How a performance appraisal moves from self-assessment to approval
A review moves from Draft to Self-Assessment, Manager Review, HR Approval and Approved, and the employee then acknowledges it. Each stage has its own deadline.
Available on Pro Enterprise
The flow
| Stage | Who acts | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Draft | HR | The review is generated for the employee in the cycle |
| Self-Assessment Pending | Employee | Rates their own goals and writes a narrative |
| Manager Review | Manager | Rates each goal, gives an overall rating and comments |
| HR Approval | HR | Checks and approves, and can calibrate across the team |
| Approved | The result is final | |
| Acknowledged | Employee | Confirms they have read the result |
Each stage can have a deadline set on the cycle. See Set up a performance review cycle.
Who sees what
Employees see their own appraisal in the Employee Portal. Managers see their direct reports' reviews. HR sees all reviews. Permissions are separate for managing cycles, approving reviews and viewing them.
The score sheet
The score sheet pulls together the goal ratings, the weights and the overall rating according to the cycle's scoring template. The review keeps the self rating, the manager's overall rating, the weighted goal score, an optional second reviewer's rating, any 360 feedback average and the final score.
Calibration
HR can compare ratings across a team on the calibration page before approving, so one manager's scale does not differ much from another's.
Acknowledgement
After approval, the employee acknowledges the review in the portal. The date is recorded. If the review needs an improvement plan, see Put an employee on a performance improvement plan.
Questions people ask
What are the review statuses?
Draft, Self-Assessment Pending, Manager Review, HR Approval, Submitted, Approved and Acknowledged.
What is the overall rating scale?
The cycle sets the minimum and maximum rating. The review shows the manager's overall rating and a weighted goal score.
Can a second reviewer rate too?
Yes, if the scoring template gives a second rater a weight. Their rating is combined into the final score.
What does the employee do at the end?
Acknowledges the approved review. The acknowledgement and its date are recorded.