Job Evaluation Vs. Employee Evaluation

Function

• A job evaluation assesses whether the duties and responsibilities of the position fit with the overall purpose of the position. An employee evaluation considers how well an incumbent is performing a specific job, and may form the basis for work bonuses or disciplinary action.
  
  

Confusion of Terms

• Many people confuse the intention of job and employee evaluations. When a job is evaluated, the incumbent may feel her performance is also being assessed; however, the two processes should generally remain separate.
  
  

Considerations

• Supervisors in charge of either a job or employee evaluation must ensure that the incumbent in the position understands which type of evaluation is being conducted and its potential outcomes.
  
  

Benefits

• Job evaluations help organizations improve efficiency, especially when aspects of the business are undergoing change. Employee evaluations serve both the incumbent and the employer, as a supervisor can address skill gaps, motivational issues or training deficiencies during the process.
  
  

Misconceptions

• An employee evaluation is intended to assist an incumbent rather than discipline him; managers must make this distinction at the beginning of the process. Some people believe a job evaluation can lead to a higher workload for the incumbent, but this is not often the case.