Classified Staff Evaluation Tools

Classified Staff Performance Ratings

  All employees shall be evaluated based on their job performance during the previous evaluation period. The performance evaluations are quantitative, correlating to the defined performance rating levels. Supervisors also are encouraged to provide feedback as relevant to SMART goals. 

   Classified: The State Personnel Director and Colorado WINS negotiated a partnership agreement in 2021. In this agreement, the State rating system was changed from three (3) to five (5) categories of rating. Beginning April 1, 2022, CU will use the State’s new categories, which include: 

 

Employees at this level consistently make extraordinary contributions through superior performance on key goals, serve as role models of organizational values, and contribute significantly to the mission of the Department. Peers, immediate supervisors, higher-level management, and others recognize and depend upon the employee’s level of performance. An extraordinary level of achievement and commitment in terms of quality and time, technical skills and knowledge, ingenuity, creativity, and initiative is exhibited at this level. 

The employee demonstrates exceptional job mastery in all major areas of responsibility and their contributions to the organization are of marked excellence. 

 

Employees at this level demonstrate highly effective performance by making significant contributions and impact on the goals of the Department. The employee consistently models organizational values to others and performance at this level exceeds the expectations of their position. Colleagues rely on these employees for advice on process or subject matter expertise. All goals, objectives, and targets are consistently achieved above the established standards. 

 
 

Employees at this level reliably and consistently meet all the expectations, standards, requirements, and objectives of the employee’s position. They demonstrate organizational values, along with a willingness and ability to grow for the benefit of the Department. At this level, performance meets expectations in terms of quality of work, efficiency, and timeliness with the most critical goals being met.

 

At this level, employee performance and/or behavior do not consistently meet minimum expectations of what is expected of the employee’s position. While the employee shows capability and willingness to progress, they may require development in a key skill area(s) to be fully effective in the role. An employee’s failure to exhibit marked improvement may result in performance management.

 

At this level, employee performance and/or behavior do not meet the minimum job expectations of the position. The employee does not meet key goals or does not demonstrate competence in critical job skills. Immediate and sustained performance improvement is needed. An employee’s failure to exhibit immediate marked improvement will result in corrective and/or disciplinary action.

 

Classified Staff Core Competencies

The Evaluations shall incorporate the Statewide Uniform Core Competencies into each individual performance management plan and evaluation. The statewide, uniform core competencies cannot be disregarded in the final overall rating for each employee. 

Every employee governed by the state personnel system, commonly referred to as ‘classified employees’, must be evaluated on the following five core competencies as mandated by the State Personnel Director: 

 Communication  Interpersonal Skills
   Customer Service
   Accountability   Job Knowledge

 

Communication skills are very important and must be honed, particularly in a job in which employees deal with customers (internally or externally). Clear communication requires straightforward language that is neither too flowery nor too simple. It is essential to be able to use the spoken and/or written word to get your point across simply and clearly. 

Examples: 

  • Sought and considered ideas from others on issues that affected them. 
  • Communicated orally in a well-organized, courteous, and effective manner. 
  • Communicated to provide or exchange information while keeping others informed. 
  • Listens effectively to other’s ideas, problems, and suggestions. 
  • Demonstrates effective public greeting skills. 
  • Demonstrates effective phone skills. 
  • Adapts communication methods to respond to different audiences. 
  • Provides accurate, timely information (oral/written). 
  • Actively listens to others. 
  • Involves others in problem solving. 
  • Provides clear instructions and expectations. 
  • Works in an open manner and shares information with others to get the job done. 
  • Expresses ideas clearly and effectively (oral/written). 
  • Listens carefully and sincerely and considers the ideas of others. 
  • Maintains confidentiality, and exercises good judgment. 
  • Responds in a prompt and friendly manner to requests and inquiries.
  • Keeps others informed. 
  • Meets routinely with supervisor to exchange information and clarify expectations. 
  • Asks appropriate questions to clarify information/needs. 
  • Provides accurate, timely information (oral/written).
 

Interpersonal skills refer to the ability to interact positively and get along well with others. It is defined as a set of positive social skills necessary to get along well with others and function constructively in groups, including: 

A. Respecting and expressing appreciation for others; 

B. Being able to work and communicate well with others and listen to others' ideas; 

C. Demonstrating context-appropriate behavior that is consistent with social norms; and 

D. Using a range of skills or processes aimed at resolving conflict. 

Examples: 

  •  Well regarded by colleagues, can interact easily with a diverse workforce. 
  • Treat others with respect. 
  •  Polite, courteous, empathic. 
  • Demonstrates appreciation like thanking others for their assistance. 
  • Is courteous and acknowledges the contributions of others. 
  • Respect other people’s time and priorities. 
  • Treats others fairly and without prejudice or bias. 
  • Seen by peers as someone whom they can depend on. 
  • Does not initiate conflict and actively takes measures to ensure that conflict does not occur. 
  • Demonstrates tact and diplomacy when resolving conflicts, addressing concerns directly with the individual(s) involved. 
  • Takes initiative to address concerns with other staff in a timely manner, promoting understanding and cooperation. 
  • Approach to conflict resolution is exceptional, creating enhanced teamwork, without hard feelings. 
  • Contributes to a positive work environment through their interactions with others. 
  • Demonstrates flexibility by adapting to changes in priorities and the work environment. 
  • Demonstrates positive personal regard when confronting problems with others. 
  • Demonstrates respect for responsible dissent. 
  • Behaves in ways designed to keep problems impersonal whenever possible. 
  • Maintains positive work relationships. 
  • Treat others with courtesy and respect. 
  • Is cooperative and responsive. 
  • Builds trust and works with integrity. 
  • Treats others with respect, courtesy, tact, and friendliness and actively attempts to be helpful toward others. 
  •  Accepts criticism, is open to new ideas, and handles conflict constructively and diplomatically. 
  • Consistently able to obtain the cooperation of others. 
  • Works through conflict for positive solutions/results. 
  • Promotes cooperation and teamwork. 
  • Learns from conflict and makes appropriate changes. 
  • Takes initiative to improve working relationships and foster feelings of mutual respect with coworkers and customers (internal and external). 
  • Makes a special effort to boost employee morale and create a positive work environment. 
 

Commits to satisfying internal and external customers. 

Examples: 

  • Keep appointments, call-return commitments, etc. 
  • Is approachable and responsive to customers and others. 
  • Shows appropriate patience with complaining customers and employees. 
  • Treats the customer with respect and courtesy. 
  • Provides consistent, quality service to all customers. 
  • Is available to the customer and provides accurate, consistent, and honest information. 
  • Listens to the customer and provides feedback that will benefit the customer in the future. 
  • Understand who the customer is. 
  • Strives to satisfy customer needs. 
  • Offers appropriate and innovative solutions to customer problems. 
  • Demonstrates courtesy and a professional attitude in handling customer complaints. 
  • Respond promptly to requests for information and/or assistance. 
  • Meets customer expectations in a timely manner. 
  • Delivers what has been promised. 
  • Follows up with customers in a timely manner. 
  • Responds to telephone and email messages within four hours. 
  • Anticipates future needs/problems of customers and takes action to meet these needs or solve problems. 
  • Makes an extra effort to keep customers accurately informed. 
  • Understands the customer from their point of view. Has a thorough knowledge of the customer’s world and is able to anticipate customer’s requests.
 

Demonstrates a high level of dependability in all aspects of the job. Owns up to own words and actions. Can be relied on consistently. 

Examples:

  • Adheres to an established work schedule.
  • Provide consistent, timely, high-quality work
  • Arrives at work and meetings on time. 
  • Meets assigned deadlines without additional prompting by supervisor or others. 
  • Follows established call-in procedures for their department and submits leave request form within four hours of returning to the workplace. 
  • Submits timesheets on time and completes them correctly. 
  • Actions and speech reflect a commitment to the agency. 
  • Always finishes assignments on time and meets deadlines. 
  • Administrative paperwork is accurate and submitted on time. 
  • When on leave, arrangements are made for “current” work/responsibility to continue. 
  • Responds to change with a genuine desire to do what it takes to get the job done, regardless of the need to make adjustments. 
  • Employee accepts the change and is instrumental in seeing that the change is perceived positively by others and is carried out in a way that improves the overall operation of the department. 
  • Knows how to keep confidential information confidential. 
  • Never disparages the agency or its employees in public. 
  • Completes projects ahead of time without compromising the quality of work. 
  • Conveys a positive and professional image of the agency to others. 
  • Adapts well to new situations, unusual demands, emergencies, or critical incidents. 
  • Behaves in a businesslike manner. 
  • Avoids gossip and negative rumors. 
  • Seeks new and/or additional on-the-job training opportunities to obtain mastery over tasks, expand personal knowledge, and add value to the work group. 
  • Demonstrates initiative consistent with job expectations to improve performance. 
  • Performs their standard duties throughout the year and in addition takes on several large projects and some smaller ones that have a significant impact on the department. 
  • Completes work by established timelines and routinely uses time efficiently. 
  • Employee completes work well in advance of deadlines so that the supervisor has plenty of time to review documents and make revisions, rather than receiving documents just before the deadline with little time for adequate proofreading and revisions. 
  • Demonstrates professional job-specific skills necessary to provide the appropriate quality of work. 
  • Not only demonstrates specific job skills but also takes the initiative to learn higher level skills that enhance the ability to contribute to the organization. 
  • Creates a positive work environment and influences the behavior of other employees through their supportive and optimistic approach to daily activities within the work environment. 
  • Assists co-workers in response to fluctuations in workloads. 
  • Does not need to be asked to assist others in times of need. Employee jumps in and volunteers to assist others, even in areas where one may not expect them to routinely volunteer. Besides volunteering for the obvious needs, the employee senses other less obvious needs within the organization and provides additional assistance creating improved morale and work production. 
  • Serves citizens of the state. 
  • Demonstrates concern for the larger community served by the organization.

Technically and professionally skilled in all position responsibilities and duties. Seeks new skills and opportunities for self-development. 

Examples: 

  • Possesses appropriate expertise to perform the job at a professional level. 
  • Takes opportunities to increase knowledge of relevant job skills.