Provide Employees with Due Process The concept of due process can be applied to appraisals to increase the perception that employees are being treated fairly. Three features characterize due process systems: (1) Individuals are provided with adequate notice of what is expected of them, (2) all evidence relevant to a proposed violation is aired in a fair hearing so the individuals affected can respond, and (3) the final decision is based on the evidence and free of bias.
One technique organizations might consider to enhance due process is posting appraisals online so employees can see their own performance scores exactly as the super visor enters them. One company that did so found employees believed rater accountability and employee participation were higher when appraisal information was available online prior to appraisal interviews. It might be that raters were more sensitive to providing accurate ratings when they knew employees would be able to see their own information directly.
Providing Performance Feedback
Few activities are more unpleasant for many managers than providing performance feedback to employees. In fact, unless pressured by organizational policies and controls, managers are likely to ignore this responsibility.
Why? First, even though almost every employee could stand to improve in some areas, managers fear confrontation when presenting negative feedback. Second, many employees do tend to become defensive when their weaknesses are pointed out. Instead of accepting the feedback as constructive and a basis for improving performance, some criticize the manager or redirect blame to someone else. Finally, employees tend to have an inflated assessment of their own performance. Statistically speaking, half of all employees must be below average performers. But the average employee’s estimate of his or her own performance level generally falls much higher. So even when managers are providing good news. Employees are likely to perceive it as not good enough.
The solution to the problem is not to ignore it but to train managers to conduct constructive feedback sessions. An effective review—in which the employee perceives the appraisal as fair, the manager as sincere, and the climate as constructive—can leave the employee feeling upbeat, informed about areas needing improve mint, and determined to correct them. It probably won’t surprise you that employees in a bad mood are much less likely to take advice than employees in a good mood. Appraisals should also be as specific as possible. People are most likely to overrate their own performance when asked about overall job performance, but they can be more objective when feedback is about a specific area. It’s also hard to figure out how to improve your performance
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globally—it’s much easier to improve in specific areas. In addition’ the performance review should be a counseling activity more than a judgment process, best accomplished by allowing it to evolve from the employee’s own self-evaluation.