Employees Can Expect 9-10% Increment This Year: Pallavi Jha, MD, Dale Carnegie India

Appraisal season is round the corner. Employees would be looking to get the best for the them,a nd expectation would eb on a rise. Appraisal over the past 3-4 years have been limited to a single digit. 

With employers looking for new skills in their employees, there are good chances that an upskilled employee might get a double digit appraisal, even around 20-25 percent. 

Talking about appraisals to BW Busienssworld, Pallavi Jha, Chairperson and MD, Dale Carnegie Training India explains the methods to ask for a pay raise, trends in employee appraisal and expectations for different levels of employment.  

How much can junior, mid-level and senior level employees expect during the appraisal season?

Increments are generally a factor of the individual performance and potential, the organization’s performance and maybe even the macro outlook. Various research report seem to suggest that this year increments will be in the range of 9 -10 percent. During appraisals the individual should be well prepared for the discussion and clearly articulate their achievements. It is also a good idea to acknowledge the performance gaps and explain the reasons or what they are doing to bridge them.

How should an employee ask for a raise in salary?

If you’ve done well and can communicate that with ease, the conversation should flow smoothly. Present a brief, practical outline of your accomplishments this year and what you plan to do in the upcoming year. Ask for feedback, seek clarity and demonstrate that you are serious about planning a long term career in the company. Presenting an understanding of the employer’s point of view and displaying an interest in the organisations success will help you come across as dependable and deserving of the requested raise. A well-informed candidate who takes responsibility for his/her work exhibits maturity and will more likely be considered for a raise.

What factors should drive the appraisal? How to measure the performance of the employee?

Quality of output is the most important factor. Most companies have clearly laid out key performance indicators – consider show-casing your performance using data and evidence. Part of being a great employee is exemplifying that you are aligned with your organization’s workplace culture and can exemplify it. Part of being a star employee is ensuring that you exemplify the organization’s workplace culture every day.

What are the trends in employee appraisals?

Much has been said about continuous performance management replacing the annual appraisal, so much so that it is no longer a novel HR trend.The popularity of the approach is evidenced by the fact that it is now being more widely adopted across industries. The consensus by domain specialists is that the ideal way to tackle employee assessment is to capture their contributions in a holistic manner. Another new trend that several companies today are adopting is the creation of innovative rewards and unique appraisal models to lift employee motivation and engagement.

What skills can lead to maximum appraisal for employees?

Employers want to see employees take the onus to learn new skills that bring innovation to, or have a practical application in, their day to day tasks. Depending upon the stream, employees should be looking out for the latest and most cutting edge courses in their areas of expertise. Learning also needn’t be formal – there is definitely something to be said for research and constantly staying with the times.