Employee Engagement Tools

Glossary of HR Terms Employee Engagement Tools

What are Employee Engagement Tools?

Employee Engagement Tools are digital platforms and applications designed to measure, improve, and sustain employee engagement levels within an organization. These tools gather feedback, track sentiment, recognize employee contributions, and provide insights that help HR leaders and managers boost motivation, satisfaction, and retention.

Why it matters

Engaged employees are more productive, loyal, and collaborative. Employee engagement tools give organizations real-time visibility into how employees feel about their work and company culture. They also enable leaders to address issues early, improve morale, and create stronger connections between employees and organizational goals.

Where it fits in the HR stack

These tools sit within the employee experience and engagement layer of the HR tech stack. They typically integrate with HRIS platforms for workforce data, performance management systems for aligning engagement with goals, and communication platforms like Slack or Microsoft Teams for real-time interaction.

Common use cases/Examples

  • Running employee pulse surveys and engagement assessments.
  • Collecting feedback during key milestones (onboarding, quarterly reviews, or after major initiatives).
  • Recognizing and rewarding employee achievements.
  • Tracking engagement trends across teams, departments, or demographics. Providing analytics dashboards for HR and leadership teams.

Examples of companies that use it

  • Tech companies like Salesforce, HubSpot, and LinkedIn, which invest heavily in culture and use tools like Culture Amp, Peakon (Workday), or Glint (LinkedIn) for engagement tracking.
  • Startups and mid-sized firms using platforms such as 15Five, Officevibe, or Lattice to create feedback loops and recognition systems.
  • Enterprises across industries (retail, healthcare, manufacturing) using Qualtrics Employee Experience or Gallup’s Q12 to drive large-scale engagement initiatives.

FAQ

Engagement tools focus on employee sentiment and motivation, while performance systems track goals and outcomes. They are often integrated for a holistic view. 

Most engagement tools ensure anonymity to encourage honest feedback, though settings can vary. 

Yes. By identifying disengagement early and providing actionable insights, companies can address issues before they lead to turnover. 

Absolutely. Many tools integrate with Slack, Teams, or email, making them effective for distributed workforces. 

Best practice is frequent “pulse” surveys (monthly or quarterly) supplemented by deeper annual engagement surveys.