A workplace appraisal is a review done by an employee’s manager or high-ranking officer who reviews their output in a specific organisation. The assessment can be a means to celebrate achievements or shine a light on poor-performing employees. Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is a vital process in one’s career, proving growth and development and assuring employers that they are continually advancing. The manager is responsible for evaluating each employee’s growth according to the organisation’s objectives and plan. On the other hand, employees should make sure that there is growth in their careers provided within an organisation. Appraisals are vital in identifying an employee’s continuous professional development. A workplace appraisal involves reflecting on an employee’s ability to develop within a specific period, which CPD characterises.
When workplace appraisals are planned and done best, they provide a massive payoff to the individual and the organisation. Appraisal can improve employee engagement and morale, improving organisational and individual continuous professional development (Shawn, 2023, p. 25). Employees can discover opportunities within the organisation, encouraging them to take more responsibility and initiative towards its goal. Employers can evaluate assignment progress and rate employees’ abilities and skills, which can further be used in the future to assign organisation projects.
Appraisals can work as a wake-up call to employees, where they shine a light on areas that need improvement and what opportunities are there within the company (Al-Ismail, 2023, p. 205). Employers can use appraisal to identify employees who need more responsibilities and those who need more training. By providing bonuses and raises, employees’ morale is improved, and they feel that their achievement is appreciated, thus encouraging them to do more. Appraisal may work as a competition between employees where their achievements are rated and compensated accordingly, and in turn, each employee is encouraged to do more before the following review.
An employee can use an appraisal to raise concerns that, if handled well, can improve the workplace experience and, in turn, positively affect organisational output. Employees feel appreciated when their concerns are addressed, which enhances the relationship between employers and employees. Through expressing themselves, employees can raise areas that hinder their continuous professional development. Since appraisals are two-way conversations, employees can request development opportunities by receiving more responsibilities or training.
A workplace appraisal can also negatively affect individual CPD, which can happen when employers are not pleased with the employee’s review, leading to demotion or termination. If appraisals are not planned and conducted correctly, they will lead to unfair reviews which do not reflect employee achievements and development. Employee demoralisation can arise due to unfair workplace appraisals that do not reflect organisational goals or if they are done with a bias towards specific employees.
