Appraisals: Govt takes a cue from private sector

The central government has decided to shed the cloak of secrecy over the performance appraisal of its 3.3 million employees. Taking a cue from the practice followed in most top private companies, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions has done away with the confidential nature of the performance appraisal system and has made the process more consultative and transparent.

Under the new system, the appraiser will have to discuss the details of the annual performance report with the employee concerned, including the overall grade and assessment of integrity. The report must also include the employee's remarks. 

The ministry has also changed the name of such reports from Annual Confidential Reports to Annual Performance Assessment Reports.

The new system came into effect from April 1 this year.

The sections/departments of the government in charge of maintaining the annual performance reports have also been directed to disclose the contents of these reports to the officers concerned.

The new system follows the recommendations of the 10th report of the Second Administrative Reforms Commission under Veerappa Moily.

It marks a huge change from the earlier confidential appraisal system that meant any adverse remarks were communicated to the employee concerned only if a specific representation was made to the designated authorities.

Employees who do not agree with the appraisal outcome are now free to make representations against the comments or the final grading within 15 days of receiving the report. The appraisal reports will be treated as final only if no representation is made.

To make sure that this doesn't become an unending saga, in case of a difference of opinion between the appraiser and the employee, a higher authority will have to take a final call on the appraisal within 30 days.