BambooHR Navigation Menu

This guide outlines the features available in the BambooHR left sidebar menu. Visibility of icons may vary based on user permissions, package limitations, or add-ons. It includes sections on employee, manager, and admin navigation icons, detailing access requirements and purposes for each tab. Common issues and their fixes are addressed, alongside frequently asked questions about navigation menus and customization. The document also provides related articles for further assistance. Users can reference specific permissions for various features, ensuring they understand how to access and utilize the available tools effectively. Overall, it serves as a comprehensive resource for navigating BambooHR's interface.

  • Jun 19, 2026
  • Knowledge

Title
BambooHR Navigation Menu
Article Text
Some features discussed in this guide are included in all packages, some are package-specific, and some are only available as purchased add-ons.

Why do I see different navigation icons in BambooHR, and what does each icon do?

Summary

This guide provides an overview of all features available in the BambooHR left sidebar menu. Some icons may not appear in your account due to access permissions, package limitations, or add-on availability. See the corresponding sections below for instructions on how to enable or add each feature.

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Table of Contents

This guide explores all possible features on the left sidebar menu in BambooHR. If you do not see some of these icons, it could be due to access, package, or add-on limitations. Instructions for adding or enabling each icon can be found in its section below.

Who this is for

Employee navigation icons

Tab NamePurpose
HomeView your homepage and widgets
My InfoView and update your employee information.
RecognitionView or send employee recognition and rewards, including those given and received, if enabled.
PeopleView your coworkers in the company directory, if enabled.
FilesAccess company files and documents available to you.
CommunityAccess Employee Community, if enabled.
My AccountEdit Account Settings, change your password or login method, manage integrations and API keys, or log out.
Expand/Collapse MenuClick to extend the menu to include tab labels or collapse to hide the tab labels.

Possible additional tabs

Tab NameAccess RequiredNotes
Hiring
  1. A custom access level user or Full Admin shares a job with the user.
  2. A custom access leve user or Full Admin adds the user as the Hiring Lead.
  1. By default, the user will only be able to see applicant’s resumes. When sharing a job opening, the Full Admin or custom access level user decides if the user can see additional information about applicants.
  2. Hiring Leadscan:
    • View and edit all candidate information related to the specific job opening they are assigned to as Hiring Lead.
    • Manually add new candidates to that job opening.
    • Receive notifications (by email and in the What's Happening widget on Home) when new applications are received or when collaborators comment on a candidate's profile. Email notifications can be turned off, but Home notifications will remain.
    • Cannot be removed as a collaborator on the job opening, but the Hiring Lead can be changed by editing the job opening.

The Hiring Lead's permissions are limited to the job opening(s) they are assigned to. They do not see other jobs or applicants unless assigned as Hiring Lead or collaborator on those as well.

Time & Attendance*
  1. A Full Admin user must add the user as a schedule manager.

PLEASE NOTE: This permission is independent of access level permissions. Schedule managers are assigned when creating a shift schedule.

  1. A Full Admin can add any user as a schedule manager. Schedule managers can create, edit, print, publish, and delete shifts.


Manager access level navigation menu

Tab NamePurpose
HomeView your homepage and widgets
My InfoView and update your employee information.
RecognitionView or send employee recognition and rewards, including those given and received, if enabled.
PeopleView coworkers in the company directory, if enabled.
ReportsView reports administrators have shared containing information you have access to. 
FilesAccess company files and documents available to you.
CommunityAccess Employee Community, if enabled.
My AccountEdit Account Settings, change your password or login method, manage integration and API keys, or log out.
Expand/Collapse MenuClick to extend the menu to include tab labels or collapse to hide the tab labels.

Managers commonly use these areas to:

  • Review employee information
  • Run reports
  • Check dashboard information on the Home page
  • Manage team-related activities

Possible additional tabs

Tab NameAccess RequiredNotes
Hiring
  1. A custom access level user or Full Admin shares a job with the user.
  2. A custom access leve user or Full Admin adds the user as the Hiring Lead.
  1. By default, the user will only be able to see applicant’s resumes. When sharing a job opening, the Full Admin or custom access level user decides if the user can see additional information about applicants.
  2. Hiring Leads can:
    • View and edit all candidate information related to the specific job opening they are assigned to as Hiring Lead.
    • Manually add new candidates to that job opening.
    • Receive notifications (by email and in the What's Happening widget on Home) when new applications are received or when collaborators comment on a candidate's profile. Email notifications can be turned off, but Home notifications will remain.
    • Cannot be removed as a collaborator on the job opening, but the Hiring Lead can be changed by editing the job opening.
       

The Hiring Lead's permissions are limited to the job opening(s) they are assigned to. They do not see other jobs or applicants unless assigned as Hiring Lead or collaborator on those as well.

Time & Attendance
  1. A Full Admin user must add the user as a schedule manager.

PLEASE NOTE: This permission is independent of access level permissions. Schedule managers are assigned when creating a shift schedule.

  1. A Full Admin can add any user as a schedule manager. Schedule managers can create, edit, print, publish, and delete shifts.

 

Full Admin and Custom access level navigation menu

Full Admin users have access to perform almost all actions in a BambooHR account. Custom access levels have the potential to permit users to perform many actions that are otherwise specific to full admin users. Since custom access level permissions differ heavily from company-to-company, this guide references every possible permission that would provide access to a tab on the navigation menu.

Tab NamePurpose
HomeView your homepage and widgets
My InfoView and update your employee information.
RecognitionView or send employee recognition and rewards, including those given and received, if enabled.
PeopleView coworkers in the company directory, if enabled.
CommunityAccess Employee Community, if enabled.
SettingsAccess BambooHR Settings.
HelpAccess BambooHR help resources.
My AccountEdit Account Settings, change your password or login method, manage integration and API keys, or log out.
Expand/Collapse MenuClick to extend the menu to include tab labels or collapse to hide the tab labels.

Possible additional tabs

* This feature is a paid add-on feature.

** This feature is package-dependent.

Tab NameAccess OptionsNotes
Reports

Access Level Permissions (found under What Can People with this Access Level Do?)

  1. Create New Reports
  2. View Payroll Reports*
  3. View Benefits Administration Reports*
  4. Dashboard Access*

Shared Report Permissions

  1. Sharing a report grants users View access to that report.
Shared Report Permissions
  1. Users must also have View or Edit access to the fields included in the report.
FilesAccess Level Permissions (found under What Can People with this Access Level Do?)
  1. Upload Files
  2. Request E-Signatures and Set Up Templates
  3. Folder-specific access

Shared File Permissions

  1. Sharing a file grants users View access to that file.
The Files tab will show if any file is shared with the custom access level user. The permissons referenced will grant them Edit access to features in Company Files.
Payroll*Access Level Permissions found under What Can People with this Access Level Do?)
  1. Run Payroll
    • Approve Payroll (this permission cannot be granted without the granting Run Payroll permission).
Users in the Payroll Admin access level will automatically have access to run and approve payroll and view payroll reports, meaning the Payroll tab will also show for them.
Compensation**Access Level Permissions (found under What Can People with this Access Level Do?)

Under Settings in Custom Access Level Settings
  1. Compensation - Benchmarking Admin
  2. Compensation - Levels and Bands Admin
  3. Compensation - Total Rewards Admin


The Compensation tab will show if any of the listed permissions are granted. 
Time & Attendance*
  1. A Full Admin must add the user as a schedule manager.

PLEASE NOTE: This permission is independent of access level permissions. Schedule managers are assigned when creating a shift schedule.

  1. A Full Admin can add any user as a Schedule manager. Schedule managers can create, edit, print, publish, and delete shifts.


Benefits*

Access Level Permissions (found under What Can People with this Access Level Do?)

Under Settings in Custom Access Level Settings

  1. Benefits
  1. While other permissions are required for a user to completely manage Benefits Tracking or Benefits Administration in BambooHR, the Benefits checkbox in Custom Access Level settings is what enables the Benefits tab in the Navigation Menu.
Community**
  1. A Full Admin must add the user as a community admin or moderator.

PLEASE NOTE: This permission is independent of access level permissions. Community admins and moderators are assigned through Employee Community settings.

Employee Community will show for all users when enabled. The permission referenced will grant them Edit access to Employee Community features.
Global Employment*

Access Level Permissions (found under What Can People with this Access Level Do?)

  1. Manage Employer of Record (EOR) Contracts

Account and system icons

Tab namePurposeAvailable to
SettingsAccess BambooHR settings.
  1. Account owner
  2. Full Admin users
  3. Custom access level users
HelpAccess BambooHR help resources.
  1. Account owner
  2. Full Admin users
  3. Any users in a custom access level
My AccountAccess account settings.
  1. All BambooHR users (excluding non-employee users)

Common issues and fixes

IssueLikely causeFix
I do not see the Reports tab.Missing report permission.Review access level permissions and ensure reports have been shared with the user.
I do not see the Hiring tab.No job shared, not a hiring lead, not granted custom access.Have an admin share a job, add as a hiring lead, or grant custom access.
I do not see the Time & Attendance tab.Not assigned as a schedule manager.Have a full admin assign the user as schedule manager.
I do not see the Payroll tab.Missing payroll permissions.Assign as payroll admin or custom access level permissions.
I do not see the help icon.Missing custom or full admin access.Request resources from a full admin or request an access reevaluation.
I see different icons than my coworkers.Different access levels.Compare assigned permissions.

Frequently asked questions

1. Why do users see different navigation menus?

Navigation menus vary based on access level, package, add-ons, and permissions.

2. Can I customize which icons appear?

Only indirectly through access levels and feature permissions.

3. Why did a new tab appear?

An admin may have enabled a new feature, permission, or add-on. BambooHR may have released a new product. Check out our product release notes for more information.

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