Employee Performance Management Software

Boost your team’s efforts and recognise their achievements with employee performance and people management software.

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What is a Performance Management System?

 

A performance management system is a tool used by the HR department to track, measure and improve employee performance in a consistent and measurable way. It uses a combination of technologies and methodologies to ensure everyone in the organisation is aligned to and contributing to the business objectives.

This collaborative framework allows managers and employees to work together to set clear expectations, goals, performance measurements, reviews and appraisals and give constructive feedback. When properly defined and applied consistently a performance management system increases overall workforce productivity and supports employee development and engagement.

Modern continuous performance management goes beyond the traditional annual review to create an ongoing conversation between managers and team members. This way feedback is timely, relevant and actionable to make sure everyone stays motivated and aligned to company objectives all year round.

People first

Breathe’s powerful performance management tool helps you recognise and reward your people for their hard work.

You can easily track employee performance, arrange one-to-ones, manage annual appraisal meetings and set goals or targets for staff to strive for.

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Find time for employee appraisals

Regular appraisals are crucial for tracking employee performance and improving their engagement. They keep your team on the right track with their goals and allow you to nip any potential issues in the bud.

Breathe makes it easy to book these appraisals and will automatically notify staff about their time and location. You can even score employee performance for at-a-glance comparison with other team members.

Promote professional growth

Breathe encourages your people to pursue professional growth by letting them know what training programs they need to complete. Your management team can then easily keep up with who’s done what and who needs chasing. Scheduling training has never been so effortless.

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Establish clear expectations

Your team needs to know what’s expected of them to achieve their targets. Breathe lets you set objectives and link them directly to company-wide goals, letting people see how their work plays a valuable part in the success of the wider business.

Enhancing employee engagement with continuous feedback

In today's fast-paced work environment, keeping your team engaged through continuous feedback is key. Breathe's performance management software makes it easy to give and receive feedback in real-time, helping everyone stay on the same page and work towards shared goals.

Breathe's HR software interface showing an employee's performance overview with a pop up for company goals and to give feedback to team members

74% of Breathe users agree - Breathe is the best HR software solution we have used to date. 

- Breathe HR 2025 customer survey. 

Breathes software pop ups that highlight performance metrics like objectives, kudos, and one to ones

Real-time feedback

With Breathe, you can share feedback instantly. This means your team can make quick improvements and feel more connected to their work. Real-time feedback keeps everyone motivated and on track, leading to better performance and happier employees.

Feedback loops

Breathe's feedback loops create an ongoing conversation between managers and team members. Regular chats and feedback sessions helps keep everyone aligned with the company's goals and supports personal growth.

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What are the stages of Performance Management?

 

Effective continuous performance management follows a clear process that supports employee development and business success. Gaining a clearer understanding of each of these stages helps you create a structured approach to managing and improving performance:

 

1. Planning and Goal Setting

The performance management cycle starts with setting clear objectives. In this phase managers and employees work together to set SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) that align individual contributions to company-wide objectives. This way everyone knows what’s expected and how their work contributes to overall business success.

 

2. Monitoring and Check-ins

After goal setting the process moves into continuous monitoring where employees work towards their objectives. Managers create a culture of open communication through regular check-ins—weekly, bi-weekly or monthly—to track progress, provide guidance and address any issues. 

These touchpoints support underperforming employees and keep high performers engaged without micromanaging.

 

3. Reviews and Evaluations

Regular reviews throughout the year allow managers to formally assess employee performance against the criteria. These reviews provide dedicated time for one to one discussions about achievements, areas for improvement and future development opportunities. 

Modern systems allow for self-evaluations and 360-degree feedback to get a full picture of performance.

 

4. Recognition and Rewards

The final stage is to recognise good performance and reward accordingly. This might be a salary increase, promotion, additional responsibilities or public recognition. 

Fair and transparent recognition based on measurable achievements motivates employees and reinforces desired behaviour across the organisation.

Then the cycle starts again with new goal setting, creating a continuous loop of improvement and development that drives both individual and business performance.

 

Performance Management Essentials

A good performance management system has several key components that work together to create a culture of continuous improvement and employee development:

 

Continuous Feedback and Recognition

No more waiting for annual reviews to talk about performance. Modern continuous performance management is about real-time feedback that allows employees to course-correct and capitalise on their strengths.

Regular feedback sessions—whether formal or informal—keep the lines of communication open and recognition happens when it matters most, not months after the achievement.

 

Regular Check-ins and One-to-Ones

Scheduled check-ins between managers and team members are the backbone of good performance management. These regular touchpoints allow you to:

  • Discuss progress towards goals
  • Address concerns and challenges
  • Adjust objectives as needed
  • Keep aligned with company priorities

Unlike annual reviews, frequent check-ins create a supportive environment where issues are identified and resolved quickly.

 

Goal Alignment and Transparency

Clear visibility into how individual goals link to team and company objectives is key. When employees know how their daily work contributes to overall business success, engagement and motivation increases. Transparent goal setting means everyone is working towards the same vision.

 

Development Planning

Performance management isn’t just about evaluation—it’s about growth. Good systems include structured development planning that:

  • Identifies skill gaps and training needs
  • Outlines learning and development opportunities
  • Creates clear career paths
  • Supports individual aspirations and company requirements

This benefits both the individual and the company.

 

Data-Driven Insights

Modern performance management systems use analytics to provide insights. All the data gathered helps managers make decisions about recognition, development and resource allocation.

These components work together to create a holistic approach that supports immediate performance improvement and long-term employee development.

In doing so, your organisation gets the best from its people and help them achieve their career aspirations.

3 great reasons to start a Breathe trial

1

Test drive all features for FREE

2

Use your own data to see the system in action

3

Try for 14 days - no card details required

During your trial, you'll be in the driving seat and have the freedom you need to experience the system first-hand. There's absolutely no obligation to buy, and while we offer a self service experience, our friendly support team will be on hand if you need them.

Give credit where it’s due

Boost employee engagement and satisfaction by sending your team recognition via Breathe’s Kudos feature. Anyone in your organisation can send Kudos to anyone else as a way of saying 'thank you' for a job well done. When it comes to showing appreciation, a little goes a long way - and sending praise to someone is sure to make their day.


Now available in Breathe’s People Portal mobile app, it’s easier than ever to give and receive Kudos. You can even check out the leaderboard and keep track of your Kudos badges – all in the palm of your hand.

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Breathe makes your HR admin a breeze

With a focus on simplicity, Breathe gives you everything you need to streamline your HR processes.
Holidays
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Payroll
Absences
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Appraisals
Recruitment
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Share and store important documents safely in the cloud. All sensitive data stored in Breathe is encrypted to the highest security standards, and because it’s online it’s kept safe from natural disasters or theft.
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Export payroll-ready data and upload it to your payroll system in moments. You can also download entire reports, with all employee changes included, or only download the changes made to employee information.
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Breathe’s easy-to-use online sickness and absence management software gives you the power to better understand your absence record, identify absence problems, and set about resolving them.
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Expense management is easy with Breathe. Input claims, upload receipts, and submit for approval - all in a matter of minutes. Approve and track claims, and instantly view expenses history and any outstanding payments.
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Reward your people for their work
Breathe helps you easily track employee performance, arrange one-to-ones, manage appraisals and set goals or targets for staff to strive for.
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Our HR reporting tool empowers you to make smarter decisions and take control of your HR admin. Running reports on sickness, finance, time logs, and more couldn’t be easier. Exporting reports is as easy as clicking a button.
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Frequently asked questions

  • What is the purpose of a performance review?

  • What are the benefits of effective performance management?

  • What types of businesses use employee performance management software?

  • What are the benefits of tracking employee performance?

  • How can performance management software enhance team collaboration?

  • How much does performance management software cost?

  • How secure is my data with Breathe?

  • What do I need to know now?

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