Lattice

Definition

Lattice is an American software company that provides a performance management platform for conducting employee reviews, setting and tracking goals, running engagement surveys, and managing compensation decisions tied to performance outcomes. Unlike full HR information systems that also handle payroll and core employee records, Lattice focuses specifically on the performance and development side of HR, typically integrating with a company's existing HRIS rather than replacing it. It competes with Culture Amp and the performance modules built into broader HR platforms like HiBob.

Overview

Lattice was built around a specific gap many companies experienced as they grew: basic HR information systems handled payroll and employee records well but offered weak or nonexistent tools for structured performance management, leaving managers to run reviews through spreadsheets, email, or generic document templates. Lattice's product addresses this gap directly by providing structured workflows for goal-setting, continuous feedback, formal performance reviews, and engagement surveys, all built to integrate with, rather than replace, a company's existing HRIS and payroll systems. This integration-first design was a deliberate choice to avoid competing head-on with established HRIS vendors for the core system-of-record role. The platform organizes performance data around individual and team goals, often using frameworks like OKRs, and connects those goals to periodic review cycles where managers and peers provide structured feedback. Lattice also includes engagement survey tools that measure employee sentiment over time, and a compensation module that lets HR and finance teams tie compensation decisions to documented performance ratings, creating an auditable link between review outcomes and pay changes that many organizations previously handled through informal, undocumented manager judgment. As a performance-management specialist, Lattice sits alongside Culture Amp, which offers similar engagement survey and performance functionality, rather than alongside full HRIS platforms like Personio or Workday, which Lattice typically integrates with instead of competing against directly. Some broader HR platforms, such as HiBob, include their own built-in performance modules that overlap with what Lattice offers as a standalone product, meaning the competitive line depends on whether a company wants performance management bundled into its core HRIS or handled by a dedicated specialist tool. Companies use Lattice to standardize performance review cycles across departments, replacing ad hoc manager-specific processes with a consistent framework, and to track progress on company and individual goals throughout the year rather than only during annual review season. HR and people teams use its survey tools to monitor engagement trends and identify retention risks before they result in turnover, often reviewing survey data alongside performance ratings to spot managers who need coaching support. The trade-off of Lattice's specialized focus is that it requires integration with a separate HRIS and payroll system, adding one more tool to a company's HR technology stack rather than consolidating everything in one platform. Companies preferring a single unified system, or those already using an HRIS with adequate built-in performance features, may not see enough additional value to justify a standalone performance management product.

Key Features

• Structured performance review cycles and templates
• Goal-setting and tracking using frameworks like OKRs
• Continuous feedback tools for managers and peers
• Employee engagement surveys and sentiment tracking
• Compensation module linking pay to performance ratings
• Integration with existing HRIS and payroll systems
• Analytics on review outcomes and engagement trends
• Focus on performance and development rather than core HR records

Use Cases

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Frequently Asked Questions

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