Behaviorally Anchored Rating Scale

BARS stands for “Behaviorally Anchored Rating Scale” and it is an employee performance appraisal method. With BARS, HR managers use specific observable workplace behaviors as the basis for evaluating employees’ performance. This helps to connect actual performance with specific behaviors demonstrated in the workplace and is therefore less subject to bias while evaluating employees.

Highlights of the Performance Evaluation Process

• Utilizes observable examples to rate their behaviour.
• Minimizes effect of biases by minimizing subjectivity.
• Increases accuracy of performance reviews.
• Employee behaviour selected for the job are directly related.
• Implemented in the HRMS performance appraisal modules.

Legal Compliance / Policy / Regulation (India)

The BARS system does not reference any particular statutory compliance obligation.

Nevertheless, an organisation using BARS needs to do the following:

• Have a fair and transparent system for assessing staff performance.
• Use objective criteria for assessing employee performance – i.e., no discrimination.
• Adequately document within the HR performance framework.