It’s coming up soon, just like every year. But look for a new online tool that will make this year’s performance reviews easier to do and expand their usefulness as a year-round planning and development resource for both employees and supervisors.

UCOP performance reviews — which will be due this fall for performance during the period July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014 — are required annually so that every employee is given feedback on the past year’s performance and goals are set for the coming year.

The process will be essentially the same as in past years, said John Fox, executive director of UCOP Local Human Resources. But the new tool, a web-based electronic system known as eAppraisal, will help streamline the process and make it easier for employees to participate in their own career development.

“The primary goal of the performance appraisal process is to document performance as a baseline for future job growth and career progress,” Fox said. “It’s also time to reassess organizational and individual goals. The eAppraisal system can facilitate that process for everyone; and once we start using it this year, it can become an ongoing repository for all employees to manage their goals and anything else related to their own career development.”

Benefits of eAppraisal

The eAppraisal system, which was directly inspired by feedback from the Efficiency Review, will be implemented UCOP-wide this summer and be ready for use by Tuesday, July 1. HR is now populating the site with the standardized appraisal forms (same two forms as last year, one for employees and one for supervisors) and professional competencies (also the same as last year).

Each employee will have his or her own personal page (similar to a LinkedIn profile) that will house reviews and any other documents (e.g., resumes, performance goals, meeting notes, feedback from colleagues, course certificates) an employee wants to upload, which may or may not be shared with one’s supervisor.

In addition to eliminating the need for printing forms and multiple versions of reviews, eAppraisal incorporates electronic signatures, automated reminders, management reporting and other benefits of an online system. The software has been in use at UCOP for several years by HR and the Office of General Counsel. Users say it’s very intuitive and easy.

As usual, the performance review process will begin with all employees doing a self-appraisal, which they will enter into the eAppraisal system, as a starting point to discuss the year’s performance with their supervisors. Supervisors will have access to the profile pages for each of their direct reports. Both employees and supervisors will receive electronic email notices when they have a step to complete.

Individual departments may establish their own schedule for the review process, as long as all steps are completed in time to meet the final deadline of Tuesday, Sept. 30, for all reviews to be completed and signed within the eAppraisal system.

Performance management resources

There’s plenty of time to get prepared, and Fox and his team are offering a wide range of resources to support the review process. All employees will receive instructions in late June for logging in to the system. There will also be demos of the new system and an online e-Appraisal tutorial in addition to the existing classroom instruction on the roles of both employees and supervisors in the performance review process:

eAppraisal demos and Q&A (all sessions 1 to 2 p.m.):

• Monday, June 23, 450 20th St., room 302
• Tuesday, June 24, 1018 Kaiser
• Wednesday, June 25, Franklin Lobby 1
• Monday, June 30, 1018 Kaiser
• Wednesday, July 2, 450 20th St., room 302
• Monday, July 7, Franklin Lobby 1
• Monday, July 28, 450 20th St., room 302
• Tuesday, July 29, Franklin Lobby 1
• Wednesday, July 30, 1018 Kaiser

Employee Role in Performance Appraisals, a two-hour session that gives employees pointers for collaborating with their supervisor, taking an active role in the evaluation and creating a professional development plan for the coming year:

• Tuesday, July 29, 9 to 11 a.m., 5320 Franklin
• Thursday, July 31, 1 to 3 p.m., 612 Kaiser
• Wednesday, Aug. 6, 9 to 11 a.m., 10325 Franklin
• Thursday, Aug. 14, 1 to 3 p.m., 5320 Franklin
• Tuesday, Aug. 12, 9 to 11 a.m., 612 Kaiser

Two additional workshops are strongly encouraged for all managers and supervisors, especially those who may be new to a supervisory role. Note that sessions are conveniently scheduled so that one entire day can be devoted to training:

• Setting Performance Expectations, all sessions 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.:
  • Tuesday, July 29, 12322 Franklin
  • Wednesday, Aug. 13, 5320 Franklin
  • Tuesday, Sept. 16, 11326 Franklin
• Conducting Performance Appraisals, both sessions 1 to 5 p.m.:
  • Tuesday, July 29, 5320 Franklin
  • Wednesday, Aug. 13, 5320 Franklin

  Log in to the UCOP Learning Center to sign up for all classroom sessions and access online tutorials. Look for more details throughout the month of June, or contact your HR business partner with any questions.

   

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