Crossword Genius

Job assessment? Shock to receive extra pay cut (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

appraisal

'job assessment?' is the definition.
(an appraisal is an assessment)

'shock to receive extra pay cut' is the wordplay.
'shock' becomes 'appal' (synonyms).
'to receive' indicates putting letters inside.
'extra pay' becomes 'raise' (increase in salary).
'cut' means to remove the last letter.
'raise' with its last letter taken away is 'rais'.
'appal' enclosing 'rais' is 'APPRAISAL'.

(Other definitions for appraisal that I've seen before include "judgment" , "rating" , "Evaluation - papal airs (anag)" , "Formal assessment of an employee's performance" , "judgement" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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