedback on various aspects of employee experience.
2. Real-time data analytics: Instant access to data for quick decision-making and trend identification.
3. Sentiment analysis: Analyzes feedback to understand employee emotions and attitudes.
4. Integration capabilities: Integrates with HR systems for streamlined data management.
5. Action planning tools: Facilitates effective implementation of feedback-driven improvements.

6. TINYpulse

TINYpulse is an employee feedback tool designed to engage and motivate teams through anonymous surveys, pulse checks, and recognition features. It fosters continuous feedback loops to gauge employee sentiment, gather suggestions, and track morale over time. The tool emphasizes transparency and communication by enabling employees to voice concerns and share ideas anonymously, encouraging open dialogue. With its real-time analytics and customizable feedback mechanisms, it helps organizations boost employee engagement, address issues proactively, and create a positive work environment conducive to growth and productivity.

Best features

1. Anonymous pulse surveys: Collects candid feedback without revealing identities, promoting honesty.
2. Customizable survey templates: Tailors surveys to gather specific insights on culture, engagement, or other topics.
3. Employee recognition tools: Facilitates peer-to-peer recognition to boost morale and team cohesion.
4. Real-time analytics: Provides instant insights into survey results for quick decision-making.
5. Virtual suggestion box: Allows anonymous idea sharing to encourage innovation and improvement.

7. Quantum Workplace

Quantum Workplace is an employee feedback tool that enables organizations to measure and improve employee engagement through surveys, feedback mechanisms, and performance analytics. It provides customizable surveys to assess employee sentiment, satisfaction, and alignment with company goals. The tool offers insights-driven action planning tools to help leaders and managers address issues, recognize achievements, and foster a positive workplace culture. By leveraging data analytics and continuous feedback loops, it supports organizations in enhancing employee retention, productivity, and overall organizational effectiveness through targeted interventions and strategic improvements.

Best features

1. Customizable surveys: Tailor surveys to gather feedback on specific aspects of the workplace.
2. Real-time feedback: Immediate insights into employee sentiment and engagement.
3. Pulse surveys: Regular feedback collection to monitor changes over time.
4. Sentiment analysis: Analyzes feedback to understand employee emotions and attitudes.
5. Performance reviews: Facilitates continuous feedback and goal tracking for performance improvement.

8. Culture Amp

Culture Amp is an employee feedback tool that helps organizations measure, understand, and improve employee engagement and company culture. It offers customizable surveys and feedback mechanisms to gather insights on employee sentiment, satisfaction, and organizational alignment. The tool provides data-driven analytics and actionable insights to support leaders in making informed decisions to enhance workplace culture and employee experience. By promoting transparency, continuous feedback, and meaningful dialogue, it aims to empower organizations to drive positive change, improve retention rates, and foster a productive and inclusive work environment aligned with business goals.

Best features

1. Customizable surveys: Allows you to tailor surveys to gather feedback on specific aspects of culture and employee experience.
2. Pulse surveys: Enables frequent feedback collection to monitor engagement and satisfaction over time.
3. 360-degree feedback: Facilitates comprehensive feedback from peers, managers, and self-assessments.
4. Diversity and inclusion surveys: Assesses inclusivity and diversity efforts within the organization.
5. Continuous learning and development tools: Supports employee growth through feedback-driven development plans.

9. Lattice

Lattice serves as an employee feedback app focused on performance management and employee engagement. It facilitates ongoing feedback and goal setting through customizable reviews, check-ins, and 360-degree feedback loops. It enables continuous performance development by aligning individual goals with organizational objectives, fostering transparency, and promoting career growth. With robust analytics and actionable insights, it empowers managers and employees to track progress, identify strengths, and address areas for improvement proactively. By fostering a culture of feedback and recognition, the tool helps organizations enhance employee engagement, retention, and overall workplace productivity.

Best features

1. Customizable performance surveys: Tailor reviews to assess specific skills and achievements, promoting fair and actionable feedback.
2. 360-degree feedback: Collect comprehensive insights from peers, managers, and direct reports to provide a holistic view of performance.
3. Goal tracking: Set, track, and manage individual and team goals to align with organizational objectives.
4. Feedback-driven coaching: Facilitate ongoing development through continuous feedback and coaching discussions.
5. Integration with HR systems: Seamless data integration for efficient, high-performing management and advanced reporting.

10. SurveyMonkey

SurveyMonkey is an employee feedback tool by providing customizable surveys and feedback mechanisms to gather insights on employee satisfaction, engagement, and organizational effectiveness. It offers a range of survey types, including pulse surveys and 360-degree feedback, to capture diverse perspectives and measure sentiment over time. Its analytics tools enable organizations to analyze data, identify trends, and make informed decisions to improve workplace culture and employee experience. By facilitating continuous feedback loops and actionable insights, its features support organizations in enhancing employee retention, productivity, and overall organizational performance through data-driven strategies.

Best features

1. Customizable surveys: Tailor surveys to collect feedback on specific aspects of employee experience.
2. Real-time data analytics: Instant insights into survey results for quick decision-making.
3. Anonymous survey options: Encourages honest feedback by allowing employees to respond anonymously.
4. Easy reporting tools: User-friendly tools to generate and analyze survey reports efficiently.
5. Integration capabilities: Integrates with other platforms for seamless data management and reporting.

Key features to consider in employee feedback tools

1. Real-time feedback collection

Real-time feedback is crucial for several reasons:

• Immediate course correction: Allows employees to quickly adjust their performance.
• Enhanced learning: Facilitates continuous improvement and skill development.
• Boosts morale: Provides timely recognition and encouragement.
• Strengthens relationships: Promotes open-ended communication and trust between managers and employees.
• Drives productivity: Enables quicker problem-solving and goal attainment.

These benefits create a responsive and supportive environment where feedback becomes a catalyst for growth and success.

2. Anonymity options

Anonymity options in feedback mechanisms are vital for fostering openness and honesty in the following ways:

• Encourages candid feedback: Employees feel safer expressing genuine opinions and concerns.
• Reduces fear of reprisal: Promotes transparency without the risk of negative consequences.
• Increases participation: Encourages quieter or more introverted employees to contribute.
• Enhances data quality: Provides more accurate insights into organizational issues and employee sentiment.
• Builds trust: Demonstrates a commitment to listening and respect for diverse viewpoints, fostering a positive feedback culture.

These benefits ensure that feedback processes are robust, inclusive, and conducive to organizational improvement.

3. Integration with existing HR systems

Integrating feedback tools with existing systems is crucial for seamless operations and enhanced efficiency:

• Streamlined processes: Integration reduces manual data entry and administrative tasks.
• Improved data accuracy: Ensures real-time access to updated information across platforms.
• Enhanced analytics: Enables comprehensive insights and trend analysis for informed decision-making.
• Better user experience: Provides a cohesive and user-friendly interface for employees and administrators.
• Cost-effectiveness: Reduces overhead costs associated with disparate systems and maintenance.

By integrating feedback tools, organizations can optimize workflows, leverage data effectively, and improve overall performance and satisfaction.

4. Customizable surveys

Customizable surveys are essential for tailoring feedback collection to specific organizational needs and preferences:

• Relevance: Allows organizations to ask targeted questions aligned with strategic goals or specific issues.
• Flexibility: Adapts survey formats, question types, and scales to suit diverse employee demographics and roles.
• Engagement: Enhances participation by making surveys more personalized and relevant to respondents.
• Accuracy: Improves data quality by ensuring questions are clear and contextually appropriate.
• Actionability: Enables organizations to derive actionable insights that drive meaningful improvements in policies, practices, and employee satisfaction.

By customizing surveys, organizations can gather precise feedback that informs strategic decision-making and fosters a culture of continuous improvement.

Benefits of using employee feedback software

1. Improved employee engagement

Using employee feedback software to improve employee engagement offers substantial benefits. Gallup data highlights that 80% of employees who receive meaningful feedback weekly are fully engaged. This statistic underscores how regular, constructive feedback facilitated by software can boost engagement by ensuring employees feel valued, heard, and aligned with organizational goals. Employee feedback software not only enhances communication but also empowers organizations to foster a more motivated and productive workforce through actionable insights and continuous improvement initiatives.

2. Enhanced performance management

According to a recent PWC report, 45% of employees have experienced a significant workload increase in the last 12 months, and another 45% have had to learn new tools and technology. Employee feedback software helps organizations address these challenges by providing real-time insights into employee experiences and workload issues. This enables managers to make informed decisions, offer timely support, and adjust expectations to improve overall performance and employee satisfaction.

3. Data-driven decision making

Data-driven decision-making is a major benefit of employee feedback software. It provides real-time insights and trends that help managers make informed choices. Forbes reports that employees who feel their voice is heard are 4.6 times more likely to feel empowered to perform their best work. By leveraging data from feedback software, organizations can create targeted action plans, address employee concerns promptly, and foster a culture of openness, ultimately leading to higher performance and employee satisfaction.

4. Fostering a continuous improvement culture

According to Microsoft, 41% of employees have left a job because they felt they weren’t listened to. This is why employee feedback tools are so important. They enable regular, real-time results, ensuring employees feel heard and valued. By consistently gathering and acting on employee feedback, organizations can address concerns promptly, show employees their opinions matter, and reduce turnover, creating a more engaged and motivated workforce.

How to choose the best employee feedback tool for your organization

1. Identify your organization’s needs

First assess your organization’s specific needs: the type and frequency of feedback required, integration capabilities, user-friendliness, analytics features, and customization options to fit your culture and goals. This focused approach ensures the tool aligns well with your objectives, enhancing employee engagement and performance effectively.

2. Evaluate different tools based on features

Evaluate various options based on key features such as feedback types (e.g., pulse surveys, 360-degree feedback), integration capabilities with existing systems, ease of use, analytics and reporting capabilities, customization options, and support for organizational goals and culture. This assessment ensures you choose a tool that meets your specific needs and enhances employee engagement and performance effectively.

3. Scalability and ease of use

Prioritize scalability to accommodate future growth and ensure ease of use for seamless adoption across your organization. Scalability ensures the tool can handle increasing feedback volumes and evolving needs, while ease of use facilitates widespread adoption among employees and administrators, maximizing its effectiveness in improving engagement and performance.

4. Cost-benefit analysis

Conduct a cost-benefit analysis. Evaluate upfront costs, ongoing maintenance fees, and potential savings from improved employee engagement and retention. Consider how the tool’s features align with your organization’s goals to ensure it provides maximum value for the investment.

Employee feedback tool success stories

1. Successful implementation at ATB Financial

At ATB, team members have logged over 90,000 recognition moments, fostering a lasting culture of appreciation that significantly boosts engagement. Following the implementation of Achievers, ATB saw engagement scores rise from 81% to 91%. Expanding their program, ATB now integrates feedback through Achievers’ tool, empowering team members to share and seek insights in real time.

Kelsey Schneider, Recognition and Rewards Lead at ATB Financial, notes, “Achievers has impacted engagement at ATB by giving our team members a platform to share their voice and seek and share feedback amongst each other, to come together as one ATB in a visual way.”

Watch ATB Financials’ success story video to learn more.

2. How Bayhealth transformed with employee feedback

Bayhealth enhanced their engagement strategy by integrating Achievers Listen, adding real-time feedback to their existing recognition culture. They complemented annual surveys with weekly check-ins and quarterly pulse surveys using Achievers’ science-based questions. This allowed Bayhealth to quickly gauge and respond to employee sentiments, fostering ongoing improvements in engagement and recognition.

According to Lauren Brittingham, Director of Organizational Development at Bayhealth, “What really improves low employee engagement scores is having leaders measure, listen, identify, act, and repeat.”

Read Bayhealth’s success story to learn more.

Make Achievers Listen your feedback tool of choice

When it comes to cultivating a thriving workplace culture where feedback fuels growth and engagement, Achievers Listen stands out as the premier solution. By empowering organizations to collect real-time insights, foster continuous improvement, and strengthen employee satisfaction, Achievers Listen goes beyond traditional feedback tools. Its ability to provide actionable data and nurture two-way communication sets it apart, ensuring organizations achieve measurable success in enhancing employee morale and productivity.

For those seeking a transformative tool to drive positive change, Achievers Listen remains unrivaled in its capacity to elevate workplace dynamics and outcomes.

*Information and pricing in this blog post was sourced from each vendors website