Remote and Hybrid workplace

5 Slack Apps for Diversity and Inclusion

Explore five Slack apps designed to enhance diversity and inclusion in remote workplaces, fostering connections and improving engagement.

Fabien Pinel

17 Feb 2025 — 7 min read

In today’s distributed workplaces, Slack apps can help HR teams make diversity and inclusion (D&I) a part of daily workflows. Here are five apps that stand out:

BuddiesHR: Tools like Alfy (coffee chats), Clappy (recognition badges), and Pulsy (anonymous surveys) improve team connections and track inclusion metrics.
TINYpulse: Anonymous surveys and sentiment analysis track D&I progress, helping HR teams identify gaps and improve inclusion scores.
CoffeePals: Automates virtual coffee chats to connect employees across backgrounds, boosting engagement in Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).
Donut: Structured programs like Diversity Donuts and mentorship matching facilitate inclusion-focused discussions and cross-department knowledge sharing.
Moodbit: AI analyzes Slack messages for ongoing emotional intelligence monitoring, identifying sentiment trends and inclusion challenges in real time.

Quick Comparison

App	Focus	Key Features	Starting Price
BuddiesHR	Connections, feedback, engagement	Coffee chats, recognition badges, dashboards	Free (under 30 users)
TINYpulse	Feedback and insights	Anonymous surveys, sentiment analysis, dashboards	$5/user/month
CoffeePals	Building connections	Virtual coffee chats, ERG tools, analytics	$3/user/month
Donut	Structured D&I programs	Group discussions, mentorship matching, onboarding	$4/user/month
Moodbit	Sentiment tracking	AI sentiment analysis, privacy safeguards, metrics	Custom pricing

These tools integrate seamlessly with Slack, making it easier to align them with your D&I goals. Start with a pilot program to test which app fits your team’s needs best.

BuddiesHR offers a collection of Slack apps designed to tackle diversity and inclusion (D&I) challenges. These tools focus on building connections, gathering feedback, and tracking engagement, making them a solid choice for distributed teams aiming to improve workplace inclusivity.

Here’s how their key apps work:

Alfy: Simplifies cross-cultural connections with automated coffee chats, helping international hires integrate 67% faster.
Clappy: Promotes inclusion by using customizable recognition badges like "Cultural Ambassador" to celebrate diverse contributions.
Pulsy: Uses anonymous surveys to engage underrepresented groups, boosting participation rates by 34%.

Public recognition in Slack channels highlights contributions from diverse team members, encouraging inclusive behaviors. Additionally, Linky helps team members connect by providing searchable employee profiles that include pronouns and personal interests, fostering a sense of community.

BuddiesHR also offers real-time dashboards to monitor inclusion metrics across departments, giving HR teams valuable insights. For teams that require more tailored surveys, TINYpulse can add even more depth to these capabilities.

2. TINYpulse

TINYpulse stands out by focusing on gathering data to better understand and improve diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Using anonymous pulse surveys, the platform encourages honest employee feedback about workplace culture. Its integration with Slack makes it easy for employees to participate, boosting response rates by 40% ^[1].

The platform provides a detailed dashboard for tracking diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) metrics. Data can be segmented by demographic groups, helping HR teams monitor key areas such as:

Metric Type	What It Measures	Impact
Inclusion Index	Employee sentiment across groups	Tracks DEI progress month-to-month
ERG Engagement	Resource group participation	Evaluates community involvement
Sentiment Trends	Cultural climate indicators	Pinpoints areas needing attention

One of TINYpulse's key tools is its sentiment analysis feature. This tool identifies potential inclusion issues early and alerts managers through Slack if survey results highlight diversity concerns within specific teams ^[3].

"The anonymous feedback channels have been instrumental in identifying microaggressions in team communications. One organization increased underrepresented group retention by 25% after implementing monthly inclusion index surveys." ^[3]

TINYpulse suggests conducting quarterly inclusion surveys to align with DEI objectives. Automated Slack reminders help maintain high participation rates, often exceeding 85% ^[3]. By segmenting data demographically, HR teams can pinpoint which groups may need additional support.

For those looking to combine data insights with more casual team-building, CoffeePals offers...

3. CoffeePals

CoffeePals takes a different approach from data-focused tools like TINYpulse by fostering connections through automated virtual coffee chats in Slack. Its goal? To bring employees together across departments, locations, and backgrounds, creating stronger, more inclusive workplace relationships.

The app connects employees in various ways:

Connection Type	Purpose	Impact
ERG Connections	Build community within resource groups	89% reported feeling more included after 3 months ^[2]
Cross-Cultural Pairings	Bridge gaps between regional offices	72% adoption rate among remote teams ^[2]
Mentorship Matches	Encourage career growth	2-3 meaningful connections per employee monthly ^[7]

To make these connections seamless, the platform uses an algorithm that considers time zones and language preferences ^[2]. This is especially handy for global teams looking to improve cross-cultural communication. It even includes optional conversation starters designed to help break the ice in diverse groups ^[2].

"Our neurodiversity ERG saw tremendous success with CoffeePals. The informal coffee chats created a comfortable space for authentic conversations, leading to better understanding and inclusion across teams." ^[2]

CoffeePals goes beyond simple matching by offering analytical tools that help HR teams measure participation and engagement trends while maintaining privacy compliance ^[7]. With support for multiple languages, it’s a practical solution for organizations with a global workforce ^[8].

4. Donut

Donut brings diversity and inclusion efforts directly into Slack, offering tools that support connection-building, gathering feedback, and tracking engagement. With a stellar 4.7/5 rating from 237 reviews on G2 ^[9], it's clear this app has made an impact by helping teams build stronger workplace relationships. Unlike CoffeePals, which leans toward casual networking, Donut takes a more structured approach with programs designed to deliver measurable DEI outcomes.

Here’s a breakdown of Donut's key programs:

Program Type	Purpose	Key Features
Diversity Donuts	Facilitates small group discussions on inclusion topics	Rotating groups, customizable prompts
Mentorship Matching	Encourages cross-department knowledge sharing	Automated pairing across experience levels
DEI Onboarding	Creates an inclusive experience for new hires	Structured diversity training and introductions

The 'Diversity Donuts' program sets up dedicated Slack channels for guided discussions on inclusion topics. With rotating group setups and customizable prompts, HR teams can tackle specific challenges while ensuring everyone gets a chance to participate.

Donut also integrates seamlessly with HR tools like BambooHR and Workday ^[6], making it easier for companies to maintain consistent DEI initiatives. Its pricing options range from free plans to enterprise solutions, making it accessible for organizations of any size.

"Donut Intros has been instrumental in creating a more inclusive remote work culture. The automated matches across departments have helped break down traditional barriers and foster genuine connections." ^[8]

For teams seeking added insights, Donut pairs well with tools like Moodbit, which offers emotional intelligence analysis for a deeper understanding of team dynamics.

5. Moodbit

Moodbit complements structured DEI programs like Donut by offering AI-driven tools for emotional intelligence monitoring. With a strong 4.7/5 rating from 52 reviews on G2 ^[5], it helps HR teams spot and address inclusion challenges early. Instead of relying on periodic surveys, Moodbit provides ongoing feedback, aligning with the need for continuous DEI monitoring.

The app uses AI to analyze Slack messages, flagging potential concerns while ensuring employee privacy with these safeguards:

Privacy Feature	How It Works
End-to-End Encryption	Ensures direct messages are securely handled
Opt-in Controls	Lets employees choose whether to participate
Data Access Limits	Restricts viewing permissions by role

What makes Moodbit stand out is its ability to uncover sentiment differences between demographic groups and evaluate DEI efforts in real time. This approach minimizes survey fatigue while delivering consistent insights.

Moodbit’s analytics dashboard tracks key metrics, offering actionable data:

Metric Type	Insights Provided
Sentiment Disparity	Highlights morale differences across demographic groups
Language Analysis	Monitors use of inclusive language in communications
ERG Engagement	Tracks participation in diversity-focused initiatives
Incident Tracking	Logs and analyzes frequency and resolution of concerns

For HR teams looking to base their DEI strategies on solid data, Moodbit delivers the insights needed to create more focused and effective diversity initiatives.

App Features Comparison

Here's a breakdown of key features across popular platforms:

Feature Category	BuddiesHR	TINYpulse	CoffeePals	Donut	Moodbit
Privacy Features	Role-based access controls	GDPR compliance, 5-person anonymity threshold	Optional identity masking	Standard encryption	End-to-end encryption
Integration Depth	Native Slack apps suite	Direct channel reporting	Automated Slackbot reminders	Workflow automation	Real-time monitoring
Starting Price	Free (under 30 users)	$5/user/month	$3/user/month	$4/user/month	Custom pricing

When it comes to analytics, each platform brings something different to the table:

TINYpulse offers demographic-based engagement scoring.
Moodbit links sentiment trends to diversity metrics, helping HR teams spot patterns.

Platforms with deeper integrations tend to be easier to adopt compared to standalone tools ^[3]^[4]. For example, BuddiesHR connects surveys with recognition systems, creating a more cohesive experience. Meanwhile, Moodbit's sentiment analysis adds depth to traditional engagement data.

These tools are designed to work effortlessly within Slack, giving HR teams the flexibility to align solutions with their diversity and inclusion goals.

Next Steps

Now that you have these tools, it's time to take a structured, data-driven approach. Drawing from Atlassian's experience, consider starting small with a pilot program. Focus on testing one or two apps before expanding their use across the organization.

To make the most of these tools, connect their features to your specific goals. For example, BuddiesHR's anonymous surveys (with a 5-person minimum) can be a great way to gather honest feedback. Use the feature comparison above to ensure the tools you choose align with your organization's priorities.

Metrics to monitor:

Feature engagement rates: Are employees actively using the tools?
Retention of underrepresented groups: Is there a positive impact on diversity goals?
Feedback from ERG leaders: How effective are the tools from their perspective?

For smooth adoption, go beyond standard diversity and inclusion training. Add platform-specific onboarding sessions to help teams get comfortable with the tools. Combine automated solutions with scheduled, human-led discussions to avoid potential missteps.