Creating a cycle

Set up and launch a new performance review cycle in Worknice.

Introduction

Performance review cycles allow you to structure and manage reviews across your organisation. Using review cycles, you can:

• Run Self Reviews, Manager Reviews and Finalisation phases

• Select participants and assign managers

• Attach review templates that will be followed by participants

• Configure due dates

This article walks through how to create and configure a new review cycle.

Before You Get Started

Before creating your cycle, ensure you have:

• Self and Manager review templates prepared

• Correct manager relationships set on employee profiles (although you can override these in the cycle)

• Due dates confirmed (Self, Manager)

Getting Started

1. From the left-hand menu, navigate to Performance.

2. Select Review cycles.

3. Click Create new cycle.

Step 1: Enter Initial settings

• Cycle name (e.g. 2026 Annual Review — Companywide)

• Description (optional)

• Scope Self review and / or manager review

• Leave the status as Draft while configuring

Step 2: Map Review Templates

Attach the appropriate templates to each phase:

• Self Review template

• Manager Review template

Templates may include:

• Free text questions

• Multiple choice questions

• 5 point likert questions

Mark critical questions as Required where necessary.

Step 3: Set the Due Dates

Define the timing for your cycle:

• Self Review due dates

• Manager Review due dates

Step 4: Select Participants

Choose who will participate in the cycle:

• All employees

• A group of employees

• A single employee

Step 5: Confirm and Launch

Launching the cycle will issue the reviews and send email notifications to employees and their managers.

Best Practices

• Standardise templates for consistency

• Keep reviews concise to improve completion rates

• Train managers on rating scales and feedback expectations

• Double-check manager mappings before launch

• Use 5 point likert scales as much as possible to aid insights

Quick Launch Checklist

Before launching, confirm:

• ✔ Cycle name and description set

• ✔ Due dates configured correctly

• ✔ Participants selected

• ✔ Manager mappings validated

• ✔ Templates attached

• ✔ Required questions configured

• ✔ Communication plan prepared

You're All Done!

Your performance review cycle is now ready to launch.

If you have any questions, please reach out to our support team at help@worknice.com or through the help section within Worknice.