A second advancement objective is to evaluate the performance of personnel and to periodically advise them of their progress. Making honest and straightforward personnel evaluations is not easy. Firms should carefully review evaluation forms used. They should provide enough guidance to the evaluator so that the critical aspects of the employee's performance are considered. A candid evaluation benefits both the employer and the employee.
Some evaluators have a difficult time giving a candid evaluation.
There may be a tendency to be less than candid in the written evaluation and falsely indicate satisfactory performance which can backfire when future termination for substandard performance is answered by a law suit. This caveat applies to both professional and non-professional employees. In another case, the court held that it was a breach of duty and unreasonable not to tell an employee that discharge was possible without a change in job performance. Personnel evaluation forms can document the fact that evaluation was performed and the results clearly communicated to the employee. One procedure is to have the employee initial or sign the completed evaluation form.