Confused About HR's Role in Performance Appraisals? Seeking Guidance from Experienced Professionals

Hello Seniors, I am a little bit confused about the exact role of HR in performance appraisal. I am waiting for your reply.

Thank you,
Nisha

Hi Nisha,

The role of an HR in performance appraisal is a tricky one. It has to establish who the most productive employees are and who are not as productive. It has to impart the message without hurting the sentiments of the not-so-productive employees or making them feel negative about the company. The HR should in no way insult any employee's integrity while conducting performance appraisals.

It is also important for the HR to set different parameters to analyze employees from different departments. Setting up a generalized rating system for employees across various departments would be a foolish thing to do.

Firstly, HR should ensure that appraisals are done only on performance parameters, not on personal bias by department heads.

Secondly, if the ratings are not satisfactory, then the HR role becomes significantly important in identifying the training needs of the employee to improve. Alternatively, HR plays a crucial role in determining the next course of action that management will take for employees who receive unsatisfactory ratings.

Dear Nisha,

HR plays the most important role of an enabler and coordinator as far as Performance Appraisal (PA) is concerned. This role has multiple parts, namely educating both appraiser and appraisee on the process of PA, ensuring that at all levels and across the organizations the PA timetable is adhered to, communicating and documenting the records to all concerned, and also ensuring that actions on performance enhancement are planned and implemented through appropriate interventions. This ensures that the PA, as an integral part of the strategic HR process, develops capabilities to address the future needs of the organization within a rapidly changing environment.

For more clarifications, you may write to me.

Regards,
Sanjay

The role of HR in the Performance Management System is only as the custodian of the system. HR has a strategic role in any organization and can design the Performance Appraisal, distribute, and collect the formats from the line managers. I think HR plays a role of a post office in this regard.

Sincerely, Tanveer Ahmad Malik