The role(s) assigned to someone in 15Five determine what they can see, do, and manage in the platform. Some roles have default permissions that cannot be changed, while others allow for feature-specific control.
In this article, you will learn...
- General 15Five roles and permissions
- User statuses (Active, Invited, Deactivated)
- Feature-specific roles and permissions
General 15Five roles
These are the most common roles that shape the 15Five experience.
Supports HR leaders with broader access to people data, engagement results, and performance reviews.
HR admins in 15Five have the same permissions as Account Admins, plus additional access across key strategic features. This includes visibility into the HR Outcomes Dashboard (also accessible by Account Admins by default), access to demographic attributes and reporting, and the ability to manage and view results for both Engagement campaigns and Best-Self Review® cycles.
Help Center article 💡: Manage HR Admins
Help Center article 💡: What to Expect: I'm an HR Admin
Academy Course 🎓: Welcome to 15Five: Admins
Has full administrative control over settings, users, features, and billing.
Account Admins manage everything from adding and deactivating users, assigning permissions, adjusting company settings, configuring features (like Check-ins, Objectives, Engagement, and the HR Outcomes Dashboard), and managing integrations.
By default, they also have access to the HR Outcomes Dashboard, where they can view organizational metrics, assign actions, and support strategic initiatives. Only trusted leaders or HR/People Ops team members should be Account Admins.
Help Center article 💡: Manage Account Admins
Help Center article 💡: What to Expect: I'm an Account Admin
Academy Course 🎓: Welcome to 15Five: Admins
Manages subscription billing and payment settings in 15Five.
Billing Admins can view and manage payment methods, download invoices, and update subscription plans. While Account Admins have billing rights by default, the Billing Admin role can be assigned to someone who needs access to financial information only—without giving them full platform control.
Help Center article 💡: Manage Billing Admins
Manages settings, Check-in questions, and participants for specific groups in 15Five.
Group Admins oversee group membership and Check-in question management for the groups they are assigned. This role helps managers or team leads customize their group's experience in 15Five without needing full company-wide admin access. Only Managers or Account Admins can be assigned as Group Admins.
Help Center article 💡: Change a Group Admin
Leads a team of direct reports and supports them through regular coaching and feedback.
Managers can view and manage their direct reports' Check-ins, Objectives, Best-Self Review® submissions, Feedback, and 1-on-1s. They are responsible for reviewing progress, removing roadblocks, and supporting their team's performance and growth. Managers also have access to basic reporting on their team's engagement and performance trends.
Help Center article 💡: Change a Person's Manager
Academy Course 🎓: Welcome to 15Five: Managers
An individual contributor who uses 15Five to stay aligned, give feedback, and grow.
Employees can use all core features available to them (like Check-ins, Feedback, Objectives, etc.). They can complete their profiles, manage notification preferences and vacation schedules, and use 15Five to share updates, track progress, and engage with their manager.
Help Center article 💡: Add New People
Help Center article 💡: Getting Started Guide for Employees
Academy Course 🎓: Welcome to 15Five: Employees
User statuses (Active, Invited, Deactivated)
Every person added to 15Five has both a role (which controls what they can see and do) and a status (which reflects where they are in their journey with the platform).
You can view and manage these statuses from the "Manage People" page (in-app link), where you can invite new users, trigger invites, and deactivate or reactivate accounts as needed. Learn how →
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Active
The employee has accepted their invitation to 15Five and is actively using the platform. Active users automatically fill a billable seat and are eligible to participate in surveys, reviews, and all platform activities. -
Inactive
The employee has been added to 15Five but has not yet accepted their invitation. This includes users who were invited but haven't joined, or those who haven’t been sent an invite yet. Inactive users can participate in Engagement Surveys and Reviews only if you assign them a billable seat. Learn how → -
Deactivated
The employee was once active in 15Five but has been deactivated (typically after leaving the organization or changing roles). Deactivated users no longer have access to the platform and cannot participate in Check-ins, Surveys, Reviews, or Objectives.
Feature-specific roles
In addition to general roles like Manager, HR Admin, and Account Admin, some 15Five features have their own specialized permissions. These feature-specific roles give individuals access to manage or oversee certain areas—like Engagement campaigns, Performance Reviews, and Objectives—without granting full platform admin rights.
Assigning feature-specific roles allows you to delegate ownership of key programs, protect sensitive information, and empower the right people to lead initiatives in their areas of focus
Learn more about feature-specific roles using the resources below: