Employers 'too busy' to give appraisals

Many employers in the UK fail to give appraisals to new joiners after their first year, with one-in-five staff employed for longer than a year yet to receive their annual review, according to a new survey.

The research into employee appraisals, led by Enterprise Study, surveyed 2,168 employees aged over 21 and found that 19 per cent of those who had been in employment for one year were still yet to receive their appraisal.

Of those who had received one, 43 per cent had to request it themselves, while 27 per cent had to wait more than six months before having theirs.

Shona Fletcher, chief executive of Enterprise Study, said: "There’s never an excuse not to sit down with your employees and give them an appraisal - it’s a great way to boost staff morale, particularly when you’re giving praise where it’s due.

"Employees feel valued when you take the time to sit down with them and ask for their opinions on how they’re getting on, how the team is doing and if there’s any issues that they may have."

The findings highlight the fact that many employers are not valuing their employees at a crucial early stage in their career.

The research also revealed the reasons why managers were failing to sit down with employees and discuss performance, with "being too busy" the biggest reason (38 per cent) for a lack of appraisals.

Some 35 per cent of staff said the fact they work in a small environment is a reason why appraisals don't happen, while 19 per cent blamed the informal setting of their workplace.

Ms Fletcher concluded: "Appraisals don’t have to last long but the time is worth investing. Businesses will reap the rewards in the long run if appraisals are done properly. It’s always important to tackle difficult conversations face on, and it’s important to ensure they are covered formally. These situations needn’t be negative."

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