'Employee performance reviews used to be straightforward. A meeting with your manager or team lead, direct feedback, and recommendations for improvement.'

Straightforward != effective

'The problem is, peer feedback is often positive and reassuring, which is fun to read but not very useful.'

Well then solve the problem. Help folks understand the importance of giving and receiving critical feedback in a way that isn't harmful.

Or just go for the easy option.

'We don't have to solve deep social problems... These are all important topics, but they're not our topics at work — they're not what we collectively do here.'

Organisations don't exist in a vacuum. To pretend they do means your organisation is part of the problem.