Employees of tomorrow may never experience the night-before-the-annual-performance-review jitters as workers wait in agitated anticipation of discovering whether they rate as good, bad, or adequate.
For workers of present, when the day arrives, the most disappointing feedback of all was to discover you were hardly noticed except for a few general observations even though you worked with your heart and soul for the past 12 months.
Already giants like GE, Adobe, Deloitte, Microsoft and Netflix have announced they are doing away with the ritual of the annual performance review for their employees.
Instead, more companies are turning to mobile technology and apps to offer more frequent, real-time feedback. This approach is appealing to a younger workforce who want to know not only how their managers feel about them, but also their colleagues and fellow team members.
Here are three feedback apps for human resources departments to consider if you want to explore options for ensuring employees get appropriate responses several times throughout the year, rather than just the yearly report.
EchoSpan is a whole suite of on-demand, web-based review tools including 360-degree feedback options and performance reviews. Ideally suited for small and medium-sized businesses, it is available in more than 60 languages.
It is compatible with all major browsers, mobile platforms and tablet devices. there is no software to install or host required. All you need is a web browser.
Available since 2002, EchoSpan’s app allows you to add or remove or modify sections to better suit your organization. You also get an unlimited number of reports and there is no additional charge for running reports. It is currently being used by more than 3,000 companies.
Impraise also offers 360-degree feedback and performance reviews as well as real-time feedback. It allows you to track the progress of an employee all year long. Designed to help you create a culture of feedback and encourage peer coaching, it also allows for team overviews. It is fully customizable.
Managers can track feedback and the accomplishments and improvements of employees.
This is a popular program because it is very simple to use and is designed to be particularly user-friendly at every level. It also allows for goal-setting and will schedule reviews.
Regardless of what approach you take as a human resources professional to deliver feedback to employees, make sure that it is useful and well-timed. Feedback apps are only good investments when they are used effectively; otherwise they can turn into a method of inundating a worker with responses and creating undue pressure on them.
Think about what your company wants to accomplish with its feedback initiatives and make sure that whatever app you acquire allows you to bring the feedback program in line with the company’s vision.
