If you believe that one or more of your core requirement ratings did not accurately represent a fair assessment of your contribution to your work unit, you must document your concerns and rationale in the Performance Evaluation within 45 days of the date ratings are published.   The system will open on February 5, 2010 and you will have until March 21, 2010 to submit your request for recourse.  The recourse option will be located on the main PES screen and listed as End-of-Year Ratings Recourse.

As a reminder, after you submit a recourse request, the system will determine whether or not the requested changes will change your overall rating.  Only those requests that change an overall block will be considered; those whose requests would not affect their final rating will be so notified.  Please note too that Recourse refers only to core goal ratings (Leadership and Communication, and Financial Responsibility) and cannot be used to appeal unit scores. All recourse appeals must be done through PES.

Upon successful submission, the employee may request a follow-up discussion with the evaluator.  If the evaluator is not in agreement and disapproves the ratings Recourse request in PES, the employee may request a review by the next higher-level evaluator within 10 days of the disapproval.  This is accomplished by submitting a timely request directly to the next higher level evaluator in PES. The next higher level evaluator reviews the employee’s documented concerns and rationale and makes a determination. Normally, these reviews do not extend beyond the unit PCES manager.

All notifications of approval or disapproval are made by PES and final decisions typically occur within 90 days from the beginning of the Recourse process.

The overall timeframe of the ratings Recourse process typically occurs within 90 days, and the PES system has been enhanced to process such requests.  All Recourse requests must be filed and processed within PES. Only employees at non-computer offices will continue to use the paper process to initiate a ratings Recourse request.

If you decide to file for recourse, there are tools to which you are entitled on the NAPUS National Website. Once you complete your appeal through Recourse, please print a copy of your request and send it to Mary Kay Brokaw, PO Box 1, Kulm ND 58456.  She will send it to the National office for analysis and further action.

Tools on the National NAPUS Website