What is an employee evaluation form used for?
An “employee evaluation” or “employee performance review” is an appraisal of a staff member’s overall job performance and job knowledge. Many companies will conduct bi-annual or annual performance reviews.
An employee evaluation form is one of the primary tools that companies use to conduct these evaluations, and consists mainly of a list of competencies with a corresponding score out of ten. Sometimes, employees may be asked to perform a self-review, where they score their own performance, or even complete an accompanying feedback form.
A performance evaluation form can be used to track any area of competency or achievement, assuming that a suitable rating system is used. Examples of areas of competence include planning, teamwork, communication, customer service, engagement with co-workers, and so on. Usually, an employee evaluation form is completed by a supervisor, either in an interview setting with the employee’s assistance or privately without their input.
What are the benefits of employee evaluation forms?
Employee evaluation forms have several benefits for both employees and organizations. It is standard practice for businesses of all shapes and sizes to undertake employee appraisals and use the information gathered to set goals, drive greater levels of efficiency, and ensure ongoing professional development.
First and foremost, evaluation forms enable supervisors to work with employees to identify areas for development as part of the peer-review process. Every individual has a unique set of skills, talents, and qualifications. Through an evaluation, employees can gain a clearer understanding of areas that require further attention and training. Equally, they will be able to see where their performance is at an acceptable or optimal level.
Employee evaluation forms also enable companies to track their workforces’ performance as a whole and highlight opportunities for improvement. If, for example, it becomes clear that teamwork or cross-departmental communication are significant issues, a business can respond by implementing tailored training initiatives.
What are the different types of employee evaluation forms?
There are two main types of employee evaluation forms: self-evaluation forms designed to be filled out by employees themselves and forms for completion by another person, usually a manager, supervisor, or member of the human resources (HR) team. Sometimes, specific forms are used for new employees and to gauge the success of the onboarding process.
Evaluation forms tend to follow a standard format, with a list of competencies and a corresponding area to ascribe a score. Because of this, organizations will usually rely on a single template. It’s also common for managers and HR officials to create unique form variations for use in different parts of a company.
An employee evaluation form designed for tracking the performance of supervisors, for example, will likely include more questions about leadership and teamwork. A form for the analytics and data management team, on the other hand, will probably be more geared towards tracking individuals’ abilities to work independently and complete tasks promptly.
What should an employee evaluation form include?
While employee evaluation forms will vary from department to department, they tend to follow a similar structure and always have several key areas.
Most employee forms include the following sections:
- Employee details – This section should detail basic employee information, like name, department, and date hired. The name of the supervisor conducting the evaluation and the date should also be entered here.
- List of competencies – The bulk of an employee evaluation form will usually be taken up by a list of competencies, such as planning, punctuality, ability to work in a team, communication, etc.; a corresponding rating scale, usually with markers of one to five or one to ten; and a space for additional notes.
- Summary and development goals – In this section, the supervisor will summarize the employee’s strengths and weaknesses and set development goals. Ways of measuring performance and suggested training initiatives may also be added.
- Employee and supervisor signature – Because employee evaluation forms may sometimes be used in a legal context, for example, if employment is terminated, it is good practice to include signatures at the end.
Should you use a template to draft employee evaluation forms?
Because the purpose of employee evaluation forms is to measure and compare the performance of individuals that make up a workforce, it is often necessary to use a standard document with consistent metrics.
What’s more, although employee evaluation forms may have slight differences to cater to specific departments, the overall structure will remain the same.
For these reasons, it is good practice to work from a single, well-structured employee evaluation template that has been drafted by all team members involved in the review process. Download the one provided by PandaDoc to get started.
FAQ
What is an employee evaluation form?
As is likely evident from the name, employee evaluation forms are business documents designed to measure the performance of an organization’s workforce. Employee evaluation forms usually consist of a section for employee details, evaluation points with an associated performance scale, for example, “planning skills” and “ability to work in a team”, and an area for setting future development goals.
Because employees are ascribed a mark, usually out of ten, for each competency, it is possible to tabulate data and compare employees’ performance across a whole organization in a standardized manner.
Are all employee evaluation forms the same?
While all employee evaluation forms follow the same general format, they are usually tailored to meet the performance goals and metrics of the company performing the reviews. Different teams, departments, and managerial levels may also have separate forms.
While they are not overly complicated documents, employee evaluation forms can be quite detailed, and it’s important not to leave out any relevant sections. Using a thorough template helps you standardize and streamline employee evaluations across your whole company, enabling you to drive greater productivity as a result.
Are any other terms used to refer to employee evaluation forms?
A number of phrases are used interchangeably to refer to employee evaluation forms, including “performance evaluation form”, “employee review form”, “performance appraisal form”, and “performance review form”.
