Palm Beach County moves toward 360-degree reviews for contractual employees

Deputy County Administrator Tracy Ellison and staff briefed the Board of County Commissioners on a proposed 360-degree review process for contractual employees. The presentation outlined using contract anniversary dates as the trigger for annual reviews, suggested competencies for evaluation and recommended direct reports be the primary reviewers.

Ellison said the system will collect direct-report feedback and that commissioners will be able to see responses but not individual reviewer identities in the initial presentation. Commissioner Flores asked whether reviews would be blind and about sample size; staff replied the recommended approach is to include all direct reports rather than a randomized small sample. "They won't be blind," staff confirmed, and commissioners discussed whether the direct-report approach would yield the most informed feedback.

Commissioner Powell asked how anniversary timing affects newly elected commissioners' ability to evaluate contractual employees and was told commissioners would still receive direct-report feedback even if they had not been in office for a full year, though their ability to comment on performance would be limited. Commissioners also asked staff to include a 90-day review for new hires to capture early feedback rather than waiting a full year.

Board members generally expressed support for using direct reports as reviewers and for the proposed competencies, and directed staff to finalize details and return with a demonstration of the EPMS system and a recommended process for implementation.

The workshop did not adopt a final policy; staff said they will return based on the board's direction.