Satisfaction with a performance appraisal system in the Portuguese Public Sector: the importance of perceptions of justice and accuracy

Abstract

The present work aims at: (1) assessing whether the Portuguese public sector employees are (or are not) satisfied with their appraisal system; (2) dissecting the relationship between perceptions of justice and accuracy of performance appraisal and satisfaction with that appraisal. In order to attain the aforementioned objectives, we decided to conduct an exploratory empirical study, cross-cutting in nature, focusing on a population of 2.247 individuals, from which we obtained 334 responses (n = 334). After statistical analysis of the data collected, with a descriptive and an inferential component, results point towards the fact that employees who have a better perception of justice and accuracy of performance appraisal tend to reveal greater satisfaction with it. However, in general terms, the elements of the sample considered the appraisal process as being unjust, inaccurate and were not satisfied with it.