The five commonly used performance ratings in a structured review system are: “Unsatisfactory,” “Needs Improvement,” “Meets Expectations,” “Exceeds Expectations,” and “Outstanding.” These categories provide a balanced view of an employee’s performance, helping managers differentiate between average, high-performing, and underperforming individuals.
The five-tier system offers enough flexibility to capture a range of contributions while maintaining clarity in evaluations. It is widely used in organizations seeking a fair and objective way to assess employee performance ratings.