Nearly half of UK employees believe that their boss is not honest with them in an appraisal, new research has found.
A survey of nearly 3,000 people commissioned by Investors in People found that a third of those workers who received an appraisal feel they are a time-wasting exercise.
Almost a quarter of that pool of respondents believe their manager sees their annual review purely as a ‘tick-box’ exercise, while 19% accuse their manager of only thinking about the appraisal once they are in the room.
Just a fifth of respondents believe their manager will always act on what is discussed, whereas 20% say their boss rarely or never bothers to follow-up on their concerns.
Simon Jones, acting chief executive at Investors in People UK, said it was a concern that some managers are failing to give full and frank feedback. “Annual reviews can be hugely beneficial for employer and employee, identifying areas for development as well as ensuring the employee feels motivated, engaged and part of the organisation’s success.
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“Appraisals should always cover past performance and objectives, but equally important are discussions of future targets and opportunities. It’s a great chance for managers to make sure their employees feel challenged and valued for the year ahead, rather than unmotivated and without guidance,” he said.
The survey found that only 54% of people working in organisations with fewer than 250 employees have a regular annual review. In contrast, 81% of people employed at organisations with more than 250 employees receive annual reviews.
