In today’s world, the traditional annual performance review will not cut it. Whether it is praise or a critique, employees are looking for more feedback from their managers than they once were. According to HR Solution’s National Normative Database, employers are starting to understand and respond to this need.
Employers have begun to improve their use of feedback since 2005. In 2008, 80 percent of employees thought that their last performance evaluation helped them to improve their work performance. That number is up slightly from 78 percent in 2005. Employees also want to hear from their supervisors frequently, not only after completing a big project or during a performance review. Communicating with employees should be a regular occurrence, whether about their performance or about decisions that would concern them. Regular feedback is also important because it gives employees the chance to fix their mistakes and improve their performance quickly. In 2008, 72 percent of employees reported being satisfied with the communication they receive from their supervisors throughout the year (before their annual performance review), which has improved by about two percentage points from 2005. Regular communication outside of the performance review is the key to keeping employees content in the workplace.
Employees not only want to hear about their performance, they also want to be consulted about decisions that affect them directly. In 2005, 69 percent of employees responded that they had the opportunity to participate in decisions with their supervisors regarding their work environment. In 2008, the number of employees reporting that they were involved in the decision-making process had risen by two percentage points. Employees want to have a say in what happens around them. Collaborating with employees on key decisions will help keep them satisfied in the workplace.
While employee satisfaction about the feedback they receive has slightly improved across the board since 2005, supervisors cannot afford to get complacent. Remembering to give constant feedback to employees is key to keeping your workforce Engaged and keeping turnover minimal.
