Are staff performance reviews important?
Eddie Mann, an employment relations adviser working in Auckland, replies:
Once you know what to do and have a bit of practice, completing performance reviews will not be a problem.
The advantages of monitoring and reviewing performance with an employee are significant and well worth the effort.
They include:
* Your employee will appreciate the feedback and will feel valued.
* You will be able to identify, with your employee, work skills that can be improved.
* You will be able to use the performance reviews to plan your training programme.
* You will have an opportunity to recognise excellent performance in a formal setting.
* You will have an objective basis for any wages or salary increases.
* Employees' skills will improve. Productivity will increase.
The key issue regarding reviews is that it's not what you do that matters, but how you do it.
The important principle, which must be followed, is that the review system must be a collaboration between you and your employee.
The process involves:
1. Discussing with your employees why you want to introduce a new system.
2. Listing the things you want to achieve and checking if your employees also have any goals.
3. Reviewing the proposed system with them and being prepared to make amendments.
Once the system is finalised follow these steps: :
* Set a date for the review approximately one week in advance.
* Give the employee his or her review form to complete and confirm the time and date of the meeting.
* Take some time to study your review forms. List examples of good and poor performance. Do not fill out the review form at this time.
* Meet the employee to complete the review. Stop all interruptions, phone calls etc.
* Review the completed form with the employee. Make notes of any action items.
* Complete with the employee your review form. Agree on the standard achieved in each area.
* If there are any problems or concerns, make a note of these and a commitment to address them after the review. Do not try to solve the problems at the review time.
* Both sign the review.
* Have a cup of coffee and relax. It wasn't so bad, was it?
* Send your Mentor questions to: Ellen_Read@nzherald.co.nz">Ellen_Read@nzherald.co.nz Answers will be provided by Business in the Community's Business Mentor Programme.
