The Dreaded Yearly Review

[Karissa]

So, I'm coming up on a yearly review for a new-to-me company. Thought maybe it would be a good time for everyone to share their horror stories. What is your worst review experience? Either as the reviewie or the reviewer.

[Terri]

I have to admit, I've been lucky. I generally get excellent reviews.

Now, giving them is just a PITA. People want to hear good things and I try to deliver as best I can. I'm a health care manager, and have been in both private practices as well as more hospital-based (read: corporate) settings. I can tell you, it's much easier knowing the corporate annual increase in advance, so I can soften the blow of dashed hopes for huge raises. Although it's hard to make 2.5% sound awesome no matter how well I play it! :lol:

[Karissa]

Yeah 2.5% just isn't a yippee thing really but being as this year many aren't getting any... I'm feeling lucky that I do get the cost of living increase.

I am pretty much expecting my review to be a private flogging focused heavily on my lack of ability to hit the numbers they expect. *sigh*

[Terri]

The suits always set the numbers too high. It gives them ammo to not only whip people into shape, but also give them your "goal" for the next quarter.

Games, it's all games, I tell ya. :crazy:

[Karissa]

Yeah, well tiz the week. They are starting reviews this week and for now.. I don't know when mine is. Should be a blast. Didn't really think about it until now but.. its kinda pointless since the one giving me the review isn't even my boss anymore. Her thought of how I'm doing doesn't really matter anymore. Oh well, whatever...

[Chris of Arabia]

Did one last week for a relatively new staff member. I knew we hadn't necessarily presented him with the exciting opportunity he was seeking, so spent an hour going through process explaining opportunities and how things would improve. Right at the end he thanked me and told me he was leaving the company in 2-3 weeks time. Could he not have saved me an hour? Is life not short enough?

[Antarctican]

You'd think he could have used the extra hour too!!

[Terri]

Did one last week for a relatively new staff member. I knew we hadn't necessarily presented him with the exciting opportunity he was seeking, so spent an hour going through process explaining opportunities and how things would improve. Right at the end he thanked me and told me he was leaving the company in 2-3 weeks time. Could he not have saved me an hour? Is life not short enough?Dude. It was payback. He was thinking, "That's right, buddy. Keep talking, so I can sit here longer." :lol:

[PhotoJet]

Trust me... I will wait until after you have your review to share my story. :gah: :eek:

[Terri]

Trust me... I will wait until after you have your review to share my story. :gah: :eek:O HO! This oughtta be good!

[Karissa]

who's review are you waiting on? I want to hear yours. Mine was pretty much uninteresting. They tried to toss in some stuff that just was flat out BS about me but other than that....

[Chiller]

So, I'm coming up on a yearly review for a new-to-me company. Thought maybe it would be a good time for everyone to share their horror stories. What is your worst review experience? Either as the reviewie or the reviewer.

Well...once upon a time there was this chainsaw swinging madman.....oh wait...:scratch: wrong horror story.

[Karissa]

Only you Chiller... only you.

[PhotoJet]

Ok, here goes!!! I was working in areospace engineering as a drafter. I had been at the company for 3 months and all new hires received a 3 month review, a six month review and then one at a year.

My boss came in on a Saturday. There was only a co-worker and me working. We went into his boss' office & he started yelling at me!:batterup: His face was red, he was standing behind the desk while I was sitting in front of it. He was telling me what a horrible worker I was and how bad my work ethic was. When it was over, he handed me my review to sign. It was actually a glowing review and had absolutely no negative comments.
I was crushed and absolutely did NOT want to come in to work on Monday morning. My co-worker was NOT happy and told me later that he was tempted to come in the office and rescue me. I did not blame him for not doing that... he had a family to support. I came into work on Monday and went to talk to his boss. I told him what happened, and he said he would take care of it. Nothing was ever done and no changes were ever made, except that at my 6-month review both my boss & his boss were there. No yelling.
It was a terrifying experience, but would not be my last at that place over the next 10 years. I eventually found out that this guy had some serious mental problems (no s***!!). :eek: (insert :wacko psycho boss: emoticon here).

Glad your review went much better!!!:lol::lol:

[Aggie]

I went to work for Magraw Hill when i was first married. My first day on the job I was told that if I wanted to have a baby now would be a good time since after one year I would be moved into a divisionthat would consume a lot of my time and taking a pregnancy leave would be really hard to do then. So guess what, I got pregnant taking their advise. Well that is when the jokes in the office started about me. I had pcitures cut from catalgues advertising girdles, and spas for fat people. One lady told me I was the first woman they had ever hired that was under 45 since the company waws very proud of not paying any preganacy health claims. This is Magraw Hill the publisher, with thousands of employees at the time. (1980) Then out of the blue I got my 6 month review moved up to the 6 week mark. That is only a month and half into the job. I was told in a closed door session with my boss that it might be best if i quite and came back in a few years. Now those that know me, can sort of guess my attitude at all fo this. I kept my mouth shut, yep me with mouth shut. I didn't quit. I took the bad jokes from the co workers, the little harrassing cartoons pinned to my cubicle. It caused my blood pressure to spike. My dr. once he heard what was going on and I showed him some of the cartoons and bad jokes, said he would take care of it. He declared me disabled due to the preganacvy, and told me to at that point go on a leave of absence. He backed me up with the insurance company that couldn't drop me due to it being beforte the company could take any action. Instead he put me to work in his office part time doing little things to help out his staff. After i had the baby, I quit. I have the distinction of being the first person to use Magraw Hill's preganacy portion fo their health insurance. It was also the one and only review I had with the company. Years later i heard from one of my co workers that the next person who had my job also was young, and after two years had a baby. Her hubby was an attorney. She got a hefty settlement once she documented the crap they did to her. Naybe I should have sued them as well, but I was too young and trusting to think of things like that. I thought a big company wouldn't do such things, or would reverse the insanity once they realized what was going on. Now I take no S**T.

[PhotoJet]

Yep... me either, sister! :irked: :goodvibes:

[Aggie]

Jeanette we are sisters of different parents......
Sorry for all the misspellings and such in the previous post. Yesterday was a bad day, and the drugs were working over time.

[Terri]

Good grief!! Aggie, these days if anyone tried that crap...wheeee, DOL lawyers would have a field day. It's just amazing that that sort of garbage ever took place. :-x

Jeanette made out only slightly better with a psycho boss.... :lol:

[MissMia]

Good grief!! Aggie, these days if anyone tried that crap...wheeee, DOL lawyers would have a field day. It's just amazing that that sort of garbage ever took place. :-x

Jeanette made out only slightly better with a psycho boss.... :lol:

That's for sure! I deal with the IRS and the DOL on a regular basis. IRS audits are common, but a DOL audit gets everyone's attention!

[Rolleimaniac]

So, I'm coming up on a yearly review for a new-to-me company. Thought maybe it would be a good time for everyone to share their horror stories. What is your worst review experience? Either as the reviewie or the reviewer.

...I've been with 'the company' going on 24 years now...whenever the boss starts complaining I just spank her a little bit harder!

:big grin:

PS- The real work stories are pretty boring...

[Terri]

...I've been with 'the company' going on 24 years now...whenever the boss starts complaining I just spank her a little bit harder!

:big grin:

PS- The real work stories are pretty boring...ha ha ha, everyone loves a funny guy! :lol:

[Aggie]

Oh MissMia do I need to talk to you. St. george Utah is in the Pheonix district for labor disputes. What they are doing to the employees at the place my son works would make your hair curl. IE, Not being able to eat period other than to have bottled water and hard candy. Not being given a lunch break ever. The breaks are routinely suspended and if you get one that is it, just to go to the bathroom. Don't get me started on what they do the handicapped or women. Problem Utah is a work at will state, but they still have to follow federal laws. OK rant over.

[Karissa]

My "new" boss just recently told us he expected overtime but won't comp it for anything including ice conditions even after him mandating that some of us stay late 3 hours the very same week we had ice delays. The joys of being salary exempt.