Being skilled, resilient and hardworking are the premise of a successful workplace. Well-constructed Performance Improvement Policies can involve ongoing performance check-ups to keep up standards.
Performance improvement policies are put in place to better improve the workplace environment. These may include scheduled weekly meetings or team building exercises.
During weekly meetings, both employees and employers should be able to discuss any problems that have occurred, and the best ways to resolve them. This encourages communication and feedback from all colleagues.
Meetings and team building go hand in hand whereby the employer and its employee work together and discuss both positive and negative situations. Examples of team building could include things like attending a coffee course, archery, or any other activity the team may find entertaining.
However, it is not enough to discuss problems without actioning them, or to provide positive feedback without discussing ways to excel further. A Performance Improvement Policy can involve frequent check-ups, goal setting or career planning.
An important way to ensure that employees are maximising their potential could include providing them with tasks that allow them to expand their knowledge and skills, whether it be in a field of their expertise or a specific way of learning.
If you are an employee, you should:
- Be open to any advice and feedback from other colleagues;
- Ask questions if the task at hand does not make sense;
- Have the confidence to communicate with your employer about any concerns in the workplace or any personal matters which may affect work; and
- Be respectful to any changes that your employer might make.
If you are an employer, you should:
- Ensure that instructions given to employees are clear;
- Be clear about what standard of work is expected from your employees;
- Be open to questions that employees might ask;
- Give constructive feedback or appraisals when necessary;
- Communicate with employees on a regular basis;
- Be able to organise meetings to improve performance management; and
- Be sure to notice and praise each employees’ potential.
What are the benefits of performance improvement policies?
With ongoing feedback and goal setting, employees’ will become highly skilled. The employers’ confidence in each employee will grow and the workplace will become more open to communication and feedback.
Employees will have the confidence to build on their career goals and increase their talent and expertise within the workplace. A positive workplace environment is bound to improve employee retention, as well as reduce employee turnover.
If you would like to speak to one of our experienced lawyers about the implementation of a performance improvement plan in your workplace, call us on (02) 9199 8597 or email us.
The information contained in this post is current at the date of editing – 1 July 2024.
