U.S. Office of Personnel Management - Ensuring the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce

The Performance Management Mailbag

Our mail includes often-asked questions that we'll be sharing with our readers in this recurring feature.

Question: Who has the authority to assign a rating of record to a Federal employee?

Answer: Agency appraisal programs will identify who prepares the rating of record and whose signature may appear on official documentation. Generally, an individual who is in the best position to assess the employee's performance, has the necessary information, and has the authority to rate employees should complete the rating of record. Therefore, it may be that ratings of record are prepared by first-line supervisors, managers, team leaders, or other appropriate employees-depending on the responsibilities designated by your agency's appraisal program. Governmentwide performance management regulations at part 430 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations do not specifically designate who has the authority to assign a rating of record. This rating is done at the end of the appraisal period for performance of agency-assigned duties over the entire rating period. The rating of record provides a written, or otherwise recorded, record of the employee's performance on all elements in the performance plan during the applicable appraisal period.

Originally published on Summer 2001