WorkStory Blog

A practical checklist for choosing employee performance management software that gets adopted, not ignored — with an ROI lens, not a feature list.

Slack has no rating structure or calibration. How WorkStory runs performance reviews inside Slack without asking anyone to log in elsewhere.

A career ladder defines what it takes to reach each level in a role. How to build one that actually clarifies promotions instead of causing arguments.

OKRs and KPIs get used interchangeably, but they answer different questions. Here's the actual difference and when to use each.

Four ready-to-use 1:1 templates — weekly, monthly, quarterly, and record of discussion — so you stop staring at a blank doc.

See how Performance Review Cycles automate feedback, reminders, and AI-assisted review drafts so managers finish stronger reviews faster. Watch the demo.

Performance reviews and employee recognition are two of the most widely used HR practices—but too often, they fail to work together.

Ditch the annual reset. Practical habits managers can build year-round — real check-ins, continuous feedback, aligned goals.

Gen Z is a growing share of your workforce. Here's what actually keeps them engaged — flexibility, growth, and real values.

Most employees feel in the dark about promotions. Here's how employees and managers can make career paths clearer.

Most communication now happens through screens, which makes authenticity harder — and more important. Why it builds trust at work.

Burnout quietly wrecks productivity and retention. A practical guide for SMB leaders to spot it early and prevent it.

Startups need people who can hit the ground running. Why skills-based hiring beats degrees and job titles, and how to implement it.

Nonprofit teams juggle a lot with lean staff. A guide to picking performance management tools that fit how nonprofits actually work.

Nearly half of US workers don't use all their vacation time. Why leaders set the tone, and how to actually get your team to unplug.

AI isn't replacing HR — it's changing what HR spends time on. How to actually harness it instead of fearing it.

Have you ever seen someone who's really good at their job get promoted, but then they struggle in their new position? That's the Peter Principle.

Onboarding sets the tone for everything after. Questions SMB managers should ask new hires to make the transition actually stick.

Remote teams saw meetings jump 60% since 2020. How to cut the time-wasters and make meetings actually worth attending.

Seven concrete habits — from communication to constructive feedback — that separate a great coworker from just a good one.

In today's workforce, SMBs often employ individuals from multiple generations. Bridging the generation gap and effectively managing performance is crucial for fostering a cohesive and productive work environment.

Our 100+ Essential Performance Review Questions Kit is a powerful tool that not only provides you with an extensive list of meaningful performance review questions, but it also offers a range of features to help you make the most out of your performance reviews.

Performance improvement plans (PIPs) are designed to address underperformance and provide employees with the necessary support to improve. These plans set clear performance goals and expectations and outline the steps needed for employees to enhance their skills and achieve their potential.

When an employee leaves a company, conducting an exit interview is a valuable opportunity to gather feedback and insights. Effective off-boarding ensures a positive departure experience for the employee and provides valuable information for the company to improve retention rates and create a better work environment.

Run performance reviews through Webex with automated prompts and AI-assisted summaries — no separate tool for your team to learn.

Most bonus systems are opaque and once-a-year. Here's how to build one that's transparent, flexible, and tied to real performance.

As companies evolve, promoting employees to higher roles becomes crucial to maintaining their growth and success. But how do managers determine which employees are ready for a promotion?

Effective offboarding ensures that the departing employee leaves on good terms, and it provides valuable feedback to the company about how to improve retention rates and create a better work environment.

Sample career progression frameworks for sales, engineering, and marketing, plus how to build your own and tie it to promotions.

A sample unlimited PTO policy you can copy, plus the real pros, cons, and pitfalls to solve before rolling one out.

An employee handbook isn't just a checkbox task — it sets expectations and protects your business. What to include and why it matters.

Asking for a raise is daunting, especially the first time. When to ask, how to make your case, and what to do if the answer is no.

Many employees feel overlooked or undervalued by their managers, leading to demoralization and a lack of engagement. But there are steps employees can take to ensure their achievements are recognized and rewarded.

A manager's guide to spotting underperformance, running a PIP, and fixing root causes — before it costs you the employee.

Glassdoor reviews shape who applies to your company. How to respond to them, encourage honest ones, and handle exits well.

Promoting the wrong person can lead to negative consequences even increased employee turnover.This is why it's crucial to assess an employee's readiness for a promotion before making any decisions.

Why are business leaders shifting their focus towards "ruthless execution" in today's market environment. What systems, tools, and resources are they looking for to help them get the most out of their teams.

It can be a challenge when your organization has a limited hierarchy or your team has limited opportunities for promotion. This can quickly lead to employee frustration and demotivation. However, there are ways to manage employee expectations to foster a positive growth-mindset culture.

As an HR manager, you know that maintaining pay equity is critical for building a positive organizational culture and attracting top talent. But how do you measure and track pay equity, and why is it so important?

Hiring the wrong person costs more than time. 10 interview questions that reveal whether a candidate is actually the right fit.

As a startup founder, you're always looking for the fastest way to drive growth. One of the key factors in achieving this is having a well-oiled and engaged team. But how do you measure and track employee performance in a fast-paced, ever-changing startup environment?

As a startup founder, you understand the value of having a team that is dedicated, motivated, and continuously growing. But with limited resources, it can be challenging to reward your employees for their hard work and dedication.

Firing employees is never an easy task for managers, but it's a regular occurrence in any office environment. Managers can approach firing employees in a way that minimizes the impact on both while maximizing respect throughout the process.

DEI isn't just an ethics conversation — it's tied to better decisions and innovation. What DEI promotes, and who owns it.

Office romances are a common occurrence in the workplace, where individuals spend a significant amount of time together. As a result, it is important for employees to understand how to handle these types of relationships and for HR to have the necessary policies in place.

Identifying and promoting good leaders within an organization is crucial for the success and growth of any business. Good employees do not always make good leaders, and it is important for managers and small business executives to be able to identify potential leaders and give them the opportunity to step into leadership roles.

A practical checklist for evaluating employees for promotion — job performance, growth potential, team fit, and business needs.

Setting goals is an essential part of personal and professional development, but not all goals are created equal. In this pos, we will explore the SMART criteria and provide a template that employees and managers can use to quickly build their own goals.

OKRs, or Objectives and Key Results, is a framework for setting and achieving goals. In this guide, we will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of using OKRs in small businesses and provide tips for implementing them effectively.

Paid time off (PTO) and vacation policies can be a tricky issue to navigate. It's important to find a system that will work best for your particular team and will help to set the tone for the culture of your organization.

Run performance reviews and feedback collection right inside Slack — see how WorkStory keeps everything moving.

A layoff communication plan template for executives and HR, plus how to plan for and support employees through the process.

The idea of a four day workweek has been gaining traction in recent years, with many companies and countries exploring the potential benefits and drawbacks. What are the pros and cons of this style of working?

Difficult bosses can have a significant impact on an employee's work experience. They can cause stress, anxiety, and a lack of motivation. However, with the right approach, it is possible to navigate a challenging work environment and maintain your well-being.

Reduce bias in performance reviews with year-round evidence, consistent criteria, multiple perspectives, and calibration. Build a fairer review process today.

Asking for a raise can be a nerve-wracking experience, but it's important to remember that it's a normal part of the professional process. Before you ask for a raise, it's important to be prepared and to have a clear idea of what you want to say and what you want to achieve.

While many organizations have formal mentorship programs, managers can also play an important role as informal mentors for their team members. Being a good mentor is different from being a good manager, and managers must learn to adapt their leadership style to be an effective mentor.

In order for companies to succeed in growing and maintaining a successful team, they must be able to set themselves apart by offering diverse compensation packages. By taking these steps, companies can create an environment that empowers and engages their employees, and sets them on the path to success in today's competitive market.

Learn how to replace forms and spreadsheets with automated reviews, continuous feedback, reminders, and AI-assisted drafts. Explore the practical steps.

What makes a goal SMART, real before/after examples for each letter of the acronym, and how to write your own step by step.

Making sure your employees are as healthy as they can be is one of the best ways you can both support your team as well as your company. While most employers seem to only focus on the physical health of employees, their mental health is just as important.

Many of our business process are outdated. They are products of legacy organizations and old-school management philosophies. Our model for promoting employees is wrong.