Performance Appraisal

Danny Alexander
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions at what intervals staff in his Department are subject to appraisals; how long his Department’s probationary period for new staff is; and what percentage of staff did not have their employment continued at the end of their probationary period in the last 12 months.

Mrs. McGuire
Staff in DWP are subject to formal appraisal at six and 12 monthly intervals. They receive ongoing feedback on their performance throughout the year.

The probationary period for new employees is normally six months. Exceptionally the probationary period can be extended by up to three months.

In the last 12 months the percentage of newly recruited staff who did not have their employment continued at the end of their probation was 2.31 per cent.