Use case · HR
An employee database app, from your workbook
Employee records with strict validation, department and manager lookups, an encrypted SSN, photos and role-based access — generated from one workbook, no code. Start from the free template.
Something went wrong — please check your email address and try again.
You’re on the early-access list 🎉
Thanks! Your workbook is ready — download it below. We’ll be in touch about early access.
Get this template
The Employee Register starter workbook — a 19-field employee form, four master-data lists and rich validation rules (SSN, phone, ZIP, dates). Download it, adjust the sheets, and upload to generate the app. Enter your email to download the workbook and join the early-access list.
An employee list in a shared spreadsheet is exactly the wrong place for what it holds: no validation on a phone or SSN, no access control on sensitive rows, and no history of who changed what. Sheetward turns that workbook into a secure HR database — validated records, role-based access, encryption on sensitive fields, and a full audit trail.
Departments, designations and managers come from List_ tabs; the SSN is encrypted before it reaches the database and masked for viewers; and the workbook stays the human-readable design. It’s a spreadsheet you can safely make the system of record.
How it works
Open the template
Download the Employee Register workbook: a Form_ sheet with the employee fields, List_ tabs for department, designation, manager and status, and Rules_ rows validating the ID, phone, ZIP, SSN and dates.
Upload & review
Sheetward shows every field, dropdown and rule — including which fields are sensitive. Confirm, and the app is live with its own isolated dataset.
Manage with roles
Give HR editor access and managers view-only; viewers see masked sensitive fields. Import your current roster, and export to Excel any time.
What the template becomes
Strict validation
Required fields, a valid SSN and phone, ZIP format, and “hire date before termination” — enforced on every save from the Rules_ sheet, with your own messages.
Encrypted SSN
The Social Security Number is encrypted (AES-256-GCM) before it reaches the database and masked for viewer roles — not sitting in a shareable cell.
Department & manager lookups
List_ tabs become the department, designation, manager and status dropdowns, so the roster stays consistent and filters cleanly.
Photos on the record
Attach an employee photo to each record with a safe in-browser preview — executable uploads are rejected.
Roles & audit trail
Owner, editor and viewer per app plus workspace admin; every change records who and when, and deleted records go to a recycle bin.
Import & export
Bulk-import your existing roster (validated on the way in) and export to Excel, CSV or JSON whenever you need it.
Why teams pick Sheetward
- Sensitive HR data with real access control and encryption — a spreadsheet can’t give you either.
- Records, not a file: no emailed copies, no v27_FINAL.xlsx, full history.
- Flat pricing — no per-seat cost as the company grows.
- Own your data: export anytime, or run it yourself as a standalone bundle.
Frequently asked questions
How is the SSN protected?
The SSN field is encrypted with AES-256-GCM before it’s stored and masked for viewer roles, so it’s never a plaintext value in a shared cell. Role-based access controls who can see or edit it at all.
Can I control who sees each employee record?
Yes — owner, editor and viewer roles per app, plus workspace-level admin. Viewers get read-only with sensitive fields masked; every change is attributed in the history.
What validation does the template include?
Rich rules: required fields, a valid SSN and contact phone, ZIP format, and date checks such as hire date before termination — all enforced on save, so bad records aren’t stored.
Can I import our current employee list?
Yes — bulk-import from Excel or CSV. Every row is validated on import, and the employee ID (a business key) updates matching records instead of duplicating them.
Is the template required?
No — it’s a head start. Any conformant workbook works; the template just saves you laying out the fields, lists and validation from scratch.