WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL?
A performance appraisal, or service rating, is a written evaluation of the performance of an employee over a specified time period which can be as short as several months or as long as one year. Performance appraisals are designed to provide employees with a knowledge of their performance over time; to identify strengths and/or areas of concern in an employee’s job performance; and to provide an opportunity for an employee and his/her supervisor to meet and clarify job expectations. An important part of the evaluation process is the discussion of the performance appraisal with an employee. The performance appraisal interview should take place in private. It provides an opportunity for supervisors to give positive feedback to employees whose performance has been satisfactory, and to discuss problem areas with employees whose performance has been less than good. A “less than good” performance appraisal is not discipline in and of itself and should not be used as a punitive tool to correc
