Bamboo Performance Management – Try This Alternative

A good payroll system is essential to every human resources department, but HR does a lot more than just payroll. Keeping track of everything from payroll to benefits and time off on the same platform is extremely convenient. Especially if the platform you choose also supports performance management.

That’s one of the reasons why some of the top organizations, like Zip Recruiter, Postmates, and Change.org use BambooHR. Not only does it offer payroll, hiring, benefits, and reporting capabilities, but there is also a performance management add-on.

Adding performance management to an existing HRIS performance management system is convenient, but is it better than a dedicated performance management platform? And is the Bamboo performance management add-on any good?

Here’s what you need to know about the Bamboo performance management add-on so you can decide if it’s the right choice for you.

Bamboo Performance Management Overview 

BambooHR is a comprehensive HRIS system with performance management capabilities that can be added to their main platform. Compared to some platforms, like the ADP performance management add-on, that can feel like an afterthought, the Bamboo performance management add-on is more robustly developed.

It supports manager reviews as well as 360-degree reviews and self-assessment reviews with the ability to customize meaningful questions, depending on the goals you have for your organization. You can support casual one-on-ones between employees and managers, as well as onboard new hires with 30-, 60-, and 90-day check-ins.

Bamboo performance management also supports employee satisfaction efforts. It includes the Net Promoter℠-based eNPS survey method that integrates AI-generated topic summaries of responses, which makes it easier to discover patterns and make changes.

Bamboo performance management has a lot to offer, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right choice for your organization. Keep reading to discover the pros and cons of this performance management add-on.

Pros of the Bamboo Performance Management Add-On 

The Bamboo performance management add-on is an easy way to get performance management capabilities if you already use BambooHR, but there are a few other pros that come with this particular platform:

• Ability to customize performance review cycles for different departments
• Different types of reports allow you to visualize data and track progress
• Automated reminders are included on each employee's dashboard

Ability to customize performance review cycles for different departments

There is quite a bit of customization when it comes to creating performance review cycles for different departments. That can be handy when different teams measure success, growth, and challenges in different ways.

For example, you might create one review schedule for sales with frequent check-ins, while another department, like facilities, might have a less frequent review cycle.

Questions are completely customizable too. You can gather meaningful feedback from every employee, no matter what their position.

Different types of reports allow you to visualize data and track progress

Bamboo performance management does a great job of enabling you to visualize data and track progress in many different ways, which can help you discover trends that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Reports can compare performance and engagement individually, by department, or across the entire company, which are all essential to a good talent management strategy.

Company performance reporting allows you to compare performance appraisals over time based on departments, managers, salary levels, and more. It’s a great way to see if teams feel valued and how their performance changes over time as a result.

One of the best things about the reports is the fact that they are very visual. Some graphs are color-coded for easy readability, while others use employee pictures so you can reference information and see how everyone compares to one another.

Automated reminders are included on each employee's dashboard

Performance management has the potential to come with a lot of busy work. The Bamboo performance management platform does a good job of minimizing admin tasks by automatically reminding employees when they have assessments or reviews to complete.

Bamboo’s reminders are especially nice because they are included on each employee’s home screen, which also contains important HR information, like available vacation hours, who's out for the day, and documents that need to be signed. Because reminders are located on the main dashboard, employees are more likely to see them when they login to access other information.

Related: Discover how PerformYard is the perfect UKG performance management alternative

Cons of the Bamboo Performance Management Add-On 

BambooHR’s performance management add-on indeed comes with some pros, but it comes with some cons as well. They include:

• Review cycles are limited
• Not all review formats are supported
• The Bamboo performance management add-on costs extra

Review cycles are limited

While it's true that the Bamboo performance management add-on allows you to customize performance review cycles for different departments, there are also some limits.

One is that you can only schedule up to four formal reviews each year. Departments that prefer more formal assessments are stuck trying to incorporate impromptu assessments, which is a capability of the platform, but it can be frustrating for employees and their managers.

They do offer 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day check-ins for new hires. That might be enough for some departments and new employees, but it can make things tricky for some, like those who are on a performance improvement plan (PIP).

Not all review formats are supported

In addition to the limitations the Bamboo performance platform has on review cycles, it also limits the types of review formats it supports.

They do support self-assessment reviews, 360 reviews, goal-based reviews, and check-ins for new hires. A few review styles that aren’t explicitly supported include:

• Project-based reviews
• Client reviews
• Multi-manager reviews
• PIPs
• Exit interviews

If you want to utilize these types of reviews, you’re stuck trying to integrate them separately or work within the structure of reviews that are already available, which is time-consuming, frustrating, and less effective.

The Bamboo performance management add-on costs extra

The Bamboo performance management add-on is convenient when you already have BambooHR, but you have to pay extra for it. You only get performance management capabilities if you choose their Pro plan.

You’re not going to pay a flat fee either. Pricing is based on the number of employees, so the more employees you have, the more you'll end up paying.

You won’t find prices listed on their website. Instead, you have to request a free price quote, which can be frustrating if you’re shopping around and want to compare prices without having to speak to a representative.

One user says, 

“BambooHR excels at core HR functionalities, but it may lack some advanced features like performance management tools. BambooHR's pricing can be a deterrent for some businesses, especially as features are added with higher tiers. It might not be the most cost-effective option for companies with a very limited budget.”

If you’re going to pay extra for the Bamboo performance management extension, you might as well shop around for other performance management platforms. One of the best is PerformYard.

Why PerformYard is a Better Option 

PerformYard management software is a complete toolkit with customizable capabilities that enable you to get the absolute most out of reviews and check-ins. It focuses on goal management, continuous feedback, reporting, and analytics, and it even has dedicated employee engagement features.

That’s why companies like Mitsubishi Chemical America, Berkshire Grey, and the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association use PerformYard.

PerformYard is an ideal choice if you don’t need an entire HRIS platform, but it’s also an ideal choice if you want to get the very most out of your performance management strategy, especially if you already use BambooHR.

Here’s why:

• Complete customization of all review formats
• Filter data and results to discover unique performance insights
• Maintain open communication
• PerformYard integrates seamlessly with BambooHR

Complete customization of all review formats

PerformYard strives to offer a complete array of review formats that can be completely customized for individual employees, teams, and the entire organization.

In addition to being a goal management software platform that enables managers, teams, and employees to set and work toward goals, PerformYard also supports a complete array of review formats. The Bamboo performance management platform, on the other hand, only includes a few.

PerformYard supports:

• Quarterly check-ins
• Project-based reviews
• 360 reviews
• 30-60-90-day check-ins for new hires
• Anniversary date cycles
• Upward reviews
• Client Reviews
• Multi-manager reviews
• PIPs
• Exit interviews
• And more

Everything about the review cycle can be completely customized. You can decide the questions you ask, the timelines you follow, and the touch points you use throughout the entire process. That includes continuous feedback software so employees can get feedback swiftly and often.

Filter data and results to discover unique performance insights

Bamboo performance management offers a variety of ways to visualize data and track progress, but PerformYard takes it to a whole new level.

Just a few of PerformYard's performance reporting capabilities include:

• Use data to identify top performers, find themes across review cycles, and plot results in easy-to-understand grids.
• Connect performance data to other types of employee data, like tenure at the company, department, and more.
• Track changes between review cycles by maintaining a complete history of employee performance, which enables you to hone your performance review process.

You're able to filter and slice data any way you see fit, with the ability to display custom reports in formats that make it easy to discover unique insights that would otherwise fall through the cracks.

Maintaining open communication

PerformYard is a performance management platform, but it’s also a communication platform. 

Employees can do self-assessments and provide feedback for other employees, in addition to receiving manager input, all within the same platform. All performance-related communications are stored within the platform so there’s no need to track down emails or search for feedback on other platforms.

One user says,

“I use PerformYard to create and track employee goals. We also utilize it to give recognition to employees. It is extremely useful to keep up with employee anniversaries. My favorite thing about this platform is the ability for employee reviews. I love that the employee also does a self-review alongside the managers. The ability to track productivity and maintain open communication is wonderful!”

In contrast, Bamboo performance management doesn't automatically include extensive internal communications. Instead, it's yet another addition you have to add to your plan. It isn't automatically included.

PerformYard integrates seamlessly with BambooHR

Choosing PerformYard doesn’t mean you have to operate two separate systems. PerformYard’s performance review software integrates seamlessly with BambooHR.

You're able to add and remove employees from PerformYard with a single click. Pertinent employee information gets uploaded or deleted automatically, so you're able to utilize the data you have in BambooHR without having to transfer it manually.

Changes to your org chart are reflected in PerformYard. One of the best things about the PerformYard and BambooHR integration is the fact that employees can sign into PerformYard using their BambooHR credentials, which means there are no extra steps to learn or extra hoops to jump through to use both.

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Want to see how PerformYard can take your performance management strategy to new heights? Take a demo to see how PerformYard can help you customize the perfect performance review strategy for your organization.

FAQs

What does Bamboo’s performance management add-on include?

The Bamboo performance management add-on includes the ability to customize review cycles for different departments, use different types of reports to visualize data and track progress, and receive automated reminders that are conveniently included on each employee's dashboard.

Is the Bamboo performance management add-on worth it?

The Bamboo performance management add-on might be worth it if you already use the BambooHR platform and you're looking for an all-in-one solution, even if it means giving up some customization options that are available with other platforms, like PerformYard.

What makes PerformYard a better alternative to Bamboo’s performance management add-on? 

PerformYard is a better alternative to Bamboo’s performance management add-on because it allows you to customize a complete range of review formats, and you can customize how many and which reviews to use during each review cycle. You can create custom reports by filtering data, and all performance communications between employees, managers, and HR are contained within the platform.

Does PerformYard integrate with Bamboo? 

Yes! PerformYard integrates with BambooHR. Employees can sign in using their BambooHR credentials, changes to your org chart are reflected in PerformYard and new and terminated employees can easily be added or removed from PerformYard when they’re added or removed from BambooHR.