This article helps you identify why you have not received a request to write an upward review for your manager during an active review cycle.
Diagnose
Work through these checks in order until you find the matching condition.
Check 1: The review cycle does not include upward reviews
How to check: Ask a review administrator which review types are included in the active cycle.
If true: The cycle was configured without an upward review component. You will not receive an upward review request. No action is available to you.
If not: Move to Check 2.
Check 2: Your manager does not have direct reports configured in 15Five
How to check: Ask a review administrator whether your manager has at least one direct report listed in 15Five.
If true: In upward-only cycles, only people who have direct reports in 15Five are added as reviewable participants. Without a direct report relationship in the system, no upward review request is generated. A review administrator must correct the reporting structure in 15Five.
If not: Move to Check 3.
Check 3: You are globally excluded from Best-Self Review®
How to check: Ask a review administrator to check the Best-Self Review® global settings for your name or group.
If true: Globally excluded individuals and groups are never asked to complete upward reviews. A review administrator must remove you from the global exclusion list. You will not receive retroactive requests for the current cycle.
If not: Move to Check 4.
Check 4: You are cycle-specifically excluded and your manager has no direct reports in the cycle
How to check: Ask a review administrator to check the participant list for the specific cycle.
If true: Cycle-specific exclusions may still result in upward review requests under some conditions, but only if your manager has active direct reports within the cycle. A review administrator can add you back as a cycle participant using Manage participants.
If not: Move to Check 5.
Check 5: The cycle is an upward + peer cycle and you were inadvertently treated as a peer-only participant
How to check: Ask a review administrator whether the cycle is an upward + peer combination cycle and whether your manager relationship is recorded correctly.
If true: In upward + peer cycles, participants without direct reports go through peer review only. If your manager relationship is missing in 15Five, you will be treated as a peer-only participant. A review administrator must correct your manager assignment in 15Five.
If not: Move to "If It Still Fails."
Fix
Cause: Cycle does not include upward reviews
No fix is available. The review administrator would need to create a new cycle that includes upward reviews.
Cause: Manager lacks a direct report relationship in 15Five
- Contact a review administrator.
- Ask them to verify and correct the reporting structure under account settings.
- Confirm whether the active cycle can be updated to reflect the corrected relationship.
Cause: Global exclusion applies to you
- Contact a review administrator.
- Ask them to navigate to Best-Self Review® global settings.
- Ask them to remove your name or group from the exclusion list.
- Note that this change will not generate a retroactive upward review request for the current cycle.
Cause: Cycle-specific exclusion applies to you
- Contact a review administrator.
- Ask them to open the active cycle's Overview page.
- Ask them to click the gear icon and select Manage participants.
- Ask them to add you back as a participant.
Cause: Manager assignment missing in an upward + peer cycle
- Contact a review administrator.
- Ask them to verify your manager is correctly assigned in 15Five.
- Once corrected, confirm whether the system will now generate an upward review request for you in the active cycle.
What Resolution Looks Like
After the correct fix is applied, you will receive an email notification prompting you to complete an upward review. The review will also appear in your Reviews queue in 15Five.
If It Still Fails
Contact your review administrator and provide the following information:
- Your name and the name of your manager
- The name of the active review cycle
- Which checks above you completed and what each revealed
If the review administrator cannot resolve the issue, they should contact 15Five Support with the same details.
Not Covered Here
This article does not cover how to write or submit an upward review once you have received the request.