In a shake-up of the traditional evaluation process within the Public Service, government employees will now play an active role in assessing their supervisors.
The ongoing reform, outlined by the Ministry of Finance, dictates that public servants will no longer be evaluated solely by their superiors but will themselves participate in appraising their managers using rigorous criteria.
As part of the new legislation, the evaluation process will extend to cover a wide range of officials, including those in independent offices or services, General Directors of Parliament, Deputy Ministers, Ministers, the General Directorate of Development at the Ministry of Finance, the Treasurer of the Republic, and various other department heads.
The assessment procedure involves employees anonymously evaluating their supervisors every year using a specific form. This mandatory evaluation will encompass aspects such as the supervisors’ knowledge of the job, interest and creativity demonstrated, intra-service relationships, and overall behaviour. Furthermore, the administrative skills and effectiveness of supervisors will be subjected to scrutiny.
In a departure from the conventional hierarchy, the new evaluation system aims to contribute to the personal development of supervisors and enhance their performance.
The reform also introduces rating scales for the annual assessment of employees, particularly those in middle and senior management roles, categorising them on scales A13 and above, denoting “strong points” and “less strong points.”
The process involves six steps, requiring employees to complete hard-copy evaluation forms, with specific information filled electronically by the services before being handed over to employees. The evaluation period will be determined annually, allowing employees to complete the forms within a specified timeframe, ensuring objectivity and preventing retaliatory evaluations.
However, concerns have been raised about the implementation of the new system. The union representing public workers (PASYDY) criticises the delayed training of assessors, claiming that workshops were scheduled to start in October 2023 and conclude in February 2024, while assessments cover the period from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023.
In a recent interview with Phileleftheros Stratis Mathaiou, the General Secretary of PASYDY, highlighted the absence of scheduled training for assessed employees and raised questions about the adequacy of understanding and assimilation of the new system. He expressed concerns that, given these circumstances, objections, challenges, or even legal appeals could be forthcoming from those affected.
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