PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT POLICY (HR2431) 7-27-22 REDLINED.PDF

Maricopa County — Formal (2022-07-27)

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MARICOPA COUNTY INTERNAL POLICY 
 
Policy Title: 
PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT 
Policy Number: 
HR2431 
Current Adoption 
Date: 
37-217-201822 
Current 
Implementation Date: 
7-27-201822 
Approved by: 
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 
Board Agenda 
Number: 
C-31-18-036-6-001 
Original Adoption 
Date: 
August 2003 
 
 
I. 
PURPOSE 
To provide a consistent framework for establishing employees’ the performance expectations for each 
employee as well asand the expectations for supervisors regarding feedback and evaluation of employee 
performance. Using this framework, employees and supervisors align organizational and departmental 
strategic goals with specific, identifiable measurements to evaluate employee performance. 
II. APPLICATION 
This Policy applies to Cclassified, Unclassified and Initial Probationary Eemployees of all appointed 
departments, the Flood Control District of Maricopa County, and, the Maricopa County Library District 
(Special Districts) and the Stadium District. The Board of Supervisors is authorized to jointly adopt policies 
applying to the Special Districts under the Intergovernmental Agreement, C-06-18-393-6-00, approved on 
April 11, 2018. 
This Policy may be used as guidance for performance management of unclassified, also apply to Ccontract, 
and Ttemporary employees at the discretion of the Appointing Authority.   
 
 This Policy also applies to employees of County Elected Officials, unless the County Elected Official has 
implemented a performance management policy specific to their respective office. 
III. DEFINITIONS 
A. Appointing Authority: An elected official, the single administrative or executive head of a 
Department/Special District, or the designated representative authorized to act in this capacity. 
B. Annual Performance Review: An annual evaluation of an employee’s work effort for a specified period 
of time, which documents the employee’s performance based upon the measurements set forth in athe 
Performance Management Plan.  
C. Coaching: The regular delivery of performance feedback provided to an employee by a Supervisor. 
Coaching includes discussions of work performance to reinforce positive efforts, correct negative 
performance, and motivate a high level of overall performance. 
D. County/Department Strategic Goals: Objectives that the County/Department intends to achieve over 
the strategic planning period. 
E. Department Human Resources: The employee’s assigned internal human resources office. If there 
is no departmental human resources office, then it refers to the department’s assigned HR Liaison.

Policy Title: 
PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT 
Policy Number: 
HR2431 
Current Adoption 
Date: 
37-217-201822 
 
Page 2 of 5 
F. Higher Level Review: An employee’s request for a reconsideration of antheir Annual Performance 
Review that describes the specific goal(s), competency (ies), rating(s,) or comment(s) for which the 
review is requested. 
G. Performance Evaluation Ratings: A standard scale used to rate employee progress towards the 
expectations included in the Performance Management Plan. 
H. Performance Improvement Plan (PIP): Documentation of specific expectations, deliverables, and 
timeframes designed to improve employee performance that is not meeting established goals and/or 
competencies. 
I. 
Performance Management Plan (PMP): Documentation of the collaboration between the Supervisor 
and employee to align organizational, departmental, performance, and development goals and 
competencies with specific, identifiable measurements that will be used to evaluate success. 
J. Quarterly Performance Review: Quarterly interaction between an employee and Supervisor to 
discuss and document progress related to the Performance Management Plan.  
K. Supervisor: For the purpose of this pPolicy only, any employee who is responsible for evaluating the 
performance of one or more subordinate employees. 
IV. POLICY 
A. Performance Management Plan (PMP)  
Performance Management is an on-going, interactive process that begins with a collaborative effort 
between an employee and Supervisor to establish performance and development goals and 
expectations that are specific to the position, the employee, the department’s business needs of the 
department, and the County. These goals and expectations must be specific, measurable, attainable, 
relevant, and time-framed. 
At the beginning of each evaluation period, Supervisors and employees shall develop a PMP containing 
the following elements specific to the organization, department, position, and employee:  
1. Performance goals that contribute to the achievement of County/Department Strategic Goals; 
2. Development goals that include agreed-upon expectations for training, education, and other 
development activities aligned to support current performance goals and competencies to help the 
employees succeed in their current role. If applicable, development goals may also be used to 
prepare the employee for critical positions that may become vacant in the foreseeable future; and 
3. Defined competencies and evaluation factors needed to achieve performance expectations and 
define how success will be measured. 
Generally, PMPs should be consistent for all employees occupying positions with the same market 
range and working titles within a specific division in a department, with variation only in development 
goals specific to the employee. 
B. Performance Feedback 
Regular and consistent feedback throughout the evaluation period from Supervisors about an 
employee’s progress in meeting the established goals and expectations as set forthoutlined in the PMP 
is critical. Supervisors and employees must engage in timely and meaningful conversations and actions 
to maintain the highest levels of employee performance.

Policy Title: 
PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT 
Policy Number: 
HR2431 
Current Adoption 
Date: 
37-217-201822 
 
Page 3 of 5 
Supervisors shall: 
1. Regularly reinforce expectations, facilitate a high level of engagement and performance through 
positive feedback and opportunities for improved performance through appropriate training or 
instruction; 
2. Perform and document a Quarterly Performance Review to discuss progress related to the PMP 
and to make adjustments to the plan as appropriate. 
Supervisors are encouraged to conductperform and document monthly meetings with employees to 
discuss performance, including recent accomplishments or areas of concern.  
C. Performance Recognition 
Supervisors are encouraged to use both formal and informal mechanisms to acknowledge and 
recognize employees for exceptional work performance, public service, and contributions throughout 
the evaluation period. 
D. Performance Deficiencies 
Performance deficiencies should be discussed with the employee as soon as they are identified, and 
Coaching should occur. In order tAdditional training and instruction should be provided when 
appropriate to improve performanco improve performance, additional training and/or instruction should 
be provided, when appropriate. The following options are available for Supervisors to utilize when initial 
efforts to correct performance are not successful: 
1. Performance Improvement Plan (PIP): Supervisors should, in conjunction with Department Human 
Resources, develop a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) that sets forth the specific 
expectations or goals that are not being met, the anticipated deliverables, and, an applicable, 
appropriate timeframe (for example, 30, 60 or 90 days) to improve employee performance. The PIP 
must identify the consequences of an employee’s failure to meet performance expectations, up to 
and including dismissal from employment. Supervisors mustare expected to document employee 
progress throughout the duration of the PIP, including the final outcome of whether the employee 
has successfully achieved expectations. If appropriate, a PIP may be extended by the 
Supervisorthe Supervisor may extend a PIP in consultation with Department Human Resources. If 
an employee successfully completes a PIP, the Supervisor should document the completion and 
remind the employee that he/she mustis expected to continue to meet those expectations in order 
to be successfulto succeed in the position. 
2. Demotion: When a PIP has failed to assist the employee in achieving improved performance, an 
Appointing Authority may consider demoting the employee. This action results in a change in the 
assignment of an employee to a lower pay rate. When an employee is demoted, the employee 
must meet the qualifications and testing standards, if applicable, of the new position, which are in 
effect at the time of demotion. Demotions are not appropriate unless the employee can reasonably 
be expected to perform the duties of the new position. For Classified Employees, the Appointing 
Authority must comply with the provisions of the Employee Merit System Resolution and Rules and 
County Policy HR2402 Pre Determination Hearing as it relates to due process prior tobefore 
demoting the employee. 
NOTE: Demotions may also be voluntary. If the employee requests a voluntary demotion, the 
employee must submit a written request acknowledging the effective date, the position’s market 
range title, and new pay rate, which must then be approved by the Appointing Authoritythe 
Appointing Authority must then approve.

Policy Title: 
PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT 
Policy Number: 
HR2431 
Current Adoption 
Date: 
37-217-201822 
 
Page 4 of 5 
3. Dismissal: When a PIP has failed to assist the employee in achieving improved performance, and 
demotion is not a feasible or available option to consider, an Appointing Authority may dismiss the 
employee. For Classified Employees, the Appointing Authority must comply with the provisions of 
the Employee Merit System Resolution and Rules and Policy HR2402 Pre Disciplinary Action 
Hearing as it relates to due process prior tobefore dismissing the employee. Dismissal may be 
appropriate without the use ofusing a PIP if the employee’s performance cannot be corrected in 
the view of the Appointing Authority.   
In certain circumstances, an employee’s performance deficiencies may coincide with misconduct or 
inappropriate behavior, or vice versa. To determine if there is a potential to impose discipline, in addition 
to the steps outlined above, please refer to Policy HR2401 Employee Discipline. 
E. Annual Performance Review 
Supervisors shall formally evaluate employee performance through an Annual Performance Review. 
Supervisors shall document, rate, and discuss with the employee his/her progress towards achieving 
the goals and expectations set forthoutlined in the Performance Management Plan.   
In the eventf an employee is dissatisfied or disagrees with information in the Annual Performance 
Review, the employee is encouraged to firstto discuss any concerns with the Supervisor first discuss 
any concerns with the Supervisor. If the employee is not satisfied with the Supervisor’s response, or 
prefers not to discuss it with the Supervisor, the employee may request a Higher Level Review in writing 
within three business days of the date the employee receives the Annual Performance Review. 
Requests for Higher Level Review must clearly describe the specific competency, goal, rating, or 
comment for which the Higher Level Review is requested and shall be submitted to the Appointing 
Authority or designee for response.  
F. Supervisor and Employee Responsibilities 
1. Every Supervisor is responsible for Performance Management as set forthoutlined in this Policy, 
and it shall be a specific performance expectation for every Supervisor to comply with the terms of 
this Policy. 
2. Both the Supervisor and the employee will actively participate in developing the PMP.   
3. Employees who are placed on a PIP are expected to work diligently towards improving their 
performance to a level that meets expectations. 
4. Failure of a Supervisor or Employee to comply with the requirements of this pPolicy may result in 
disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal. 
G. Performance Management System 
The County’s adopted employee performance planning and evaluation system mayshall be used by 
Supervisors and employees to document performance management activities, including but not limited 
to: PMPs, Quarterly Performance Reviews, PIPs (if applicable), and Annual Performance Reviews. The 
Performance Management System should also be utilized to document monthly or other informal 
discussions related to performance. 
 
Revision History 
Version 
Revision Date 
Description of Revision

Policy Title: 
PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT 
Policy Number: 
HR2431 
Current Adoption 
Date: 
37-217-201822 
 
Page 5 of 5 
1 
August 2003 
Initial version (A1802); Approved by County Manager 
2 
9/1/2006 
Amended version; Approved by County Manager 
3 
3/21/2018 
Retitle to Performance Management; updated language for consistency with Policy 
template; updated Definitions and Performance Deficiencies; added Quarterly and 
Annual Performance Reviews, Performance Recognition, and Performance Management 
System; and clarified expectations and roles (C-31-18-036-6-00) 
4 
7/27/2022 
Clarified who the Policy applies to and when a dismissal without a PIP may be 
appropriate (C-31-18-036-6-01)