End of Year Performance Management HRLinks Steps

This page contains step-by-step instructions for employees and supervisors on how to process and approve performance plans in HR Links for the end of year performance review cycle.

If you're having issues with logging into HR Links while using Google Chrome, please use these , external,TTS-only, instructions to clear your site cache.

Creating a new performance plan

In most cases, supervisors should own the creation of performance plans for direct reports. This step applies to employees who require a new performance plan such as new employees and existing employees who have recently changed roles.

• Step-by-step instructions:

  • , external,TTS-only, Employee
    • Note: Supervisors should create a new or clone (see below) an existing Performance Plan for their direct report(s)
  • , external,TTS-only, Supervisor

• HR Links in-depth guide (with screenshots):

  • , external,TTS-only, Supervisor (Section 1, Topic 1.1)

Copying an existing performance plan

In most cases, supervisors should own the creation of performance plans for direct reports. This step applies to employees that will be on a performance plan that is consistent with their prior year.

• Step-by-step instructions:
  • No action required by employee
  • , external,TTS-only, Supervisor

Updating a performance plan

After creating or copying (cloning) a prior year performance plan, updates to the critical elements, specifics measures and/or rating expectation levels will likely be needed to align with current fiscal year goals. This section provides resources, including prior year examples, for updating performance plans.

• , external,TTS-only, FY20 Performance Plan Critical Elements Examples
  • Provides prior year examples of performance plans for Business Units across TTS
• , external,TTS-only, FY21 Business Unit Critical Elements Builder
  • Provides a template to write out critical elements, definitions of the critical elements, and links to prior year examples

Submitting a performance plan for employee approval

• Step-by-step instructions:

  • No action required by employee
  • , external,TTS-only, Supervisor

• HR Links in-depth guide (with screenshots):

  • , external,TTS-only, Supervisor (Section 1, Topic 1.2)

Acknowledging a performance plan

• Step-by-step instructions:

  • , external,TTS-only, Employee
  • No action required by supervisor
    • Instructions to override employee acknowledgment can be found in the Supervisor in-depth guide below

• HR Links in-depth guide (with screenshots):

  • , external,TTS-only, Employee (Section 1, Topic 1.3)
  • , external,TTS-only, Supervisor (Section 1, Topic 1.2)

Re-opening a performance plan

If modifications need to be made to an existing performance plan, a plan can be re-opened by the Supervisor and resubmitted to the employee to acknowledge.

NOTE: 120 days must pass from the date the employee acknowledges the updated plan before they can be rated against it.

• Step-by-step instructions:
  • No action required by employee
  • , external,TTS-only, Supervisor

Entering a self-assessment

• Step-by-step instructions:

  • , external,TTS-only, Employee
  • No action required by supervisor

• HR Links in-depth guide (with screenshots):

  • , external,TTS-only, Employee (Section 3, Topic 3.3)

• Additional resource guide:

  • , external,TTS-only, GSA Employee Guide to Writing an Effective Self-Assessment

Nominating participant reviewer(s)

This process allows supervisors and employees to , external,TTS-only, solicit feedback from other supervisors or colleagues regarding their Performance Plan. HR Links allows both employees and supervisors to nominate and track participant reviews; however, only supervisors can officially submit a nomination. If an employee nominates another employee for feedback on their performance, the nomination is submitted to the , external,TTS-only, supervisor for approval. You must inform your Supervisor that you have submitted the nomination(s) for approval because HR Links does NOT notify them of this action.

Once nominated, participant reviewers receive a notification alerting them of the evaluation request. The employee's supervisor is required to review and approve all feedback from participant reviews.

NOTE: A participant reviewer will need to , external,TTS-only, “Accept” or “Decline” to provide feedback, if nominated, and will only be able to see the employee appraisal information that they provided.

• Step-by-step instructions:

  • , external,TTS-only, Employee
  • , external,TTS-only, Supervisor

• HR Links in-depth guide:

  • , external,TTS-only, Employee (Section 3, Topic 3.1)
  • , external,TTS-only, Supervisor (Section 3, Topic 3.2)

Submitting a participant review

Submitting a participant review in HR Links is the same process for all nominated colleagues regardless of their reporting relationship to the employee. TTS Supervisors will have to review and approve all participant reviews for their direct reports in HR Links as part of the final employee evaluation submittal process.

• Step-by-step instructions:

  • , external,TTS-only, Employee
  • , external,TTS-only, Supervisor

• HR Links in-depth guide:

  • , external,TTS-only, Employee (Section 3, Topic 3.2)

Reviewing an employee self-assessment

• Step-by-step instructions:

  • No action required by employee
  • , external,TTS-only, Supervisor

• HR Links in-depth guide (with screenshots):

  • , external,TTS-only, Reopen a Self-Assessment (Supervisor)
  • , external,TTS-only, Supervisor (Section 3, Topic 3.3)

Reviewing evaluations from participant reviewer(s)

• Step-by-step instructions:

  • No action required by employee
    • An employee can view participant evaluations once they've been approved by their supervisor
  • , external,TTS-only, Supervisor

• HR Links in-depth guide (with screenshots):

• , external,TTS-only, Supervisor (Section 3, Topic 3.3)

Submitting an evaluation

• Step-by-step instructions:

  • No action required by employee
  • , external,TTS-only, Supervisor

• HR Links in-depth guide (with screenshots):

  • , external,TTS-only, Submit an Evaluation (Supervisor)

Acknowledging an evaluation

• Step-by-step instructions:

  • , external,TTS-only, Employee
  • No action required by supervisor

• HR Links in-depth guide (with screenshots):

  • , external,TTS-only, Employee (Section 3, Topic 3.4)

Confirming that performance plans have been acknowledged

It is critical that all performance plan evaluations are acknowledged and all new fiscal year performance plans are acknowledged (established) by employees by GSA deadline. The status of employee performance management can be checked in the Team Performance Supervisor dashboard:

• Step-by-step instructions:

  • No action required by employee
  • , external,TTS-only, Supervisor

• HR Links in-depth guide (with screenshots):

  • , external,TTS-only, Supervisor (Section 3, Topic 3.1)

Closing out an interim performance plan (the plan will not factor into the end of year performance award)

If a TTS employees has two performance plans of record, both plans need to be closed out; however, only the most recent plan will factor into the end of year performance award if the other plan is closed out properly. Supervisors should discuss both plans with their direct reports and provide ratings that are as accurate as possible because both plans will still be visible in the employee's record. The step-by-step instructions below show how to rate and submit the "old" plan properly.

• Step-by-step instructions:
  • No action required by employee
  • Supervisor will need to , external,TTS-only, follow these instructions

Selecting Time Off Award in lieu of cash performance award

Information will be updated pending guidance from GSA.