HR Performance Solutions Help Articles

Performance Pro

Employee Quickstart Guide

Employee self-appraisals can be completed easily and quickly by following the steps outlined in this article.

Please note that the terminology used in this Quickstart is the default language. Your organization may have customized the terms Competency, Goal, Core Value, Employee, Appraiser, Appraisal, Multi-Appraiser, Summary Comments, Ready for Meeting, and Action Steps to a different term. The customized terms will display in your system.

Starting the Program

To Start the Program

1. Open your browser and enter your client address in the address line. Please see your Administrative User if you do not have this link.

2. Enter your username and password in the Client Login fields. Press Enter on your keyboard or click the Login button.

Completing a Self-Appraisal

Note: If your organization has activated Core Values, Evaluate Core Values will appear in the main menu before Evaluate Competencies. The evaluation process is the same for both. Refer to the Competency instructions below for evaluating Core Values.

Step 1: Evaluate Competencies (if applicable)

1. In the role selector, set your role to Employee. (If you are not an appraiser, it will default to the employee role.)

2. From the main menu, click Appraisals, then Evaluate Competencies.

3. If the Concurrent Appraisal feature is activated, you will need to select which appraisal you wish to work with from the Appraisal Process dropdown list. This list will only be visible if the feature is activated.

4. The Overview tab lets you see at a glance the assigned Competencies, any scores given, weight of each Competency, and if comments have been entered. Progress bars on the right side of the screen show Overall Progress of the appraisal and the Competency Progress. (Scores and weights will not display if they are hidden in your system.)

5. Select the Competency you wish to evaluate from the Select Competency to Evaluate box. All Competencies assigned will appear in this list. (You can also select a Competency by clicking on the Evaluation tab and clicking Back or Next to move through the list.)

6. The weight of the selected Competency displays to the right of the Competency name (unless weights are hidden in your system.) A full description of the Competency appears below the Competency name. If necessary, click on the expander at the bottom center of the Competency description to view the entire description.

7. If you were rated on the Competency during a previous review cycle, you will see a Last rating bar displaying the score received at that time (unless this is hidden in your system.)

8. If a Competency has Sub-Competencies, complete steps 9 –11. If there are no Sub-Competencies, skip to step 12.

9. If the Competency you selected has Sub-Competencies, a Sub-Competencies box will appear below the Competency description. Expand the box to view all Sub-Competencies and information by clicking the expander at the bottom center of the box.

10. Read the description of the Sub-Competencies (if present). From the Rating dropdown box, click the down arrow and select a rating.

Note: If required rating of Sub-Competencies has been activated, you will not be able to finish your appraisal until all Sub-Competencies have been evaluated. If there are no rating boxes, then the rating of Sub-Competencies is not activated.

11. Continue until all Sub-Competencies have been evaluated. Ratings on Sub-Competencies will be automatically averaged together to produce a score for the Competency.

Note: Ratings and comments are automatically saved when you move to another screen.

12. If Sub-Competencies are not applicable, evaluate yourself on the Competency. Select the value on the rating scale that best represents your performance by typing it in the box above the Employee scoring bar, clicking on the scoring bar at the appropriate level, or selecting the Performance Level Description on the left side of the screen (the level’s number will automatically be assigned as the rating).

13. Comment on a Competency (if desired or required) by placing your cursor in the Employee Comments box and typing your comment.

14. If additional comments are desired, and if the feature has been activated in your system, click the green + sign next to the Employee name and enter additional comments. If there is not a + sign, this feature is not available in your system. If you would not like the additional comment to appear on the appraisal, deselect the Show Comment in Appraisal checkbox.

15. Additional comments can be deleted by clicking the delete icon above the comment box. Comments can be edited by making changes in the comment boxes.

Note: The first comment box cannot be deleted.

16. Click Language Check icon on the toolbar to review your text.

17. Proceed to the next Competency by clicking the Next button. Repeat until all Competencies have been evaluated.

18. Competencies you have evaluated are indicated on the Overview tab in bold text with a green check mark (√) next to it.

Step 2: Set Current or Future Goals (if applicable)

Note: Your Manager may already have entered some Goals.

During the self-appraisal process, the employee may add Goals for the Future period. If the Administrative User has activated it, they can also add Goals for the Current period. Any Goals added by the employee are linked to the appraiser’s screen allowing them to review the employee’s input.

1. In the role selector, set your role to Employee.

2. From the main menu, under Employee Documents, click Employee Goal Tools.

4. The Current Goals tab will display. Click the Future Goals tab if desired.

5. Click the Add Goal button.

6. Enter a new Goal name in the Name box. For easy viewing of the titles, keep them brief.

7. Enter a suggested weight in the Weight box. (If no Weight box is visible, then weights have been hidden in your system.)

Note: Unlike Current Goals, the total weight of all Future Goals does not need to equal 100%.

8. If you would like to assign this Goal a due date, enter the date in the Due Date field or click on the calendar icon and select the desired date. Click the alert icon next to the calendar icon if you wish to set up an alert relating to this goal.

9. Enter a detailed description of the Goal in the Description box.

10. Click Language Check icon on the toolbar to review your text.

11. Click Save at the bottom of the screen.

12. If desired, add specific Goal Action Steps by clicking the + sign by the Action Steps heading. Enter a Name, Description and Due Date for the Action Step in the box that appears. Click the alert icon next to the calendar icon if you wish to set up an alert relating to this Action Step.

13. Click Language Check icon on the toolbar to review your text.

14. Click Save to enter the Action Step or Cancel to leave the page without entering the Action Step.

15. Repeat until all Action Steps have been entered.

15. Enter a Check In Date, if desired, in the Check In Date field or click on the calendar icon and select the desired date. Click the alert icon next to the calendar icon if you wish to set up an alert relating to this Check In Date.

17. Click Save at the bottom of the screen.

18. Repeat steps 5-17 until all Goals and applicable Action Steps have been entered.

Note: Setting of Future Goals can also be done on the Evaluate Goals > Set Future Goals screen. Future Goals set on this screen will also appear on the Future Goals tab in Employee Goal Tools, and vice versa.

Note: Your company may have activated a feature which allows you to suggest Current Goals throughout the current review period. If so, you are able to add Current Goals up until you mark your self-appraisal as “ready” or until the appraisal has been merged by the appraiser. Adding Current Goals is done on the Employee Goal Tools > Current Goals tab.

If Goal Edit Approval is enabled in your system, employees have the ability to propose edits to the Goal Description and Goal Weight of any current or future Goal assigned to them. All changes or additions to Goals are automatically sent to the appraiser for review.

Step 3: Evaluate Goals (if applicable)

To Record Goal Progress (this feature may or may not be activated in your system)

1. In the role selector, set your role to Employee.

2. From the main menu, click Appraisals, then Evaluate Goals.

4. Select the Goal you wish to work with from the Select Goal to Evaluate box. (You can also select a Goal by clicking on the Evaluation tab.)

5. In the Goal Progress area, Employee box, choose the radio button which best describes the progress. Options are: Not Started, In Progress, or Complete. Your selection will save automatically when you leave the screen.

To Evaluate Goals

1. In the role selector, set your role to Employee.

2. From the main menu, click Appraisals, then Evaluate Goals.

4. The Overview tab lets you see at a glance the assigned Goals, any scores given, weight of each Goal, and if comments have been entered. Progress bars on the right side of the screen show Overall Progress of the appraisal and the Goal Progress. (Scores and weights will not display if they are hidden in your system.)

5. Select the Goal you wish to evaluate from the Select Goal to Evaluate box. All Goals assigned will appear in this list. (You can also select a Goal by clicking on the Evaluation tab and clicking Back or Next to move through the list.)

6. The weight of the selected Goal displays to the right of the Goal name (unless weights are hidden in your system.) A full description of the Goal appears below the Goal name. If necessary, click on the expander at the bottom center of the Goal description to view the entire description.

7. If a Goal has Action Steps, complete steps 8-10. If there are no Action Steps, skip to step 11.

8. If the Goal you selected has Action Steps, an Action Steps box will appear below the Goal description. Expand the box to view all Action Steps and information by clicking the expander at the bottom center of the box.

9. Read the description of the Action Steps (if present). From the Rating dropdown box, click the down arrow and select a rating. (If there are no rating boxes for the individual Action Steps, then that feature is not activated in your system.)

10. Continue until all Action Steps have been evaluated. Ratings on Action Steps will be averaged together to produce a score for that Goal.

11. If Action Steps are not applicable, from the Evaluation tab, evaluate yourself on the Goal overall. Select the rating that reflects your performance by typing it in the box above the Employee scoring bar, clicking on the scoring bar at the appropriate level, or selecting the Performance Level Description on the left side of the screen (the level’s number will automatically be assigned as the rating).

12. Comment on the Goal (if desired or required) by placing your cursor in the Employee Comments box and typing your comment.

13. If additional comments are allowed in your system and are desired, click the green + sign next to the Employee name and enter the information in the new field. (If there is not a + sign, this feature is not available in your system.) If you would not like the comment to appear on the appraisal, deselect the Show Comment in Appraisal checkbox. Additional comments can be deleted by clicking the delete icon above the comment box.

14. Comments can be edited by making changes in the comment boxes.

15. Click Language Check icon on the toolbar to review your text.

16. Proceed to the next Goal by clicking the Next button. Repeat until all Goals have been evaluated.

17. Goals you have evaluated are indicated on the Overview tab in bold text with a green check mark (√) next to it.

Note: Ratings and comments are automatically saved when you move to another screen.

Step 4: Summary Comments

To Enter Summary Comments

1. In the role selector, set your role to Employee.

2. From the main menu, click Appraisals, then Summary Comments.

4. Populate the available fields on the Summary Comments screen as appropriate. There may be a variety of fields available (comment fields, check boxes, dropdown menus, etc.) depending on how your organization has customized this screen.

5. Click the View Current Appraisal button if you should need to refer back to the appraisal.

6. Click Language Check icon on the toolbar to review your text.

Note: Comments are automatically saved when you move to another screen.

Step 5: Finish Appraisal (Mark Ready)

Note: Once you mark your appraisal Ready, you will no longer be able to make edits.

1. In the role selector, set your role to Employee.

2. From the main menu, click Appraisals, then Finish Appraisal.

4. The top section of the Ready tab tells you what the next step in the appraisal process is. The Appraisal Checklist shows the status of each Competency and Goal. Make sure all Competencies and Goals have been evaluated (evaluated items are indicated by a green check mark (√) for completed and items still requiring attention are highlighted and display a red x). If you haven’t completed what is required, click on the item title to be taken to the corresponding section.

5. If you wish to view the self-appraisal before you complete it, click the View Current Appraisal button or click the Home button and then click the My Current Appraisal button. The appraisal may also be printed from these screens.

6. When all items have been entered appropriately and no additional edits are desired, from the Ready tab, click the Notify Appraiser checkbox if you’d like to notify your appraiser that you have marked the appraisal as ready. If this checkbox is not visible, your appraiser will automatically receive a notification. Click the Mark Ready button.

YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR SELF-APPRAISAL!

Step 6: E-signing the Appraisal (if applicable)

1. If you are required to E-sign your appraisal (your organization may not utilize this feature), from the toolbar, click Home.

2. In the role selector, set your role to Employee.

3. In the To Be Signed widget, click the appropriate appraisal link.

4. Review the appraisal one last time.

5. To move quickly to the E-Signature section, from the Jump To dropdown box, select E-Signature. Under the Signature heading at the bottom of the appraisal, click the Check this box to sign this document electronically checkbox. Agree and Disagree radio buttons will appear. Click Agree or Disagree.

6. If you would like to add a comment, click the Add Comment link. Enter your comments and click Save to save your changes without closing the comment dialog box. Click Save & Close to save your changes and close the comment window. Click Cancel to exit the screen without saving. Once saved, your appraiser will receive an email notifying them of the comment.

7. Click Save in the Signature box.

Note: If you mark that you Agree with the appraisal, comments are optional. If you mark that you Disagree with the appraisal, you will be required to add a comment explaining your position before you can complete the signature.

Other Features

Employee Notes

If this feature is enabled, you can leave a Note to remind yourself of your activities, progress in achieving your Goals, meeting Competency standards, or anything else related to your performance. If Shared Notes has been activated, you can also choose to share these Notes with your Manager and they can share Notes with you.

To Add a Note

1. From your Home Screen, click the + sign in the Employee Notes widget.

2. If you would like to share the Note with your manager, place a check in the Shared checkbox. A Notify Appraiser checkbox will appear. Check this box if you would like the appraiser notified of the Note.

3. Enter a title in the Title field.

4. The Date will default to the current date. Edit the date by inserting your cursor in the Date field or clicking on the calendar.

5. Enter the Description for your Note. Basic word processing options (Bold, Italics, Underline, Strikethrough, Bullets, and Numbering) are available.

6. Click Language Check icons on the toolbar to review your text.

7. Click Save at the bottom of the screen.

To Print, Edit, or Delete a Note

1. To print a Note, from your Home Screen, in the Employee Notes widget, click on the Title of the Note you want to print. Click the Print button to print the Note. A new window opens. Print the document using your browser print function. If you would rather view and print the document from a .pdf format, click the PDF button and print through your PDF reader software.

2. To edit a Note, from your Home Screen, in the Employee Notes widget, click on the Title of the Note you want to change. Make your changes and then click Save at the bottom of the screen.

3. To delete a Note, from your Home Screen, in the Employee Notes widget, click the Delete icon next to the appropriate Note, then click Yes to indicate that you are sure you want to make the deletion. The Note is permanently deleted.

Goal Notes

In the Employee Goal Tool, employees are able to add Goal Notes throughout the year. This provides a way for the employee to communicate the progress and status of their Goals with their manager. Please note that Goal Notes entered by the employee are always seen (shared) by their appraiser. Employees wishing to add confidential Notes about their performance will need to add those types of Notes in the Employee Notes widget on the Home screen.

To Add a Goal Note

1. In the role selector, set your role to Employee.

2. From the main menu, under Employee Documents, click Employee Goal Tools.

4. The Current Goals tab will display. Click the Future Goals tab if desired.

5. Click on the Name of the Goal the Note pertains to from the Goals box.

6. From the Notes box, click the + sign. A blank Note will appear.

7. Insert your cursor in the Name field and enter the name of the Note.

8. Insert your cursor in the Description field and type the information you wish to include.

9. Enter the date by inserting your cursor in the Date field and typing or clicking on the calendar. Click the alert icon next to the calendar icon if you wish to set up an alert relating to this Note.

10. The Shared box will be automatically selected which results in the Note being shared with the appraiser.

11. Click Language Check icon on the toolbar to review your text.

12. Click Select to save the Note or Cancel to leave the page without saving.

13. Click Save at the bottom of the screen.

To Edit or Delete a Goal Note

Warning! When a Goal Note is deleted, it is completely removed from the Performance Pro system. There is no archive or backup file from which to retrieve deleted Goal Notes.

1. In the role selector, set your role to Employee.

2. From the main menu, under Employee Documents, click Employee Goal Tools.

4. The Current Goals tab will display. Click the Future Goals tab if desired.

5. Click on the Name of the Goal the Note pertains to from the Goals box.

6. From the Notes box, click the Edit icon beside the Note you wish to edit, or click in the Delete checkbox beside the Note you wish to delete.

7. If editing, make any necessary changes, click Language Check to review your text, and then click Select to save the Note or Cancel to leave the page without saving.

8. Click Save at the bottom of the screen.

Viewing Your Current Appraisal

To View your Current Appraisal

1. On the Home screen, click the My Current Appraisal button.

2. You may view your assigned Competencies and Goals and your self-appraisal scores.

Note: Completed appraisals, which include the appraiser’s scores, cannot be viewed from this screen.

Uploading an Avatar

This feature is optional but when it is activated by the Administrative User, you may upload an image to be linked to your assigned username. The image will be seen by you and any user that has access to your account, including Administrative Users, Appraisers, Upline Managers, and Multi-Appraisers. The image will appear in the top right corner where the login and role information appear. If the feature is activated, you will see a generic avatar until you upload your own image.

To Upload an Image

1. Click on the generic avatar that appears in the top right corner of the screen. An Upload Image pop-up box will appear.

2. Insert your cursor in the Upload Image field or click Browse.

3. Navigate to the location where your image file is saved. Double click on the file name.

4. Click OK to upload the image or Cancel to exit the Upload Image box.

5. The image can be removed by uploading a different image.

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