Microsoft retires peer-feedback tool by late 2024

Microsoft is pulling its peer‑feedback tool as part of a sweeping overhaul of its employee review process, an internal message shows. The tool, introduced a few years ago to replace the traditional performance review, let staff give anonymous feedback to colleagues. It was praised as a step toward a “kinder, gentler Microsoft.” The decision to retire it comes as the company moves to a new performance‑management system that emphasizes continuous, real‑time feedback.

The peer‑feedback tool was meant to foster collaboration and give employees a voice in their own development. But many users found it slow and sometimes unhelpful. The process required multiple steps, and the data rarely translated into actionable coaching. In interviews, several employees said the tool caused anxiety rather than empowerment. Microsoft’s leadership decided the tool was a distraction from the core goal of improving performance and engagement. The new system will replace the tool with quarterly check‑ins and goal‑setting that are integrated into the day‑to‑day workflow.

According to the memo, the tool will be retired by the end of the fourth quarter of 2024. Employees will no longer be able to submit peer feedback through the platform. Instead, the new system will rely on managers and peers to give feedback in real time, supported by a digital dashboard that tracks progress on objectives. HR will roll out training on how to give constructive feedback and how to use the new dashboard. Microsoft says the change will reduce review fatigue, shorten the annual cycle, and make conversations more meaningful.

The rollout will begin next month across all business units. The company will monitor adoption and gather feedback to tweak the system. If the transition succeeds, Microsoft could set a new standard for tech firms looking to modernise performance reviews. The move also signals a broader shift in the industry toward continuous performance management, where feedback is embedded in everyday work rather than a once‑a‑year event.