Supervisors: Writing for Performance Appraisals

Overseeing performance and providing feedback is not just an annual event, but rather an ongoing process that takes place throughout the year and culminates in an annual performance report or appraisal.

UC Davis Principles of Performance Management

  • UC Davis carries out its mission through the individual and collective contributions of its employees.
  • To encourage excellence, staff members need to know that those contributions are recognized and acknowledged.
  • To highlight employee contributions, the University policy requires that supervisors conduct a written performance appraisal of each employee at least once annually.  
  • The performance appraisal process is an essential communication tool that triggers discussions between employees and their supervisors that should ultimately result in an enhanced delivery of performance and competency.
  • Throughout the performance appraisal period, supervisors may “check-in” with employees by scheduling periodic meetings to discuss objectives, contributions, accomplishments, review/modify goals, provide feedback and identify ways to improve performance (if applicable).

The Employee's Self-Evaluation

To assist with the annual employee performance appraisal, employees are expected to complete a Self-Evaluation in ePerformance.

A self-evaluation is important because it can:

  • Be a written tool that fosters and encourages communication between employees and supervisors to ensure work/goals are in alignment with organizational and campus missions and goals
  • Clarify essential functions and job standards to enhance employee performance and/or correct deficiencies
  • Help supervisors understand how employees view their strengths and weaknesses
  • Remind or inform supervisors of employee accomplishments, growth and challenges during the year
  • Describe goals that were met during the year and provide the opportunity for employees and supervisors to discuss an employee’s professional development and future career goals
  • Identify where there may be discrepancies between the employee’s and supervisor’s point of view regarding overall performance
  • Allow employees to make early corrections.
Please Note: In ePerformance there are limitations on the number of characters that can be used within the self-evaluation section. So it’s critical to be succinct in providing this important information.

Appraisal Definitions

 
TERM DEFINITION

Appraisal

The process by which a manager reviews and evaluates an employee's work performance.

Behavior

Observable activities of a person

Competencies

Measurable or observable knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors critical to successful job performance

EPAR system

Legacy online system on Davis campus for performance appraisals that were complete before September 2019.

ePerformance

UC Davis Health online system for performance appraisals

Job Function

Basic duties for which an employee is responsible; usually aligns with the employee’s position description

Knowledge

Information a person has in a specific content area 

Motives

Things a person consistently thinks about or wants that cause action

Non-represented Staff

Employees in the workforce not represented by a collective bargaining unit but generally guided by organizational policy

Represented Staff

Employees in the workforce represented by a collective bargaining unit 

Self-Evaluation

An employee’s description of their major accomplishments related to their job functions and performance standards

Self-Image

A person’s attitudes or self-concept

Skills

A person’s ability to perform certain physical or mental tasks

Supervisor

A person who monitors and regulates how employees perform assigned or delegated tasks 

Traits

Characteristics; consistent responses to situations or information

Values

Principles that define behavior as right, good, proper