Employee evaluation form: Templates and how to write

Employee performance reviews are essential for any organization looking to align its objectives with real-world job performance. Whether you’re reviewing new hires or seasoned, longtime employees, a well-designed employee evaluation template gives structure to the conversation, helping you understand how each employee is progressing, how to offer constructive feedback, and how to guide them toward ongoing improvement. 

In other words, evaluation forms can be an invaluable part of the process of shaping performance management strategies, clarifying expectations, and making sure that employees know precisely how their work affects the organization.

This guide is directed at HR managers and supervisors looking for tips and advice on how to write an employee performance evaluation. Below, we’ll examine different types of evaluation forms, why they matter, and how to create a performance review template that works for your organization—whether you’re conducting an annual review, a mid-year check, or a peer review session.

What is an employee evaluation form?

An employee evaluation form is a document that managers, supervisors, peers, or even employees themselves use when assessing job performance. Evaluation forms often appear as standardized performance review example templates, featuring criteria—such as job objectives, competencies, and areas for improvement—against which to evaluate employee progress.

The overall evaluation process might include a self-evaluation, a peer review, or feedback from a direct supervisor. Some organizations include multi-rater input, known as 360-degree assessments, in which direct reports, peers, and managers all provide their perspectives. In any case, the primary purpose is to:

• Assess an employee’s strengths and areas for improvement
• Align the employee’s work with the organizational objectives
• Provide feedback that fosters professional development
• Gather data for annual reviews, performance appraisals, or promotion decisions

These appraisals typically form part of a broader performance review cycle. A well-structured employee evaluation template is a valuable tool to help ensure consistency when evaluating employees across different roles and levels.

The different types of employee assessment forms

Managers and HR professionals can select from a variety of assessments to gauge employee performance. Below are a few commonly used types of evaluation forms:

Management by objective

Under this performance appraisal style, managers and employees align on specific objectives. Each employee is evaluated based on how well they meet those objectives. This approach typically works best for employees in goal-oriented roles.

Behaviorally anchored rating scale (BARS)

A BARS form defines competencies and behaviors tied to different performance levels using a numerical scale. For example, a “5” could indicate exceeding expectations consistently, while a “1” might reflect significant areas for improvement. Having a scale to apply to every employee’s review aims to make performance reviews more objective.

360-degree feedback assessment

This holistic style gathers feedback from multiple sources—managers, peers, direct reports, and sometimes even external sources like customers. It’s an excellent method to glean well-rounded insights, though it requires careful documentation and respect for confidentiality. 360-degree performance review templates are great tools for building stronger team dynamics and a culture of constructive feedback.

Self-assessments

In a self evaluation, each employee reflects on their own job performance, personal competencies, and areas for improvement. This approach encourages ownership over the employee’s development, especially when combined with a peer review or a manager-led performance review. Many organizations incorporate self assessments prior to annual reviews.

Why are employee evaluation forms important?

Regularly conducting performance assessments is crucial for both employees and managers. Here are some of the key reasons why evaluation forms matter:

Offer constructive feedback on job performance

A formal performance review gives employees clear insights into their job performance. Managers can highlight what’s going well and recommend areas for improvement to maintain or boost competencies.

Guide decisions related to promotions, raises, and layoffs

Well-structured performance evaluations help HR determine which employees are ready for new roles, which ones need additional training, and where cutbacks may be necessary if the organization is restructuring.

Give insight into employees’ strengths and areas for improvement

With consistent performance review templates, managers can track patterns in employee behavior, discover hidden talents, and identify persistent areas for improvement.

Establish performance goals and benchmarks

Using an employee evaluation template, you can set clear objectives for the next quarter, half-year, or year. This means each employee has a roadmap of expectations and measurable goals and achievements to aim for.

Improve employee engagement

When employees receive ongoing feedback and see that the organization invests in their growth, they tend to feel more valued. This can lead to higher retention, better morale, and improved team spirit, all of which can boost employee engagement.

How to write an employee evaluation in 4 steps

Writing an employee performance review doesn’t have to be complicated. Below are four steps to conduct a thorough assessment:

Step 1. Collect employee data

Gather relevant information: job performance metrics, project outcomes, peer review inputs, self-assessments, etc. For new hires, you might rely more on probationary tasks and manager observations, while long-term employees might have detailed data to reference, including comparisons with past performance reviews.

Step 2. Outline employee duties

Start each performance review template by listing the employee’s core responsibilities or objectives. This step helps your critique stay relevant to the actual role. Clear definitions make it easier to assess how effectively an employee meets expectations.

Step 3. Use neutral, factual language

Always maintain a balanced tone in performance reviews. Replace statements like “Your work is terrible” with objective observations like “Project X missed its deadlines by two weeks.” This approach helps the employee see areas for improvement without feeling personally attacked.

Step 4. Implement a scoring system

In many performance review cycles, managers use a numerical scale to rate employee behaviors or results. This might be a 1–5 scale, or it could be a “meets expectations” vs. “exceeds expectations” distinction. A consistent scale across the organization fosters clarity and fairness.

4 employee evaluation form templates

Below are four ready-to-use employee review templates. Feel free to adapt them as needed:

1. General employee performance feedback template

Best for: 

• Monthly, quarterly, or annual reviews
• Roles that require a balanced assessment of both soft and hard skills
• Managers seeking a simple yet comprehensive approach

Recommended format: 

• Word document or Google Docs

Rating criteria (1-5 scale):

• 5: Significantly exceeds expectations
• 4: Consistently meets and sometimes exceeds expectations
• 3: Meets expectations
• 2: Partially meets expectations / some areas for improvement
• 1: Does not meet expectations

Instructions:

• Assign a rating in each category (e.g., Communication, Teamwork, Problem-Solving, Quality of Work). You can create custom categories to reflect your organization’s needs.

Group evaluation review form

Best for:

• Teams working on a shared project
• Departments with multiple employees who collaborate closely
• Managers wanting a bird’s-eye view of group dynamics and individual contributions

Recommended format:

• Excel or Google Sheets

Rating criteria (color-coded scale):

• Green = Exceeds all expectations
• Yellow = Meets basic objectives but some improvement needed
• Red = Needs immediate improvement

Instructions:

• Whichever scale you choose, apply it consistently across each team member or sub-task.

30-60-90 day performance review template

Best for: 

• New hires or employees in a new role
• Managers who want structured check-ins within the first three months
• Transitional roles requiring quick, milestone-based appraisals

Recommended format: 

• Word or Google Docs

Self-assessment evaluation template

Best for: 

• Encouraging employees to reflect on their own job performance
• Gaining deeper insights into how each employee perceives their strengths and areas for improvement
• Integrating into a 360-degree assessment or preceding a formal annual review

Recommended format: Word or Google Docs (though forms can also be built in surveys/online tools for convenience—performance management tools often offer features for this)

6 tips for creating employee evaluation forms

Designing an effective employee review template or performance evaluation template requires careful planning. Here are six tips:

1. Keep your surveys concise and focused

A short, well-structured performance review template encourages managers and employees to stay on topic. Include only the essential criteria, such as some open-ended questions for feedback and a space to rate competencies.

2. Customize the evaluation for the specific role

Avoid generic questions, and instead, align your performance review with role-specific tasks and responsibilities. For example, evaluating a sales rep’s monthly targets will be different from evaluating a software developer’s coding quality.

3. Set clear and achievable goals

Each annual performance review or mid-year check should leave the employee with objectives that feel realistic. Tangible goals lead to better alignment between the organization and the individual.

4. Focus on areas for development

Highlight areas for improvement as well as successes. Offer real solutions, such as training or mentoring programs, so that the employee has a clear roadmap for improvement.

5. Offer specific, constructive feedback

Vague comments like “Needs to do better” won’t help. Provide constructive feedback with actionable suggestions. This fosters actual growth and improvement in employees, helping them achieve their goals.

6. Identify opportunities for growth

A big part of performance reviews is showing how an employee can ascend within the organization. Mention upcoming projects or skill gaps to focus on for their future improvements. This keeps engagement high.

Enhance your employee evaluations with Rippling

Looking for software that will help you not just streamline employee evaluations, but connect every step of performance management? You’re looking for Rippling's performance management software.

With Rippling, it’s easy to get your entire organization on the same page, aligned around common goals—you can assign, share, and track goals across your company and surface individuals’ goal progress in performance reviews. You can also collaborate on ratings, promotions, and raises and automatically sync approved changes to payroll. And since every app in Rippling is natively built on a single source of truth for employee data, it’s easy to identify performance trends—and report on performance alongside all your other employee data to unlock deeper, more impactful insights.

And with Rippling, employee evaluations are easier than ever. All it takes is three steps to launch the perfect performance management cycle:

1. Configure your review cycle: Assign employees to your cycle in bulk using attributes, like location, and then select which review types to include.
2. Configure your permissions: Define the scope of executives, managers, and HR business partners instantly, based on their role and reporting relationships.
3. Configure your questions: Use a template or build your own employee evaluation form from scratch. Build question sets for all your reviewer types. Add targeted questions using employee attributes, like department.

Rippling is the only platform that offers end-to-end performance management with everything you need to develop and retain talent.

Employee evaluation form FAQs

What should be on an employee evaluation form?

An employee evaluation template typically includes employee details, job responsibilities, areas for improvement, competencies, a scale for rating, and sections for feedback—including open-ended questions. Additionally, many organizations feature a self-evaluation portion to encourage accountability and employee engagement.

What are the principles of performance reviews?

Effective performance reviews revolve around consistency, objectivity, clarity of expectations, and genuine feedback. The best approach uses data, documented examples, and sets the stage for steady growth and improvement over time. Also, an annual performance review shouldn’t be the only time employees hear about their performance; consistent check-ins matter.

What are the 7 steps of the performance evaluation process?

While each organization might differ, a common seven-step approach is:

1. Set objectives
2. Communicate expectations
3. Gather data
4. Document achievements and areas for improvement
5. Conduct the performance review meeting
6. Provide constructive feedback
7. Follow up on objectives and track progress

This blog is based on information available to Rippling as of April 10, 2025.

Disclaimer: Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.