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RULES OF THE STATE PERSONNEL BOARD
478-1-.14 Performance Management
478-1-.14 Revision Date: 3/16/2020
(1) Introduction:
The State has implemented a performance management program through which agency
supervisors and managers set performance expectations, conduct interim performance
reviews, and annually evaluate and rate the work performed by employees.
Performance management can serve as an effective retention tool, and the State’s
performance management program provides supervisors and employees with the
opportunity to align work with agency goals and plans, discuss performance
expectations, identify and correct areas for improvement, encourage and recognize
strengths, and discuss positive, purposeful approaches for meeting goals. Performance
discussions should ideally occur throughout the year during interim reviews and
coaching, but must occur in conjunction with performance planning and end-of-year
performance evaluation.
(2) Applicability:
This Rule is applicable to all full-time and part-time regular employees in executive
branch agencies except the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.
Agencies have the discretion to include their hourly and temporary employees in their
performance management program.
(3) Definitions:
For the purposes of this Rule, the following terms and definitions apply in addition to
those in Rule 478-1-.02, Terms and Definitions:
(a) “Coaching” refers to periodic meetings between the supervisor and employee to
discuss how effectively the employee is performing and applying competencies to
meet job responsibilities and/or goals.
(b) “Competencies” mean observable and measurable behaviors, knowledge, skills,
abilities, and other characteristics that are necessary to perform successfully in the
position.
(c) “Goal” means a measurable outcome or result to be achieved as defined in a
performance plan.
(d) “Individual Development Plan” or “IDP” means an action plan that identifies an
employee’s short-term and long-term goals as well as projects, activities, and
support that contribute to the employee’s continual learning and development in
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Rules of the State Personnel Board
478-1-.14 Revision Date: 3/16/2020
the organization. IDPs should be a collaborative effort between the supervisor and
employee.
(e) “Job Responsibilities” include job tasks that are necessary for successful
performance in the employee’s current position.
(f) “Performance Plan” is the document shared with and acknowledged by the
employee that identifies the competencies, goals, job responsibilities, and/or
expectations upon which an employee will be evaluated. The performance plan
should also include unrated employee development activities in an Individual
Development Plan.
(4) Performance Management Process:
The performance management process involves four components: performance
planning, performance coaching, performance evaluation, and performance recognition.
(a) Performance Planning:
1. The performance management program requires that supervisors develop a
performance plan for each employee upon the employee’s hire into a new job
and then annually thereafter. The performance plan identifies performance
standards and expectations on which the employee will be evaluated.
Supervisors are to present performance plans to their employees within 45
calendar days of an employee being placed in a new job and annually within 45
calendar days of the start of a new performance period.
2. Performance planning is intended to be a collaborative effort between the
supervisor and employee. The agency head, or designee, however, has sole
discretion to make the final determination of individual competencies, goals, job
responsibilities, and expectations to be included in the performance plan.
3. A performance plan may be modified at any time during a performance period
and shall be modified when new or different responsibilities and/or expectations
are added to a position. Employees should be immediately notified of such
modifications to their performance plan, and the written performance plan must
be updated within 15 calendar days of the modification.
4. Given the importance of Individual Development Plans in improving and/or
expanding employees’ knowledge, skills, and abilities, all agencies are
encouraged to include IDPs in their employees’ performance plans. The focus of
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Rules of the State Personnel Board
478-1-.14 Revision Date: 3/16/2020
the IDP may be development in the current role, building new skill sets or
knowledge, and/or preparation for a future role.
(b) Performance Coaching:
1. The performance management program requires that supervisors monitor and
document their employees’ performance and provide coaching throughout the
performance period.
2. At least once during the performance period, supervisors are encouraged to
conduct an interim performance review with each supervised employee. Interim
reviews need not be as formal as annual performance evaluations but have the
option of including detailed assessments and ratings. At a minimum, interim
reviews must offer sufficient feedback to employees to reinforce successful
performance and redirect less than successful performance.
(c) Performance Evaluation:
1. At the conclusion of each annual performance period, supervisors are
responsible for documenting, evaluating, and rating the performance of each
employee who has been in the current position for five months or more. If there
has been a change in supervision during the performance period, agencies
should develop a process for ensuring that all documentation maintained on an
employee is considered in the evaluation.
2. An employee who has been in the current position for less than five months may
receive a “no-rating” at the discretion of the employing agency. The summary
rating should be based on the rating scale currently supported by the State and
reflect the employee’s overall level of performance.
3. Performance evaluations are to be conducted in a fair, unbiased, and equitable
manner. When practicable, the performance evaluation should include a one-on-
one, in-person meeting between the supervisor and the employee.
4. Employees are encouraged to actively participate in the evaluation process by
completing and submitting a self-evaluation. The agency head, or designee,
however, has sole discretion to make the final determination on employees’
overall summary performance ratings.
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Rules of the State Personnel Board
478-1-.14 Revision Date: 3/16/2020
(d) Performance Recognition:
1. Performance recognition may be monetary or non-monetary and includes any
activity designed to acknowledge individual or collective performance results.
2. When monetary performance rewards based on employee overall summary
ratings are appropriated statewide, such rewards are implemented as approved
by the State Personnel Board.
(5) Review of Performance Plans or Evaluations:
(a) Employees may request a review of their performance plan if they consider the
expectations to be non-job-related or unachievable.
(b) Employees may request a review of their annual performance evaluation if the
overall summary rating is “Unsatisfactory Performer,” or its equivalent, and they
disagree with such rating.
(c) Each agency shall designate at least one official to serve as an “Agency Review
Official” to review performance plans, evaluations, and supporting documentation,
and to render a decision to either uphold or direct the responsible supervisor to
revise the performance plan or rating. The Agency Review Official reviewing a
particular plan or evaluation should be familiar with the work described and must
not be a first- or second-level supervisor of the employee requesting the review.
(d) The agency may define procedures and timeframes for requesting reviews and
require such to be followed as a condition of granting a review.
1. Agencies are responsible for ensuring their employees are aware of the procedure
for requesting a review of a performance plan or evaluation and any applicable
timeframes.
2. The identity of an Agency Review Official must be provided to each employee
upon presentation of an overall summary rating of “Unsatisfactory Performer,” or
its equivalent.
(6) Recordkeeping:
(a) Performance evaluations must be dated and acknowledged by the employee and
supervisor. Electronic acknowledgement meets these criteria. Once the employee
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Rules of the State Personnel Board
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has acknowledged the document, no changes can be made or comments added to
the performance evaluation without the employee’s knowledge.
(b) Agencies must determine an alternate method of documenting that the evaluation
has been discussed with the employee when the employee refuses to acknowledge
the performance evaluation.
(c) Completed performance evaluations are maintained in the Human Resources
Information System (HRIS) or as otherwise designated by the agency in accordance
with the State’s official retention schedule.
(d) Overall summary evaluation ratings are to be entered into the HRIS, as
communicated to agencies.
(7) Performance Management Program Evaluation:
The DOAS Commissioner, or designee, shall conduct an annual review and evaluation of
the statewide application of the performance management program. Such review and
evaluation shall be undertaken with the goal of assuring, to the extent possible,
consistency of employee evaluation throughout the State.
(8) Coordination with Other Personnel Policies:
(a) Overall summary performance ratings are considered when implementing
performance-based salary increases and Reductions in Force, as appropriate within
these Rules.
(b) Typically, employment actions resulting from an employee’s performance, such as
promotions or demotions, should be consistent with the most recent annual overall
summary performance rating. Significant accomplishments or deficiencies occurring
after the most recent annual evaluation could support an exception.
Authority:
O.C.G.A. §§45-20-3, 45-20-3.1, and 45-20-4 (duties and functions of the State Personnel Board and
Department of Administrative Services related to the Rules of the State Personnel Board)
O.C.G.A. §§45-20-1 and 45-20-21 (establishment of performance management program)
