Survey Finds Wide Discrepancy in Perceived Value of Performance Assessments

(From PRNewswire) — How useful are performance reviews? It depends on whom you ask. In an Accountemps survey, 94 percent of chief financial officers interviewed said formal evaluations are either somewhat or very effective in helping employees improve their performance. Yet nearly one in three workers (31 percent) disagreed, calling these appraisals either somewhat or very ineffective.

CFOs were asked, “In your opinion, how effective are annual or semiannual performance reviews in helping employees improve their performance?” Their responses:

Very effective: 26%
Somewhat effective: 68%
Somewhat ineffective: 4%
Very ineffective: 1%
Don’t know: 1%

Workers were asked, “In your opinion, how effective are annual or semiannual performance reviews in helping you improve your performance?” Their responses:

Very effective: 25%
Somewhat effective: 37%
Somewhat ineffective: 16%
Very ineffective: 15%
Don’t receive performance reviews: 6%
Don’t know: 1%