Performance Appraisal System: A Study on Employees Central Issues and Challenges in Healthcare

The purpose of this paper is to review the findings of research papers of various authors to derive the main issues, problems and challenges faced by the healthcare employees with respect to the practice and implementation of effective performance appraisal system (PAS) that impacts employee satisfaction, trust, commitment and retention in a work environment. Findings were categorized using a framework analysis. This approach gives rise to a hierarchical thematic framework, which is then used to classify findings according to key themes and emergent categories. Four major themes emerged from the analysis of the research studies. All the problems and challenges are categorized in the following themes in a conceptual manner: contextual problems, problems related to performance appraisal (PA) structure, problems related to PA process, problems related to PA results. Based on our understanding of the papers reviewed by us, suggestions are drawn which give a holistic view on the issues and problems faced by the employees w.r.t. the PAS and various practices that organizations should adopt so that their employees perceive this system as unbiased, challenge free and satisfying. Keeping in mind the end goal to accomplish quality patient care and most extreme employee satisfaction, the current PAS being led in the healthcare organizations should be changed and amended to a great extent