Appraisal

An appraisal is a structured review of an employee’s performance, typically conducted annually, though some organizations run them more frequently. The process covers what the employee has achieved, how they’ve performed against expectations, and where they’re headed next.

The practical outcomes vary: a salary increase, a bonus, a promotion, a development plan, or simply a clearer picture of where the employee stands. Done well, an appraisal gives employees a sense of their value to the organization and what they need to do to grow. Done poorly, it’s a formality that satisfies nobody.

Whether the process is formal or informal, standardized across the company or handled differently by department, is a decision that sits with HR. There’s no single right approach, and what works in one organization often doesn’t translate directly to another.