Alice McFlurry Mar 23, 2023

Boss: Why is your work only 80% complete?

Me: Oh, yes! There’s a very good explanation for that.

In my last performance review, you noted that I was exceeding all expectations, but that you were only giving me a 4 out of 5 because you “never give 5s” because “there’s always room for improvement.”

As a result, I’ve taken the initiative to deliver at 4/5 capacity to ensure I’m performing according to your expectations.

As we’ve already established, I’m easily capable of performing at and above 100%, so please let me know once you’ve adjusted my performance rating to a 5 and I will adjust my performance accordingly.

Show threadvandenberglegs
@Alice yeah, we were literally told not to rate ourselves at the highest rating. Then we were told that bonuses were never happening again (though annual payrises are cemented in). We have zero incentive to do a better than passable job.
Mar 23, 2023 at 11:21pmWeb
Show threadAlice McFlurry Mar 23, 2023
@vandenberglegs I am always going to do my best because it’s in my nature, but it doesn’t mean that the “system” doesn’t frustrate the hell out of me.
Show threadvandenberglegsMar 23, 2023
@Alice yeah same. I'd even be happy with "thanks, we appreciate the job you're doing" but don't even get that from management. Ah well, pay is good and work/life balance is great, so I keep plodding on.
Show threadAlice McFlurry Mar 23, 2023

@vandenberglegs I totally agree. I actually have a really great boss and my main post is based on past experience, but it’s definitely a real thing and a big problem.

All of the good workers get burnt out while all of the lazy/whiny brats keep getting promoted until the company achieves the corporate equivalent of Idiocracy and then everything implodes and the cycle repeats.

Show threadTomNov 22, 2023

@Alice @vandenberglegs it's kind of some shit that any rating system will definitely fail as they're inflexible and reward those who can work the system instead of just doing well at work. But, without some articulable standards usually advancement just ends up being cronyism and nepotism.

Almost like employment should be an adversarial system between management and an equally powerful union representation

Show threadSarah Peper 🏳️‍⚧️🇺🇦Nov 20, 2024
@vandenberglegs now /personally/ I prefer flat pay rises and abolishing individual bonuses. All bonus schemes I've experienced were some kind of scam anyway and demotivated much more than anything else
Show threadvandenberglegsNov 21, 2024
@jay_peper yep, I'm actually happy to have pay rises instead of bonuses. It works out better for tax purposes (in Australia at least) and they can't decide to take them away on the whim of management.