Ep 12 - We can work it out #2: Appraisals - Myth, mess, or must-have?

Annual appraisals are one of the most stressful workplace rituals – but are they broken beyond repair, or more important than ever?

In this episode, Constantine Law's John Hayes is joined by HR leader and powerhouse Amanda Rajkumar to unpack why performance appraisals trigger so much anxiety, how outdated processes undermine trust, and what organisations should be doing differently as we head into 2026.

Drawing on experience from multinational organisations and UK SMEs, they explore the shift from once-a-year judgement to continuous feedback, the impact of bias and recency effects, and why poorly trained managers are often the weak link in performance management.

The conversation also looks ahead to upcoming changes in UK employment law, including the growing importance of documented performance conversations, fair appraisals, and consistent feedback in managing risk around dismissals, bonuses, and promotions.

Whether you’re a business owner, HR professional, manager, or employee, this episode offers practical insight into building appraisal systems that are simpler, fairer, legally robust, and actually improve performance.

Topics covered:
• Why appraisals create dread for managers and employees
• Annual reviews vs continuous feedback
• How bias creeps into performance ratings
• Making appraisals shorter, clearer, and more effective
• 360 feedback: what works and what doesn’t
• Appraisals, performance management, and UK employment law in 2026

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