performance evaluation at work

[bluebayou]

I have to vent.

I got my annual evaluation and raise at work.  (I know, be thankful that I have a good job, and I am.)

There are 3 options "exceeds expectations", "meets expectations", and "below expectations".  At my company, you can only get "below" if you have been written up, so not a problem. 

Every year it is the same conversation:  I think that I should be in the "exceeds" category.  They tell me, "no gets 'exceeds', 'exceeds' is a goal"  "you have to be perfect all year to get 'exceeds' "  "you can still get promoted as 'meets'"

At the six month mark I asked how I was doing.  Was told that I was doing fine.  Was told not to expect "exceeds" because no one gets it.  Been told that for past number of years, so it wasn't a big surprise.

Was told by two supervisors that "exceeds" is for the people who are ready to be promoted.



I have done my job all year.  I get 7-15 assignments each day from my supervisors (in addition to my regular work).  Looking at my notes, there are THREE days from 2008 where I did not complete one or two assignments. 

On my evaluation there were 2 comments:  "needs to complete assigned tasks in timely manner" and "staff needs development and training". 

I have lower turnover than all other areas of our store, I have sales increases in all departments........what needs development?

I asked the manager giving me the evaluation if he thought that I was "meets".  He said that I had to look at the total operation of the store.  That the store as a whole met expecations and didn't exceed them. 

Does anyone else face crap like this?

As a sidenote, my son has been showing me his homework all year.  He gets 95's on all of his reading and writing papers.  I never really paid attention......I figured, "95, good kid, pretty smart." 

Then I start realize that he ALWAYS has 95's.  I get curious and ask the teacher.  She says, "well, 95 is the highest that he can score.  95 is a perfect paper."

Uh...........since when is a perfect paper not 100? 

Just throwing this out there.

[stubshaft]

Been there done that.  Sorry you had to continually go through the "ringer".  I worked for a national company, and had a boss that was continually embezzling money.  I brought it up to loss prevention and they were "going to look into it".  In the meantime my boss did everything he could to discredit me (sounds like someone tipped him off).  Ultimately, LP did nothing.  I ended up quitting after 9 years of service (can't abide a thief).  It seems that some of the people in positions of power got there solely by tenure and they have no real aptitude or business acumen.  They tend to create "issues" that they have to correct to show their bosses that they are on top of the situation.

Hang in there brother.

[LaOtto222]

I do evaluations on an annual basis. I hate doing them, but I am forced to do them. I would rather talkto my folks about their performance all year long. Telling them when they need to improve and show them exactly what they they did, when they did it. Also when they have done well and exactly what they did and when they did it. I can do that, but I have to document every little detail, so when the annual review comes up I have solid facts to work with. This is a big chore to be done right. Most bosses do not take the time to record all the events of the year or months, so when they do their evaluations, they go by memory to the last few things that were done by the person. If you happen to have had an assignment you missed two weeks prior to the writing of the evaluation, then they are going to say that you missed assignments for example. It is an imperfect world. Did I mention I hate doing them. Our evaluations are based on three categories too, but we do ours a little different. We have Improvement Required, Meets Expectations (most fall into this category) and Exceeds Expectations (needs to almost walk on water). We have people that get Improvement Required, but when they do, I give them specific dates and events and what they can do to improve thier performance. I also give out a few Exceeds expectations and again tell them dates and specific events and them encourage them to keep up the good work. Most bosses (the ones doing the reviews) do not like doing them, because they do not like confrontation. Hang in there, as long as you are not getting the lowest category, you are doing OK. Good Luck

[Graybeard]

For the past 14 years I've gotten ONLY exceeds expectations on my appraisals but then I have been retired for that long so I'm the one doing the evaluations. 

Yeah when I worked for a living I too went thru that crap. I recall one year I got the standard barely OK deal too when two of my three subordinate supervisors had been given exceptional performance ratings approved by my boss and the other got fully met all. Two of them were given cash awards as well.

I was told that same old crap about failure to meet deadlines and I asked for just one single specific example and was provided none as there were none. It's mostly all BS really but it's office politics as much as anything from most bosses I guess.

They offered me an early out at age 50 and I took it. Now after 14 years of retirement with no boss I can say it sure is nice. My income of course is far less than it would be had I stayed until standard retirement age but we get by even if only barely. Money ain't everything and I have found that retirement with less money brings far more happiness than working and more money did. Having no one but myself to answer to means far more than the extra money. The day I retired I took a $27,000 pay cut and that has taken some serious getting used to I can assure you of that. But life is about more than money and being able to get up when ya want to, go to bed when ya feel like it and know that each day you have no one planning your schedule but you is priceless.

[magooch]

Bill, I totally agree--work is overrated.  Retirement is underrated, but it should be reserved for those who can handle it.  I give myself the highest rating, because I'm really doing it (retirement) well.

[gypsyman]

I have pretty much been self employed all my life. Worked for my parents growing up in our carry out, then ran it for years, making the decisions and orders. At 31 decided to try something else. Sold the store, and stumbled into an old drinking aquaintence that did gun shows. Worked for him for 7-8 years, then started doing them on my own. Been doing them for over 22 years now. No one can be harder on you, than yourself. When you do good, you have pride in yourself, knowing that it was you that made the right decision. When things go bad, you only have yourself in the mirror to look at.
Right now, my business is good. Not sure what the future holds. If Obama doesn't put me out of work, somehow I'll get by. gypsyman

[Questor]

It's just part of the job. Every company does it differently. You can tell a lot about a company about how they do them. If your prospects for advancements are limited by criteria on the review, then you always have the option of finding another job.

[Questor]

My performance review is around whether I'm maintaining a stable and loving environment for my wife and kids while still having enough time for a couple of hobbies. If I'm doing that, then I'm doing my job.

[bluebayou]

Thanks for the replies.

I try to be like Questor and keep my priorities.  What is hacking me off after 4-5 years of this is that my income is affected each time.  Less income means less stability for my family.  We don't make a lot, but we are down to just a few bills, mortgage, student loan, and <ahem> my CZ rifle.

The point is that if I get "exceeds" then I get a 7% raise.  "Meets" only gets me 4%.  4% doesn't meet inflation.  AND this is all cumulative so each time that I don't get a 7% raise then that is less money EVERY year after that, not just next year.  I realize that you can go crazy with stuff like that.

My supervisors just look at me like I am nuts when talk about inflation and the cost of living. 

Sidenote:  LaOtto222, I keep a file for all of my direct reports.  I put notes, invoices, copies, whatever into each file through the course of the year.  Then when their evaluation rolls around I have some information from across the year.  If one of THEIR people has a mistake or attaboy, then it goes into their file too. 

[Heavy C]

You are definitely not alone.  As a former supervisor I hated conducting evaluations because of the crappy forms that the company used.  It allowed every opportunity to bring an employee down and provided a very steep uphill climb to give out a-a-boys.  Not only were raises crappy, but then you also had to deal with pay levels.  Nothing demoralizes a person more than to hear the following:  "You did a fantastic job this year!  You qualified for our highest raise.  Unfortunately you are already at the top end of your pay grade."  Thanks, but no thanks.

The best thing that every happened to me was being laid off in March of 2008.  I started my own business, no stress, I make what I want, work when I want, and I love my new boss.  Last year of course was lean, but this year is completely different.  In the first quater I have made half of my annual salary at my old job.  Best part is that I'm available to my family and I can't be laid off anymore.

Hang in there.

[SHOOTALL]

In Va. it is important to document everything with regard to employees . The evaluation is just one more thing to get done. The employee can't say at a later date he was passed over . It was most likely a good thing in the begining but has become little more than more paper work in some if not most cases .
As far as inflation causing cost of living raises , sounds good but if the company you work for ain't making profit forget it . People forget some jobs only support a certian wage level , if you top out you can either accept what you make or move on your choice just business .
If ever you feel you can do better then by all means do so . You have a certian level of work you can do and a limited time you are able to work ( you don't know the length of this time though ) so make as much as you can as fast as you can !

[petemi]

When I was in the Navy as a second class petty officer, I was called into my division officer's office.  He and I were hunting and fishing buddies off base.  He said "Sit down Pete, I've got a problem.  I can't write a fair evaluation for your leading chief, and I'd like you to do it for me.  He and I just have too many conflicting ideas."  Well, I sat down and wrote a fair, honest and good evaluation for the man, and he was promoted the next year.  It was a very embarassing situation.  In short, it kinda reflects on the value of evaluations.  The personal feelings and mood of the writer has a lot to do with it.

Pete

[bluebayou]

When I was in the Navy as a second class petty officer, I was called into my division officer's office.  He and I were hunting and fishing buddies off base.  He said "Sit down Pete, I've got a problem.  I can't write a fair evaluation for your leading chief, and I'd like you to do it for me.  He and I just have too many conflicting ideas."  Well, I sat down and wrote a fair, honest and good evaluation for the man, and he was promoted the next year.  It was a very embarassing situation.  In short, it kinda reflects on the value of evaluations.  The personal feelings and mood of the writer has a lot to do with it.

Pete

I agree that the writer has the most to do with it. 

Two sentences is all that I got, though. 

I worked all year long, A YEAR.  To get:  "needs to complete assigned tasks in timely manner" and "staff needs development and training".  That's it, the total personal feedback on the form.
(there is also a section that reviews the profitablity of the store as a whole, but not for my area of responsibility).

[Swampman]

I got really high marks on my review this year.  Guess what?  They decided nobody is getting an annual merit raise period.  They continue to waste money on all kinds of stuff, but we don't get a raise.

[powderman]

I work for walmart. Evals come once a year. the criteria are drawn up by corporate. Meets, exceeds, or nuttin. It is designed to read meets. Dress code, no chance for exceeds there, understands and obeys all rules, same thing. Ya do or ya don't. I got a meets last year, I objected and got exceeds, I've gotten that every year except one. My only meets came from a mgr that didn't even work around me. The highest raise is 60 cents, next is an even more pitiful 40 cents. Haven't had % raises in 5 years now, just a flat rate. These are annual raises, there have been NO merit raises for almost 5 years now for anybody. There is also a salary cap. There are folks there who will NEVER get another raise, corporate calls this incentive. I had an eval written by one mgr one year and given to me by another mgr. The 1st mgr gave me meets, the 2nd mgr disagreed and over rode it and gave me exceeds.
I feel very fortunate to have my job, lots of folks doing without today and I thank God daily for it. I transferred to hardware recently and love it. They recently announced a new system where there would be 5 different levels of achievement, or not. Most anything that comes from corporate is for their benefit, not ours. POWDERMAN. 

[petemi]

I'm just glad I'm retired and don't have to put up with that B.S. any longer.

Pete

[rockbilly]

GB.  I can sure identify with your comments.  I went through the Performance Reports process both in the military and as a civilian.  I did my job basically the same year after year, but by reading the appraisals one would think I have vast mood swings and periods in which I am totally unproductive.

Plainly and simply, there is too much room for personality in most evaluations, I can speak both as a rater and one being rated.  Although I tried to be fair in my assessment of personnel I know I am guilty of giving higher marks to those I had a better relationship with, and feel quite sure this has been the case in many of the evaluations I received

[SHOOTALL]

Come on guys if it were not for evaluations what would middle management and upper management do all day ? Other than get in the way !

[rex6666]

I remember when i was a shop welder, the owner would come around and tell
me and the other 2 welders how great we were doing, then when raise time came
the co. just didn't make money so hear is a .10 raise just burnt my butt. The last time it happened it put me in a higher tax bracket so i was taking home less than before. They said that was just the way it worked out, when i said you have my notice they wanted to redo it ,I said no i have had enough begging.
I do believe evaluations are a lot office politics.
I started selling class 8 trucks (18 wheelers) in 1980, straight comision,
no evaluations needed their, co. and employee can tell by looking at
the check how you are doing.

[slim rem 7]

 i took a little dose of early retirement when my shoulders went bad..
 found i just wasn t ready for the adjustment..now im thinking mabe give it another shot..if my body allows me to stay kinda busy it ll help a lot.. slim

[Foxxtrot]

Many companies use this scale now. It is meant to hold a person down so they never get a good bonus/raise. It takes saving half a million or better. I had a buddy save our old company seven million in fines from the Customs dept and he got no raise and we were doing well. Boss didn't like him! That evaluation crap is too subjective and impossible to get a decent raise.

[Oldshooter]

The personal feelings and mood of the writer has a lot to do with it.

Pete makes a valid point, If you disagree with a supervisor, but still do your job you can and usually will suffer for it. Also, if your supervisor feels you are a threat to them(politically job wise) you will regret that also.

Often supervisors use evals as a mode of retribution, you make them look bad for doing your job better than their "family member" or buddy, and you will not look good on an eval. It does not take much to make you look bad either.

[mechanic]

My wife is given the paperwork, to do her OWN review.  She then has a meeting with her supervisor to discuss it.  I noticed she was giving herself less than excellent in almost every category.  I asked her if she really felt that way....no she did not.  I told her to go back and answer honestly.  If you are doing the job to better than expectation...say so.

She got a raise for the first  time in 3 years. 

I don't get reviews, (very small company), and for the last five years my pay has consistently dropped, along with everyone else.  Our market gets smaller as more industry goes abroad. 

Those that have a job....be thankful.  I'm glad for the 4 days a week I get now.  It beats no income.

[Oldshooter]

Good point mechanic! I'm retired but those that are working and need to are lucky right now!