It’s a way for a employer to show that their employee’s labour is valued. The letter discusses strengths, flaws, and areas for improvement. The appraisal procedure is usually done once or twice a year. Based on this information, appraisal letters are sent to the appropriate employees.
An appraisal letter is a detailed letter containing everything an employee has achieved in their work. It contains information on how they can improve their weaknesses and feedback on how they are performing compared to their peers. The letter also includes information on salary increments, promotions, and other factors related to career growth.
Performance appraisal is used to give feedback on the performance of employees and help them improve their performance. It can be done formally (by managers) or informally (by peers and subordinates). Some of the most commonly used appraisals are:
Here are the differences between an appraisal letter and an appreciation letter.
1) An appraisal letter provides information about the employee’s achievements and shortcomings. An appreciation letter is written to acknowledge someone in a particular way based on a specific situation.
2) The appraisal letter follows a particular pattern and format. However, the receiver can personalize the appreciation letter.
3) The HR department gives an appraisal letter to an employee, but an appreciation letter could come from any superior.
4) The appraisal letters address employees’ performance issues to become more productive and efficient at work. In contrast, appreciation letters are used to acknowledge someone specially.
5) The appraisal letters are usually brief compared to appreciation letters.
Appraisals are the annual or biannual checks to evaluate an employee’s performance. This is a two-way process wherein the appraisal tells how much one has contributed to the organization and how much one needs to improve to reach one’s goals. Giving appraisals can be tedious as you must discuss their strengths and weaknesses with your employees.
When you write an appraisal letter, be kind in your tone, even if you are giving harsh feedback. Focus on the employee’s performance and provide feedback on their work as professionally as possible. It would be helpful to highlight areas of improvement rather than having an attacking tone. Give employees full insight and feedback about their work and encourage them to do better.
Appraisals are necessary because they ensure employees are working up to the required standards and not slacking off. It also offers them an opportunity to work towards a raise or reward, motivating them to work harder and be more productive.
Send a gentle email to HR requesting feedback on your work. Do not bombard their mailbox with statistics on all that you have achieved. Just ask them for much-needed feedback on your work and the scope of growth within the company.
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