“MyAppraisal”
This update is to
1. remind you that the boycott of “MyAppraisal” continues, and
2. clarify that staff can choose to use “paper” (MS Word document) appraisal forms, rather than the online MyAppraisal system, and that there is no penalty attached to doing so. The sole exception to this is Grade 10 staff, whose appraisals have never used these Word documents. All other staff can continue to do so.
The 2026 “appraisal season” is now halfway through, and MyAppraisal completion rates across UCL are currently below 10%, with no Faculty above 12% completion.
People who have not completed their “MyAppraisal” activities will be receiving occasional automatic “friendly reminder” messages to do so from “Thrive”.
NB: if you do not use the online system to do your appraisal, but instead use a paper form, and your appraiser records your appraisal’s completion on MyHR, these reminders will not stop arriving, but will continue to be sent at regular intervals until the end of the “appraisal season” (see current version of UCLAppraisals/Frequently-Asked-Questions (undated, last accessed 17 June 2026)).
The end of appraisal season is defined as 31 July (although note that UCL Organisational Development recommends that Grade 10 staff complete their appraisals by 30 June): UCLPeopleandCulture/SitePages/Appraisal-season-update–deadlines-and-reporting
The situation remains that UCL did not and has not consulted with UCL UCU or any other campus union about MyAppraisal.
Our advice to members to boycott this system, as voted for in April 2025, therefore continues.
Most colleagues can use the previously agreed Word forms, available here, for their appraisals, although, unfortunately, this is not possible for Grade 10 staff/Professors, for whom there is no previously agreed form.
MyAppraisal conflicts with the agreed UCL Appraisal Policy, and members voted to boycott this system for three main reasons:
- Data processing. UCL Policy expects Appraisers (Line Managers) to complete forms with their Appraisee, and Heads of Department (or their equivalent) to sign them off. No other staff have the right to view the content, nor can UCL process this data except to archive. However, the new system, which is not owned by UCL, does not include any such commitments.
- Conflation with performance management. Last year saw the introduction of elements of performance (“Perf” targets) into MyAppraisal, contrary to UCL Policy. We are told these have been retained for Professional Services staff. We have seen a “road map” which sees Appraisal as integrated with probation and performance management in the future.
- Refusal to consult. UCU and the other unions have repeatedly offered to consult with UCL over these issues. Unfortunately, UCL has refused to do so, and these key issues are still unresolved.
There is still some confusion over whether colleagues who do not require reasonable adjustments can use paper forms for their annual appraisals, or whether they are instead obliged to use the MyAppraisal system.
For the avoidance of doubt, for colleagues not at Grade 10:
- Colleagues can use paper forms, whether or not they need to do so for accessibility reasons.
- Use of a paper form does not impact on progression or rewards, as long as individuals’ appraisals have been completed and recorded in MyHR – see “Can I complete my appraisal via a Word document?” in the current version of UCLAppraisals/Frequently-Asked-Questions, specifically the statement that: “Use of a paper form will not, in itself, prevent an individual from being considered for progression or reward, provided that the appraisal has been completed and appropriately recorded in MyHR.”
- There are no sanctions in UCL pay policy for those who decline to use MyAppraisal and use paper forms instead.
Members can therefore use the Word forms, rather than the MyAppraisal system, without any penalty.
Our website hosts our own Frequently Asked Questions on MyAppraisal.
See also:
