HR debates appraisal scales

Senior HR professionals debated what assessment scale is most effective when measuring employee performance this week.

Paul Kearns, senior partner at Personnel Works, claimed the best appraisal method uses a one-to-10 scale.

He claimed the system works better than a one-to-five scale because managers are less likely to sit on the fence when appraising employees.

Kearns said he dislikes one-to-five scales because too many managers give marks of three, and he urged managers to mark low to set performance targets high.

He claimed the system also allows HR departments to put together performance distribution curves, which allows under-performing employees to be weeded out.

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But other HR professionals at the conference in London, called Retaining Your Key Talent, claimed they prefer a one-to-four scale.

By Richard Staines