Running a business without solid HR reports is like flying a plane with no dashboard—you are guessing at best, crashing at worst. The right types of HR reports reveal the health of your workforce, highlight trends, and arm you with insights to make bold, informed moves.
But picking the right HR report types isn’t always as easy as it seems. There is so much to choose from, and the pressure to get it just right is real. Pick the wrong one, and suddenly you are stuck with a pile of data that doesn’t actually help anyone. To make it easier for you, we have listed 15 HR report types you need to make smart, actionable decisions – fast.
3 Most Important HR Reports You Need
Here are the top 3 HR report templates every HR professional should have for effective workforce management:
Standard HR Report Types + Free Templates
Here are the standard HR report types every HR department needs, with free customizable templates for your data:
1. Employee Performance Report
An employee performance report helps track individual and team productivity, goal achievements, and overall effectiveness. It uncovers opportunities to reward high performers and implement targeted development plans for areas requiring improvement.
Details To Include:
- Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Measure specific outcomes like sales numbers or project completions.
- Productivity Rates: Hours worked vs. output delivered.
- Goal Completion Rates: Percentage of assigned goals met within deadlines.
2. Recruitment Report
A recruitment report provides insights into your hiring process, helping you evaluate sourcing channels, recruitment metrics, time-to-hire, and candidate quality. It identifies opportunities to streamline hiring workflows, reduce costs, and attract top talent more effectively.
Details To Include:
- Time-to-Hire: Average days taken to fill a position (shorter times often indicate efficiency).
- Cost-per-Hire: Total recruiting costs divided by the number of hires (lower costs without compromising quality are ideal).
- Candidate Success Rate: Percentage of hires that meet performance expectations after onboarding.
3. Turnover & Retention Report
A turnover & retention report tracks employee departures and retention trends to help you understand why employees leave and how to retain top talent. This report evaluates the effectiveness of retention strategies for addressing high turnover rates.
It also highlights patterns and opportunities to strengthen workplace culture and reduce the costs associated with employee turnover.
Details To Include:
- Turnover Rate: Percentage of employees leaving during a given period (lower rates indicate better retention).
- Average Tenure: Length of time employees stay with your organization (longer tenure reflects higher satisfaction).
- Retention Rate by Department: Percentage of employees retained in specific teams (identifies areas needing improvement).
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4. Attendance & Leave Report
An attendance & leave report tracks employee attendance, absenteeism, and leave balances to ensure workforce availability and compliance with company policies. This headcount report provides insights into optimizing scheduling, addressing productivity gaps, and improving employee engagement through effective leave management.
Details To Include:
- Absenteeism Rate: Total absences divided by total working days (higher rates may indicate disengagement or workplace issues).
- Leave Balance: Remaining leave days for each employee (ensures proper scheduling and fairness).
- Attendance Rate: Percentage of days present vs. scheduled workdays (a high rate indicates reliability).
5. Training & Development Report
A training and development report evaluates employee participation, skill improvements, and the return on investment (ROI) of training programs. Use this report after training sessions or periodically to assess the effectiveness of HR initiatives for development.
Details To Include:
- Training Completion Rate: Percentage of employees who completed assigned training (higher rates reflect engagement).
- Skill Improvement Scores: Pre- and post-training assessments (higher scores indicate effective learning).
- ROI of Training: Benefits gained compared to training costs (a positive ROI shows program value).
6. Diversity & Inclusion Report
A diversity & inclusion report tracks the representation of various demographic groups within your workforce and evaluates inclusivity efforts. This report identifies barriers to equity and offers actionable pathways to improve inclusivity and organizational performance.
Details To Include:
- Demographic Representation: Percentages of gender, ethnicity, and age groups across teams (balanced representation indicates progress).
- Promotion and Retention Rates: Comparison across demographic groups (equal rates reflect fairness).
- Inclusivity Survey Scores: Employee feedback on inclusivity and workplace culture (higher scores suggest a positive environment).
7. Compensation & Benefits Report
A compensation & benefits report evaluates salary structures, bonuses, and employee benefits for fair and competitive practices. This report assesses how well your compensation packages attract and retain talent.
Details To Include:
- Average Salary by Role: Compare with industry benchmarks to ensure competitiveness.
- Benefits Utilization Rate: Percentage of employees using available benefits (higher rates indicate relevance and value).
- Compensation-to-Revenue Ratio: Total compensation costs as a percentage of company revenue (balanced ratios reflect sustainability).
8. Compliance Report
A compliance report ensures that your business adheres to labor laws, workplace safety standards, and internal policies. It provides insights to identify potential risks, close compliance gaps, and strengthen your organization’s overall regulatory posture.
Details To Include:
- Policy Violation Incidents: Number of reported violations (fewer incidents indicate stronger compliance).
- Training Completion Rate for Compliance Programs: Percentage of employees trained on legal and safety requirements (higher rates suggest readiness).
- Regulatory Audit Findings: Number of compliance issues flagged during audits (fewer findings reflect better adherence).
9. Payroll Report
A payroll report provides detailed insights into employee salaries, deductions, taxes, and total payroll expenses. This report highlights trends and opportunities to optimize payroll efficiency and manage workforce costs effectively.
Details To Include:
- Total Payroll Costs: Sum of all salaries and related expenses (aligning with budget reflects good management).
- Overtime Payments: Amount spent on overtime wages (lower overtime indicates efficient scheduling).
- Payroll Error Rate: Percentage of payroll runs with errors (minimal errors signify accuracy).
10. Employee Satisfaction Report
An employee satisfaction report captures feedback on workplace culture, engagement levels, and overall employee happiness. This report understands team morale, identifies areas for improvement, and builds a positive work environment.
Details To Include:
- Engagement Scores: Results from employee surveys (higher scores reflect stronger engagement).
- Turnover Intention Rate: Percentage of employees considering leaving (lower rates indicate higher satisfaction).
- Net Promoter Score (NPS): Likelihood of employees recommending your workplace (higher scores suggest loyalty and satisfaction).
???? Did You Know?
78% of companies link employee recognition to higher retention.
(Source)
Specialized HR Reports + Free Templates
Here are specialized HR reports with free templates to address specific business objectives and challenges:
1. Onboarding Report
An onboarding report tracks the progress and effectiveness of the onboarding process for new hires. This report identifies gaps in the onboarding process and ensures new employees feel supported and productive from day one.
Details To Include:
- Onboarding Completion Rate: Percentage of new hires who complete the onboarding process (higher rates show engagement).
- Time-to-Productivity: Days it takes for new hires to reach expected performance levels (shorter times indicate effective onboarding).
- New Hire Satisfaction Scores: Feedback from new hires on the onboarding experience (higher scores reflect a positive experience).
2. Health & Safety Report
A health & safety report monitors workplace incidents, compliance with safety regulations, and the effectiveness of health programs. This report identifies risks early, enhances safety measures, and builds a culture of accountability and care.
Details To Include:
- Incident Rate: Number of workplace accidents or injuries per 100 employees (lower rates reflect a safer environment).
- Compliance Score: Percentage of safety inspections passed (higher scores indicate adherence to standards).
- Participation in Health Programs: Percentage of employees engaged in wellness initiatives (higher participation suggests a proactive health culture).
3. Succession Planning Report
A succession planning report identifies key employees ready for leadership roles and evaluates the effectiveness of your talent pipeline. It provides strategic insights to proactively address skill gaps, ensure leadership readiness, and drive long-term organizational growth.
Details To Include:
- Leadership Readiness Score: Assessment of potential successors’ skills and qualifications (higher scores reflect preparedness).
- Internal Promotion Rate: Percentage of leadership roles filled internally (higher rates indicate a robust pipeline).
- Time to Fill Leadership Roles: Days taken to replace key leaders (shorter times suggest efficient planning).
4. Employee Wellness Report
An employee wellness report tracks participation in wellness initiatives and evaluates their impact on employee health and productivity. This report offers a comprehensive guide to refine wellness programs, boost employee morale, and create a culture of well-being.
Details To Include:
- Program Participation Rate: Percentage of employees engaging in wellness programs (higher rates reflect interest and relevance).
- Health Risk Reduction Score: Changes in employee health metrics like BMI or cholesterol levels (improvement indicates program effectiveness).
- Employee Wellness Satisfaction Score: Feedback on wellness offerings (higher scores suggest alignment with employee needs).
5. Career Development Report
A career development report evaluates employee participation in training, promotions, and internal mobility to assess growth opportunities within your organization. This report helps pinpoint key areas for investment in talent development, ensuring a future-ready and engaged workforce.
Details To Include:
- Training Participation Rate: Percentage of employees completing development programs (higher rates reflect engagement).
- Internal Promotion Rate: Proportion of leadership roles filled internally (higher rates indicate a strong development pipeline).
- Career Progression Satisfaction Score: Employee feedback on career advancement opportunities (higher scores suggest alignment with expectations).
???? That’s Hard to Believe
68% of employees prefer work-life balance over higher pay.
(Source)
What Are The Benefits Of HR Reporting & Analytics?
Here are the advantages of HR reports and analytics:
- Gain actionable insights into hiring patterns, employee engagement, and turnover to provide a comprehensive overview that guides strategic decisions.
- Align skills with roles effectively by analyzing performance and productivity data.
- Proactively address compliance issues by tracking adherence to labor laws and safety standards.
- Use exit interviews and satisfaction reports to uncover the causes of employee turnover.
- Measure the impact of training programs through skill improvement and productivity metrics.
- Analyze demographic data to create more balanced and equitable workplaces.
- Predict workforce gaps or surpluses using analytics to plan recruitment and upskilling efforts.
- Track payroll and compensation data to manage budgets and reduce unnecessary costs.
???? This Might Surprise You
79% of employees will quit after receiving inadequate appreciation from their managers.
(Source)
8 Best Practices When Using HR Report
Follow these tips and strategies to create HR reports that truly deliver results:
- Define the specific questions you want each report to answer before collecting data.
- Use HR software to gather and update data in real time, reducing errors and saving time.
- Create uniform templates for easy comparison and consistent interpretation across reports.
- Prioritize metrics that directly impact decision-making like turnover costs or time-to-productivity.
- Align HR reports with organizational KPIs to demonstrate the impact of HR strategies on business success.
- Break down metrics by departments, roles, or demographics to uncover deeper trends and disparities.
- Schedule periodic reviews to ensure reports remain relevant and reflect current organizational priorities.
- Incorporate charts and graphs to make data more digestible and highlight key findings effectively.
Conclusion
Dive into the types of HR reports that matter most, customize them to your needs, and start turning raw data into game-changing strategies. With the right insights, you’re not just managing your workforce—you’re leading it to greatness.
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FAQs
What is the difference between HR reporting and HR analytics?
HR reporting focuses on presenting raw data, such as headcount or turnover rates, in a structured format for easy tracking. HR analytics goes deeper by analyzing trends and patterns in that data to provide actionable insights and guide strategic decisions.
How to prepare a MIS report in HR?
To prepare a Management Information System (MIS) report in HR, identify the key metrics you need to track like recruitment, attendance, or payroll. Use HR software or spreadsheets to collect, organize, and present this data in a clear, structured format that aligns with management’s goals.
How do you write a daily HR report?
A daily HR report should summarize critical activities like attendance, new hires, terminations, and any pressing issues. Keep it concise, using bullet points or tables to present data, and highlight any deviations or urgent matters for quick decision-making.
What is the HR executive summary report?
An HR executive summary report provides a high-level overview of key HR metrics and activities like turnover rates, recruitment progress, and compliance updates. It’s designed for executives to quickly understand workforce trends and make informed decisions without delving into detailed data.
