It’s important for employers to consistently provide feedback to their employees to help them improve their work. One way to do this is through written employee performance evaluations, also known as employee evaluation forms.
With an employee evaluation form, managers can evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of new hires and tenured employees. This allows employers to award raises and promotions or develop strategies for employee professional development.
In this article, we’ll explain what an employee evaluation form is, the things that are included in this type of form, and how to fill one out.
What is An Employee Evaluation Form?
An employee evaluation form is a type of document that employers use to assess employee performance. This form includes questions or prompts about an employee’s job performance, strengths and weaknesses, and goals for improvement.
An employee evaluation form may also ask about an employee’s attendance record, punctuality, attitude, and ability to work well with others. In some cases, an employee’s supervisor or manager may be asked to provide written feedback on the employee.
When Should an Employee Evaluation Be Used?
In most cases, employee evaluations are done every year. However, some employers choose to do employee evaluations more or less often, depending on their business needs.
For example, a business experiencing high employee turnover may choose to do employee evaluations more frequently to identify any issues early on. In other cases, an employee struggling in their role may be given an employee evaluation form more often to help them improve.
What’s Included in An Employee Evaluation Form?
An employee evaluation form should contain the following information:
- Employee name, ID number, and position.
- Area for rating the employee.
- Area for written comments.
- A clear and concise rating system.
- A signature field where the employee and manager can sign and date.
Remember that an employee performance evaluation isn’t always the right option for every situation. For example, an employee write-up form may be the best option if the incident involves disciplinary action.
Purpose of an Employee Evaluation Form
An employee evaluation form aims to help employers assess employee performance and identify areas where the employee may need improvement. This form can also help employers determine if an employee is eligible for a raise or promotion.
Sometimes, an employee evaluation form may be used to document employee misconduct or poor performance. This can be helpful if the employee is later terminated, as it records the employee’s issues.
How to Fill Out an Employee Evaluation Form
Writing an employee performance evaluation form involves a standardized process. Follow the steps outlined below to write a performance review effectively:
Step 1: Gather Employee Information
Gather required employee information, such as the employee’s name, ID number, position, and start date. This will help you identify the employee and their role within the company.
Step 2: Assess Employee Responsibilities and Performance
Assess the employee’s performance in their role. Consider things like attendance, punctuality, job skills, and attitude. This will give you a well-rounded view of the employee’s performance.
Step 3: Use Objective Language
Always use objective language when conversing with the employee or taking official notes. Doing so will avoid any biases or use of potentially unpleasant adjectives which can inadvertently misinterpret your evaluation.
Step 4: Use Action Verbs
When writing the actual employee evaluation, start every sentence with action verbs to communicate what options are effective and what areas need improvement.
Here are some examples of potential sentences with action verbs:
- Helps team members resolve problems effectively.
- Collaborates with team members to complete tasks.
- Takes initiative to contribute to the team’s success.
- Focuses on personal goals rather than team objectives.
Step 5: Compare Performance Ratings
Recall previous performance evaluations to compare the employee’s current performance with their past performance. Doing so will help you identify any areas of improvement or regression.
Step 6: Ask Open-Ended Questions
During the face-to-face performance review, ask open-ended questions to encourage employee feedback. This will help you better understand the employee’s perspective and what they think is going well or needs improvement.
Creating a collaborative effort during an evaluation will give both parties the freedom to express their feelings, actions, and thoughts if further detail.
Step 7: Use a Point System
Finally, create a point system to document employee progress. This will give you a clear way to compare employee performance over time.
A potential point system is as follows:
- 30-60 points: employee is meeting expectations.
- 61-90 points: employee is exceeding expectations.
- 91-100 points: employee is outstanding.
Keep the following in mind when using a point system:
- Be consistent with how you award points.
- Don’t hesitate to take points away if the employee’s performance drops.
- Use a 100-point scale so you can more easily compare employee progress.
Create an Employee Evaluation Form with DATAMYTE
Creating and using an employee evaluation form is great. But what if you can digitize it, so it’s easier to use? DATAMYTE can help with that.
DataMyte Digital Clipboard is a workflow automation software capable of creating workflows, checklists, and forms for different purposes—including employee evaluation forms!
Using our intuitive and easy-to-use drag-and-drop feature, you can create an employee evaluation form in minutes. Plus, our digital forms are shareable and customizable, so you can ensure they’re always up-to-date.
Try the DataMyte Digital Clipboard now! Book a demo with us today to learn more about what our software can do.
Conclusion
An employee evaluation form is a helpful tool for employers to assess employee performance and identify areas where the employee may need improvement. This form should be objective, use action verbs, and compare employee performance over time.
By using the DataMyte Digital Clipboard, you can easily create employee evaluation forms that are shareable and customizable. Book a demo with us today to learn more about how our software can help you streamline your employee evaluations.
