What does the recency error in performance appraisals neglect?

The recency error in performance appraisals refers to the tendency for evaluators to place more weight on an employee's most recent performances rather than considering their overall performance history. When assessors focus primarily on recent events, they may overlook a comprehensive view of an employee’s contributions, successes, and challenges throughout the entire review period. This can lead to an inaccurate appraisal that does not truly reflect the employee’s overall abilities or performance trends over time.

In contrast, other options do not directly relate to the key issue of the recency error. For example, while employee training periods, team metrics, and future goals are important components of a performance appraisal system, they do not fundamentally address the bias introduced by evaluating someone based on their latest actions instead of their sustained performance throughout the year. Therefore, recognizing the significance of an employee's entire work history is crucial for fair and equitable assessments.