Appraisal Letters

What is an appraisal letter?

An appraisal letter is a letter that contains a thorough assessment of all that an employee has achieved in a specified amount of time. It also contains data on the shortcomings of the employee and feedback on how they can improve on the same. This letter contains information about salary increment information, possible promotions, and more.

What are some types of performance appraisal?

Some of the most popular, most commonly used appraisals are:

• The 360-degree appraisal
• General performance appraisal
• Employee self-assessment
• Manager performance appraisal
• Project Evaluation appraisal

What is the difference between appraisal letter and appreciation letter?

There are countless differences between an appraisal letter and an appreciation letter. For instance,

1. An appraisal letter follows a particular pattern and a format while an appreciation letter can be personalized as per the giver or the receiver.
2. An appraisal letter is a descriptive feedback document that remarks on the achievements as well as the shortcomings of the employee while an appreciation letter only highlights the good things and the achievements.
3. An appraisal letter is provided to the employee by the HR department while an appreciation letter could come from any superior.
4. An appraisal letter declares things like the increment in salary and the information about possible promotion, while an appreciation letter does not declare any such thing.

How do I write an appraisal letter?

An appraisal letter should abide by the following:

• It should have a congratulatory and professional tonality.
• It must contain the employee’s name and designation.
• The language used should be clear, and the letter as a whole, should be concise.
• While mentioning the shortcomings of the employee, try to be as courteous as possible.
• It should have a clear description of the increment in salary (if there is any).
• It should have a clear description of the promoted role (if the employee is being promoted) along with all the new expectations that come with the new role.

How do I tell an employee about an appraisal?

Appraisals can be an annual or a biannual event where the performance of an employee is tracked and mapped against the expectations that come with their role. In this process the employee is given feedback about all they have been able to accomplish in the particular span of time, irrespective of the fact if it is positive or negative. Here are a few steps that can help:

1. Set a format to write a letter.
2. Explain the job role and the designation briefly.
3. Give out pointers from the feedback collected.
4. Explain to them the monetary and designatory increments they are receiving because of their contribution to the organization.
5. Jot down pointers to help them improve the areas in which they lack.