Google Overhauls Performance Review System After Employee Criticism

Google is scrapping a time-consuming, twice-a-year staff performance review process in an effort to improve morale and reduce the time employees spend preparing the assessments, according to people familiar with the changes.

CEO Sundar Pichai told staff Wednesday that the new program, which will take place only once a year, aims to give more employees a sense of accomplishment and acknowledge that “most Googlers are doing great work.” The new system, which also creates an easier path to promotions, came after only 53% of Googlers said in surveys that the current system is “time well spent,” Pichai said.

The change makes Google the latest Silicon Valley company to switch to less-frequent reviews. Meta last year said it would conduct performance reviews once per year rather than twice.