Editing Merit system (section)

== Performance assessment ==

=== Forced ranking ===
Forced ranking is a system in which performing employees are ranked into groups a company has established. The term 'Rank and Yank' was created by the former CEO of General Electric, Jack Welch. The 'Rank and Yank' idea encouraged terminating the employment of poor performers and replacing them with new personnel. Many like Welch and former Chief Executive of Microsoft believe in replacing poor performers while others, such as Tom Barry, former Managing Director at BlessingWhite, believe in 're-engaging underperforming employees.'<ref>Rao, Pramila (2013). ''Taking Sides Clashing Views in Human Resource Management''. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill. pp. 217–232. {{ISBN|978-0-07-352736-9}}.</ref>

=== Consequences of performance assessment ===
As the United States has become anti-bureaucratic, it has moved away from the outdated depiction of merit system. Twenty-eight states have established an 'at will' employment environment where civil service employees can be fired at any time without cause. In 2014 the Department of Veteran Affairs became overwhelmed with problems with scheduling appointments. Congress called for immediate action and ordered the Department of Veteran Affairs to lay off 'miscreant' employees. [[Donald F. Kettl]] explores in his work, ''The Merit Principle in Crisis'', whether 'At will' practices and whether they're beneficial to the bureaucratic practices of the government. Kettl states that due to an increase in government programs, firing 'miscreant' bureaucratic employees would only 'weaken the government's ability to steer'.<ref>Kettl, Donald F. "The Merit Principle In Crisis." ''Governance'' 28.4 (2015): 421-424. ''Business Source Complete''. Web. 13 Apr. 2016.</ref>