EMPLOYER'S CORNER: Give 'real' performance reviews

As the end of the year draws near, many employers are thinking about employee evaluations and performance reviews.

For many supervisors, performance reviews are viewed as an unwanted task that monopolizes time that could be used for more productive purposes. However, they could not be more wrong. A performance review is one the most important opportunities to communicate with an employee and discuss their strengths and areas for improvement. It is an opportunity to communicate with the employee, which otherwise often only occurs when a disciplinary action is issued. Here are some tips for performing meaningful performance reviews:

Be honest. So often there is a temptation to just circle the highest score on a performance review and move on rather than to evaluate that employee's strengths and weaknesses in that category of review. It is important to communicate where an employee's strengths and weaknesses lie and where improvement can be made.

It never ceases to surprise me how often a problem employee receives consistently high ratings on their performance reviews, despite the fact that they have had multiple disciplinary counselings or issues. Dishonest performance reviews are a disservice to the employee and to the employer because they do not reflect the employment relationship accurately.

Use the comments section. It takes time, but utilizing the comments section will give your rating some meaning and clarity. It is an opportunity to explain your rating and provide concrete advice on improvement. Your comments should not be vague or generic. Rather they should speak specifically to the area being rated and what the employee can do to improve.

Give credit where credit is due. Performance reviews also are an opportunity to commend employees who are succeeding. Recognition for hard work and improvement are important for employee morale. Performance reviews are a great place to provide that advice and support to employees who are succeeding.

Ask questions. Performance reviews are a great opportunity to get employee feedback on the job and the company. It is also a great time to discuss the employee's goals and ambitions and to assess what they can do to achieve those goals.

Performance reviews are an essential tool in workplace success. Employers with questions about performance reviews and how to administer them should contact an experienced labor and employment attorney.

Sarah Phaff is an employment law attorney in Atlanta and Macon at the national labor and employment law firm of Constangy, Brooks & Smith LLP.

This story was originally published November 10, 2015 at 10:50 PM with the headline "EMPLOYER'S CORNER: Give 'real' performance reviews ."