The UCOP Staff Talent Evaluation Process (STEP) is an iterative process that provides an opportunity for open dialogue and expectation-setting between employees and managers through a regular cadence of performance-related conversations. Each quarter, employees and managers meet to review employees’ goals and help ensure that they have the resources and feedback they need to be successful.

The 2024-25 fiscal year performance appraisal process began on April 1, 2024, and the deadline for our first STEP Check-in conversation is quickly approaching. Read on for what you need to do. For a quick overview of STEP, including timelines, watch a five-minute overview video. (New to UCOP? Start at the New Employees section.)

All employees

Complete the first two steps prior to meeting with your manager, and then meet.

1. Review and comment on your goals and competencies in ePerformance
   STEP’s flexibility allows you to refresh goals and competencies throughout the year. Before your Check-in conversation, make any needed updates and prepare to discuss them with your manager.
2. Answer the feedback questions
   In ePerformance, answer the four discussion questions in the Feedback tab. Be prepared to discuss your answers during your Check-in.
3. Complete your Check-in conversation with your manager by August 30
   Check-in conversations give you and your manager an opportunity to discuss the status of your goals and competencies, give and receive feedback, address concerns and discuss any needed support.

People managers

1. Make sure the Define Criteria stage is complete for your employees as soon as possible
   Employees cannot update their comments or access their feedback questions until you have approved the Define Criteria stage. For help, watch the short video Define Criteria for Managers.
2. Complete your Check-in conversation with your employees by August 30
   Review and provide comments on your employee’s goals, competencies and feedback questions. Complete the Check-in conversation with all your employees.

New employees

• Individual contributors
  Complete the required ecourses:
  — STEP Fundamentals for Employees
  — GROWing your Check-ins Conversations for all Employees (20 minutes)
• People managers
  Complete the required e-courses and live training:
  — STEP Fundamentals for Managers (ecourse)
  — GROWing your Check-ins Conversations for all Employees (e-course; 20 minutes)
  — GROWing your Check-ins for Managers (live course; 2 hours)

Optional training and additional resources

• Define Criteria for New Employees (live course, 1 hour)
• GROWing your Check-in for Employees (live course, 2 hours)
• ePerformance demo video: Check-ins for Employees or Check-in for Managers (4 minutes)
• STEP guide, GROW Resource Guide, UC Core Competency Development Guide, technical difficulties FAQ

Upcoming live STEP training

All classes take place virtually, via Zoom.

GROWing your Check-In Conversations for Managers
Aug. 9 or Sept. 4, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
GROW is a simple meeting structure that supports a growth and development stance in employee-manager coaching and feedback conversations. This interactive session provides managers with an opportunity to discuss and practice using the GROW framework as a strategy and tool to support engaging STEP checkpoint conversations. The ecourse GROWing your Checkpoint Conversations is a prerequisite for this class.

GROW Plus: Accountability Conversations for Managers
Aug. 23, Sept. 23 or Sept. 26, 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
This is the second part of the required live training series on manager and employee performance conversations. This training answers the question: “What do I do when my coaching is not improving performance?” In this virtual, live, and highly interactive workshop, we will cover: providing productive critical feedback, managing emotions, creating efficient documentation and holding effective accountability conversations. Managers will also practice role-playing accountability conversations using the UCOP GROW Plus framework.

STEP Training for New Employees: Define Criteria
Aug. 27, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
In this instructor-led training, we will expand on the materials presented in the STEP Fundamentals for Employees eCourse by going into detail on the first stage of STEP, called Define Criteria. You will practice writing goals and review strategies for choosing focus competencies.

Additional resources can be found on the STEP website. For questions, contact your manager, HR business partner or step@ucop.edu.

Tags: performance appraisal, STEP, STEP Check-in

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