The suggestion about instantiating a formal performance review sounds exactly to the point. The point is not to rank everyone on a gaussian curve but to maintain an understanding between the employee and the management of how much value the management percieves the employee has generated. This is a benefit to both parties!

Above 10 peoples, things get really to a point where everything is not obvious to everyone else and you need some formal documentation platform so everyone agrees on the quantity and the quality of the job.

Offtopic, but: The reference to Touissaint L'Overture was a fascinating detail. I had to buy a book on him from Amazon.