Which statement describes access to evaluations?

Which statement describes access to evaluations?

• A. Only authorized personnel may read evaluations
• B. Evaluations are publicly read
• C. Access is determined by the rating official
• D. Access is determined by the employee's supervisor

Answer: (C)

Access to evaluations is controlled by the person who wrote and approves the evaluation—the rating official. This individual decides who needs to see the evaluation to support performance management, feedback, and development, while keeping the document confidential from those without a legitimate need-to-know. That makes the rating official the correct channel for determining access. Why not the other options? Limiting access to just “authorized personnel” is too vague and doesn’t specify who makes that determination. Saying evaluations are publicly read would violate the confidentiality of performance information. Having access determined by the employee’s supervisor shifts control away from the formal evaluation process and could lead to inconsistent access decisions; the rating official is the proper gatekeeper for access.

Access to evaluations is controlled by the person who wrote and approves the evaluation—the rating official. This individual decides who needs to see the evaluation to support performance management, feedback, and development, while keeping the document confidential from those without a legitimate need-to-know. That makes the rating official the correct channel for determining access.

Why not the other options? Limiting access to just “authorized personnel” is too vague and doesn’t specify who makes that determination. Saying evaluations are publicly read would violate the confidentiality of performance information. Having access determined by the employee’s supervisor shifts control away from the formal evaluation process and could lead to inconsistent access decisions; the rating official is the proper gatekeeper for access.