Tips for writing accurate and effective performance
evaluations.
Performance evaluations are essential when training and
assessing public safety employees.
When used properly, evaluations are an objective record
of behavior and acquired skills.
Comments must be objective. Subjective comments are
opinions and have no place on evaluations.
Facts will speak for themselves so there is no need to
draw conclusions in your documentation.
Documentation must focus on facts relating to the
employee's behavior and performance rather than on the person.
Employees cannot be compared to one another.
Comparisons should be made to behavioral standards that
exist for all employees.
Documentation provides accurate and objective feedback to
employees, as well as a permanent record of activities, behavior and
performance.
Narratives should include specific data like dates, times
and event numbers.
Documentation should be written clearly and concisely.
Use simple language that is easy to understand.
Be sure that the narratives convey only one idea at a
time, and that statements can be interpreted
only one way.
Situations should be described in chronological order.
The following examples are provided to illustrate the differences
between objective
and subjective documentation.
Objective
comments include facts and details, draw no conclusions, and do not have
opinions.
Correct
(Objective)
• 6/5
Lou accepts feedback with interest and enthusiasm
• Annie
served on the EMD policy review committee from June through August
• 8/22
Vince attempted to enter 10 calls for service on CAD, and was able to enter one
without trainer assistance
• 2/12
Karen entered incident 67554 with wrong address (used North Adams instead of
South Adams), officers were responding to the wrong bank for the holdup alarm,
trainer corrected address
• 3/19
Conrad entered incident 894378 with wrong address (used South Harbor Point
instead of South Harbor Oaks), officers were responding to the wrong store for
the holdup alarm, supervisor corrected address
• 9/19
Yoko maintained contact with the suspect for 30 minutes while the TAC team
assembled, incident 646876
Subjective comments are those which cannot be verified, are
opinions or have no frame
of
reference.
Incorrect
(Subjective)
• Bill’s
understanding of the phone system is much better
• Lisa
will improve after she works on 9-1-1 some more
• I
am looking forward to Kim’s progress soon
• 7/2
With more use of the EMD software, Phyllis will increase her skills
• Althea
has shown some improvement already and I know it will be better
in
the next week
• 6/16
Wade’s understanding of the leave policy is better than yesterday