How BambooHR Works? A-Z Guide – August 2024 Updated

Human resource management is vital for the success of businesses of all sizes. BambooHR offers a comprehensive suite of tools to simplify and streamline HR processes. With a wide range of powerful features like employee data management, applicant tracking, and performance management, the software covers every aspect of human resource management.

BambooHR Overview

BambooHR

• Spot Score: 9.8/10

• Pricing: Custom pricing

• Platforms: Browser Based, Android, iOS

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How BambooHR Works

BambooHR is an all-in-one HR platform built for small and medium-sized businesses. It brings all HR tasks in one place, from employee onboarding to benefit administration. BambooHR offers a range of features for human resource management:

Employee Data Management

The platform brings employee information in a single secure database, from personal details and job titles to compensation and performance reviews. The platform also enables employee self-service, eliminating the need to contact HR professionals for data input or modifications. Employees can easily update and retrieve their data.

BambooHR simplifies data management and drives decisions through data analysis with instant pre-built reports.

Applicant Tracking

BambooHR simplifies the hiring process with its applicant tracking system. Users can post jobs, review resumes, and provide feedback from anywhere. The platform simplifies posting job openings by sharing them across multiple job boards and social media channels. This increases visibility and helps attract high-quality candidates.

With this software, sending offer letters is quick and efficient. Customizable templates auto-populate candidate information, and electronic signatures make the acceptance process simple and fast.

Onboarding and Offboarding

The software personalized the onboarding process to create a more engaging start for new hires. It offers customized welcome messages based on job types, departments, and locations.

Onboarding tasks can be sent automatically for new hires to complete at their own pace. It also offers an electronic signature feature that eliminates paper forms and reduces administrative tasks.

Moreover, BambooHR reduces worries about final paychecks and benefits by addressing common concerns and simplifying the offboarding process. It delivers useful insights into why employees leave, helping organizations understand turnover patterns and find ways to improve.

Time Tracking

BambooHR offers a time-tracking solution, allowing employees to log hours, request time off, and track attendance. Managers can review and approve time-off requests and monitor attendance patterns.

Performance Management

The software provides an effective approach to employee performance reviews with 360-degree feedback, customizable questions, and a format for more frequent and relevant evaluations. BambooHR allows for meaningful feedback through simple, targeted questions, helping to identify strengths, areas for improvement, and career development opportunities.

Reporting and Analytics

BambooHR provides a range of reporting and analytics tools. Users can generate custom reports on employee data, turnover rates, and other HR metrics. These insights help organizations make informed decisions and improve HR strategies.

BambooHR Pricing

BambooHR offers custom pricing options. For companies with more than 25 employees, the software offers a per-employee, per-month basis pricing. For companies with 25 employees or fewer, pricing is charged at a monthly flat rate.

• Core Plan provides foundational HR automation and insights, including essential features for managing employee data, reporting, hiring, onboarding, time off tracking, and benefits management.
• Pro Plan is a more comprehensive solution that enhances the employee experience and offers greater flexibility. Besides all the features in the Core plan, this plan includes advanced performance management tools and employee community features.
• Add-on solutions include Payroll (US employees only), Benefits Administration (US employees only), and Time Tracking.

BambooHR Payroll Add-on

Payroll is BambooHR’s add-on solution for US-based employees that allows data to flow automatically and makes it easy to run payroll quickly and efficiently. Moreover, users can have comprehensive payroll reporting, helpful customer support, and full-service tax filing.

How BambooHR Payroll Works

BambooHR Payroll handles everything from direct deposit to tax filing. This system ensures accuracy, compliance, and efficiency in payroll management. Here’s how BambooHR Payroll works while focusing on what matters most—your people:

Direct Deposit

Employees provide their bank account details. When payroll is processed, their pay is electronically deposited into their accounts. BambooHR Payroll ensures employees get their pay on time and securely, without the delays associated with mailing physical checks.

Flexible Pay Schedules

The payroll system supports flexible pay schedules and pay groups. BambooHR Payroll allows employers to set pay periods based on their business needs, such as bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly. HR teams can create multiple pay schedules to accommodate different groups within the organization (e.g., salaried vs. hourly employees).

Federal & State Tax Filing

BambooHR Payroll handles the calculation and filing of federal, state, and local taxes on behalf of your organization. This includes withholding and submitting income taxes, social security, medicare, and other applicable taxes. The system ensures compliance with tax laws and reduces the administrative burden on HR departments.

Single Source of Data

BambooHR serves as a single source of truth for employee data. All information related to wages, hours worked, account numbers, benefits, deductions, and withholdings is stored in the platform.

When employee data is updated in BambooHR, such as changes in wages, hours, or benefits, this information automatically syncs in the payroll system. This eliminates the need for manual data entry, reducing error risks. Payroll calculations are always based on the most current data.

Specialized Support Team

BambooHR has a dedicated support team with in-depth experience and expertise in payroll processes and regulations. This team handles any payroll-related questions or issues.

Payroll Reporting

BambooHR offers more than 100 built-in reports that cover many aspects of payroll like expenses, tax filings, and employee compensation. These reports help organizations with budget planning, compliance, and strategic decision-making.

Self Service Portal

The self service portal allows employees to view pay stubs, update direct deposit information, and make other changes through BambooHR’s mobile or desktop platforms.

BambooHR Payroll Integration

Besides its payroll add-on, BambooHR integrates with many popular global payroll software like Deel, Papaya Global, Remote, and Oyster.

BambooHR Payroll Pricing

BambooHR offers custom pricing. For companies with more than 25 employees, the software offers a per-employee, per-month basis pricing. For companies with 25 employees or fewer, pricing is charged at a monthly flat rate. Currently, the software offers a 15% discount when you combine Payroll and Benefits Administration with the Core or Pro plan (available only for employees based in the US).

BambooHR Payroll Reviews

BambooHR is known for its user-friendly interface and ease of use. The platform simplifies many aspects of payroll management. It centralizes employee data and integrates payroll with other HR functions like onboarding and time tracking.

BambooHR Payroll is intuitive, which helps in managing payroll with minimal training. Besides, with built-in payroll reports, the system supports businesses with budget planning and strategic payroll decisions. In addition, PTO tracking is used effectively.

Payroll is one of BambooHR’s add-ons, so it has limitations, especially for businesses with complex payroll structures.

Top 3 BambooHR Alternatives

This comparison explores BambooHR and its top three competitors: Gusto, ADP Workforce Now, and Namely.

BambooHR vs ADP Workforce Now

BambooHR is known for its user-friendly HRIS for small to mid-sized businesses. Meanwhile, ADP Workforce Now is more popular for mid-sized to large businesses. BambooHR focuses on simplifying HR processes and enhancing employee experience. ADP Workforce Now stands out in human capital management and HR analytics.

BambooHR vs Gusto

Both platforms offer powerful HR solutions. BambooHR HRIS is built for a positive HR experience that brings solutions for employee management, onboarding, and performance management. While payroll and benefits administration are BambooHR’s add-ons, they are Gusto’s main features. The software simplifies payroll processing, tax filing, and compliance.

BambooHR vs Namely

BambooHR is well-suited for small to mid-sized businesses while Namely is ideal for medium to larger businesses. BambooHR is rated higher for its ease of use and HR functionalities whereas Namely is better for its features designed to boost employee engagement.

Conclusion

BambooHR delivers comprehensive features that help businesses manage everything from employee data and time tracking to performance assessment and payroll. If you explore HR software options available, BambooHR is a good choice that provides an effective HR management experience.

(Image Credit: spotSaaS/BambooHR)

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