The other day while visiting my dentist, the oral hygienist told me about her prior job, where her supervisor took her out to lunch to discuss her performance review – and frequently did the same with other employees. She thought this was great, especially since the supervisor had a penchant for really good, high-priced seafood. While that all sounds tasty, one has to question how effective a performance review can be when attempting to crack open crab legs. This brings me back to a point discussed before and which bears repeating: If a supervisor is going to go to the trouble of evaluating an employee’s performance, they should consider paying attention not only to the substance of the review, but also how and when the review is delivered. Ideally, an employee’s feedback should be given in private – in a quiet location free from distractions and eavesdroppers. Performance reviews can be very stressful for employees – particularly those who know or suspect they have a performance problem. Review-time also can be stressful for supervisors – at least those who take the process seriously or are worried about how an employee will react. Typically, an office provides the best setting and a closed-door meeting is even better. If the supervisor is concerned about how the employee may react, he or she may invite someone from HR to sit in on the process. This is not the time for a supervisor to show others how “tough” they are or to publicly shame a worker. Instead, the idea should be to put both parties at ease so they can have a candid discussion. Both the reviewer and the employee should be free from outward factors, humiliation or embarrassment. Performance reviews should be taken seriously both by employers and employees. A serious and thorough discussion of an employee’s performance is difficult, if not impossible, in a public setting while selecting appetizers or going over the wine list. Private, quiet settings where real feedback can be given and true discussions can be had should be the gold standard. Leave the fancy restaurants for the party celebrating what a great year the team had. Besides, let’s be honest. Is a supervisor really going to give an employee a negative performance review when the employee is holding a steak knife?
RELATED ARTICLES
Use Your Noodle: Assistant Manager Sues Over COVID-19 Related Termination
September 11, 2020 | Currents - Employment Law
Employers Need Not Tolerate HR Professionals Who Encourage Coworkers to File Discrimination Suits
July 31, 2020 | Currents - Employment Law, Employment Discrimination
Can Employees Participate in Protests During Their Workday?
July 20, 2020 | Currents - Employment Law
Reopening in Indiana—The Governor Says You’ll Need A Safety Plan
May 5, 2020 | Currents - Employment Law, Employee Health Issues
Shutting the Gate: Temporary Worker Excluded From FLSA Collective Action
April 23, 2020 | Currents - Employment Law, Fair Labor Standards Act
Use Your Noodle: Assistant Manager Sues Over COVID-19 Related Termination
September 11, 2020 | Currents - Employment Law
Employers Need Not Tolerate HR Professionals Who Encourage Coworkers to File Discrimination Suits
July 31, 2020 | Currents - Employment Law, Employment Discrimination
Can Employees Participate in Protests During Their Workday?
July 20, 2020 | Currents - Employment Law
Reopening in Indiana—The Governor Says You’ll Need A Safety Plan
May 5, 2020 | Currents - Employment Law, Employee Health Issues
Shutting the Gate: Temporary Worker Excluded From FLSA Collective Action
April 23, 2020 | Currents - Employment Law, Fair Labor Standards Act
Third-Party Biometric Timekeeping Provider Chops Down BIPA Liability
April 14, 2020 | Currents - Employment Law
Los Angeles Will Require COVID-19-Related Paid Sick Leave for Large Employers
March 31, 2020 | Currents - Employment Law, Employee Health Issues, Employee Leave
How Do You Complete or Update I-9s When Your Company is Remote?
March 25, 2020 | Currents - Employment Law
Are COVID-19 Claims Compensable Under Indiana’s Occupational Disease Act?
March 23, 2020 | Currents - Employment Law, Employee Health Issues
California Offers Relief from State WARN Act Requirements
March 18, 2020 | Currents - Employment Law
Sixth Circuit Holds Full-Time Presence at Work not Essential Simply Because an Employer Says So
July 20, 2018 | Employment Discrimination, Pregnancy, Currents - Employment Law
E is for Equal Pay: Pay Data Reporting And The Shifting Meaning Of “Equal Work”
July 5, 2018 | Letter of the Law, Currents - Employment Law
D is for Drugs: Employee Drug Use and What You Should Know
June 26, 2018 | Letter of the Law, Currents - Employment Law
Letter C: Co-Workers With Criminal Records? Your Workforce May Be More Open-Minded Than You Think
May 24, 2018 | Letter of the Law, Currents - Employment Law
California Supreme Court Ruling to Give More Workers Employee Status
May 2, 2018 | Employment Lessons, Currents - Employment Law
When Is A Sexual Harassment Policy And Training Ineffective?
April 26, 2018 | Workplace Culture and Conduct, Currents - Employment Law
B is for “Bias” - Is Bias The Not-So-New Cause of Discrimination?
April 24, 2018 | Employment Lessons, Letter of the Law, Currents - Employment Law
Employers, You Can Do This
April 23, 2018 | Employment Lessons, Currents - Employment Law
Medical Marijuana is Coming to Ohio– What Employers Need to Know
March 23, 2018 | Employment Lessons, Currents - Employment Law
What’s Old Is New Again: DOL Resurrects Advisory Opinion Letters
January 16, 2018 | Employment Lessons, Fair Labor Standards Act, Currents - Employment Law
Employment Visas: Changes to Expect in 2018
December 20, 2017 | Employment Lessons, High Stakes Employment Issues, Currents - Employment Law
Ohio ‘Reverse’ Racial Discrimination Ruling Reinforces Employers’ Advantage in Constructive Discharge Cases
September 30, 2017 | Employment Discrimination, Currents - Employment Law
Trump-Era Immigration Worksite Raid Threats May Bring New Requirements for California Employers
June 2, 2017 | Employment Lessons, Currents - Employment Law
Six Statements That May Mean Your Business Will Keep an Employment Lawyer Busy
June 1, 2017 | Employment Lessons, Currents - Employment Law
OSHA Delays July 1 Electronic Reporting Requirement
May 23, 2017 | Employment Lessons, Currents - Employment Law
Hiring Teenagers This Summer? Here are 3 Key Considerations
May 17, 2017 | EEOC, Employment Discrimination, Currents - Employment Law
Trump’s Actual Impact on OSHA
May 12, 2017 | Employment Lessons, Currents - Employment Law
House Passes Bill to Legalize Comp Time in the Private Sector
May 8, 2017 | Fair Labor Standards Act, Currents - Employment Law
Lessons Learned: Job Descriptions Do Matter
May 1, 2017 | Employment Discrimination, Employment Lessons, Currents - Employment Law
Your Questions About Ohio’s New Gun Law Answered
April 4, 2017 | Employment Lessons, Currents - Employment Law
Putting the Matter to Rest: California Court Rules Commission-Pay Employees Must Be Compensated Separately for Rest Breaks
April 4, 2017 | Employment Lessons, Currents - Employment Law
Paid Leave American-Style: “I Get Mine, But You Can’t Have Yours!”
March 31, 2017 | Employee Leave, Currents - Employment Law
Easy Come, Easy Go: Appeals Court Reverses $2.6 Million Award in ADA Case
March 24, 2017 | Employment Lessons, Currents - Employment Law
Mugshots Gone Viral: Internet Clickbait is a Hiring Manager’s Minefield
March 16, 2017 | Employment Discrimination, Currents - Employment Law
Unwise Old Sayings? Watch Out For Stereotypes That Might Trigger An Age Discrimination Lawsuit
March 9, 2017 | Employment Discrimination, Currents - Employment Law
Federal Lawsuit Over Mass Layoffs Not on the Menu for California Restaurant Group
February 27, 2017 | Employment Lessons, Currents - Employment Law
Hotel California Checks Out of State Forum Selection Clauses
February 13, 2017 | Employment Lessons, Currents - Employment Law
2016: EEOC Charges Keep Climbing
February 8, 2017 | EEOC, Currents - Employment Law
EEOC’s Latest Guidance On Mental Health Accommodations Adds Little
January 31, 2017 | EEOC, Currents - Employment Law
Survey Says: About Half of Employers Offering Paid Sick Leave
January 30, 2017 | Employment Lessons, Currents - Employment Law
Drill Deeper Than “Fit” as Reason For Termination
January 26, 2017 | Employment Lessons, Currents - Employment Law
Ohio Employers May Soon See Employees Packing Heat in Their Cars
December 15, 2016 | Employment Lessons, Currents - Employment Law
Cook County, Illinois, Approves Increased Minimum Wage for Suburban Workers Beginning Next Year
October 28, 2016 | Employment Lessons, Currents - Employment Law
HR Note to Self: Accommodate Obvious Disabilities
January 15, 2016 | Employment Discrimination, Currents - Employment Law
Signing Section 2 of I-9 Forms Can Get You in Trouble!
February 12, 2015 | Employment Lessons, Currents - Employment Law
The Employer Mandate Is Almost Here. Is Your Company Ready?
December 5, 2014 | Employee Health Issues, Currents - Employment Law
RELATED PRACTICE AREAS
Subscribe
Do you want to receive more valuable insights directly in your inbox? Visit our subscription center and let us know what you're interested in learning more about.
View Subscription Center