More WorkUSA 2004 survey findings from Watson Wyatt (based on a survey of 1,191 US workers from a broad cross-section of industries):

• Approximately 90 percent of surveyed employees participate in a performance management program.
• Only 30 percent of employees believe the program helps them improve their performance.
• Less than 40 percent say the system establishes clear performance goals or generates honest feedback.
• Only 39 percent of employees see the connection between their day-to-day work and company goals.
• Only 54 percent of workers think their companies set high performance standards.
• Only 44 percent feel that people are held accountable for their performance.
• 20 percent say their companies help poorly performing employees improve.
• 43 percent of employees feel they don’t get enough guidance to improve their performance.
• Only 38 percent of employees say that their company uses technology to streamline the performance management process.

These numbers are subject to interpretation. For example, while Watson Wyatt reports 30 percent believe their company’s performance evaluation process helps them improve performance, only five percent strongly agree with that statement. Put another way, 95 percent of employees think their system could be improved! Similarly, 93 percent of employees think the connection between their work and company goals could be improved!

Watson Wyatt says these numbers present a measurable opportunity to improve financial results and productivity. Their recommendations:

1. Eliminate “HR-speak” and focus on business results in the performance management process
2. Recognize top performers and confront poor performers as soon as possible
3. Implement user-friendly automation to re-engage managers and employees

Great suggestions all. Still, it’s not clear that automating current performance evaluation processes will lead to improve a company’s bottom-line performance.