Unfair and unjustified reviews at work

micar

I have worked for the same company and role for the last 8 years.

Last year we got a new team leader.

We are given a grading of performance for each year.

My previous team leader had always given me a 2.1. It was explained that this was the highest I could be given based on my position of the salary median. It was also explained that it was a very good rating and nothing to be concerned about.

My level of performance at work has always been at the very high standard both in productivity and accuracy. She had never has any issues with my work and was always greatful was the effort I put in especially at some very challenging periods.

What I did not know was what a 2.1 actually meant. This never explained and I trusted what she said during the reviews.

In the HR manual it actually means "show clear incompetency gaps". Now, as I have been the same role for 7 years (up to end of 2013) you would hope that you have no incompetency gaps.

Furthermore, I would have not had any incompetency gaps over the last 4 or more years. There has been nothing in my role for years that I have not been able to do.

My review this year was a little different. I was scored on different aspects of the jobs. So I got a mixture of 3 and 4. It was clear and transparent. This is the way that it should be.

Bascially, 3 means you have performed to an adequate standard and 4 means that you have out performed what your role requires.

Apart from this year, I was not given a specific rating for each aspect, just an over all figure at the end of the review.

I explained to my current team leader that I always been given a 2.1. He was kinda shocked as he would have known me from his previous role in another team. He said that our position on the median should not reflect the rating we are given.

I subsequently found out that two other members of the team have been given the same level of ratings by the previous team leader. All 3 of us work in the same section and have worked together for the last 7/8 years. None of use have any incompetency gaps.

I actually want to make a complaint to my manager and HR about our ratings even if it goes nowhere. One of the girls just wants to forget all about it.

I also want an explanation why were were deliberately misinformed and lied to in the reviews.

We are all disgusted by her behaviour.

We believe that our previous team leader acted in a devious manner which I believe has deliberately sabotaged any potential salary median moves.

I am also annoyed that the managers have never questioned it.

I also believe that ratings on other teams that do a similar type of work would be higher for individuals with similar level of experience years of service. I have no proof of this.

Maybe we are to blame for not making ourselves aware of the performance levels.

Any advice or how is it best to approach it.

Mrs OBumble

Where is the previous team leader now? If s/he is gone, is it possible that this was due to be managed out due to incompetence?

_Brian

Wow.
After seven years you were accepting a performance review saying you had gaps in your ability/knowledge. And you didn't know !!

Perhaps it was a fair appraisal ?

micar

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Where is the previous team leader now? If s/he is gone, is it possible that this was due to be managed out due to incompetence?

The TL is still in the company buy has moved onto a different role. It would have nothing to do with the TL incompetence

_Brian wrote: »

Wow.
After seven years you were accepting a performance review saying you had gaps in your ability/knowledge. And you didn't know !!

Perhaps it was a fair appraisal ?

We were accepting her views on our work and trusted that what she was saying was correct the legit.

turns out it wasn't

trust me, the appraisal was not fair. It was in no way consistent with what her told us and what the rating actually meant.

maxwell smart

Was the appraisal scoring system not available for you to review?

When I carry out appraisals with my direct reports the appraisal form has a clear definition of what each potential score means.

Was that not on the form you signed??

IsaacWunder

_Brian wrote: »

Wow.
After seven years you were accepting a performance review saying you had gaps in your ability/knowledge. And you didn't know !!

Perhaps it was a fair appraisal ?

The poster points out they were lied to.

Your comment is null.

ABajaninCork

Was a benchmarking exercise carried out?

micar

maxwell smart wrote: »

Was the appraisal scoring system not available for you to review?


Was that not on the form you signed??

No as it was never brought into the reviews. They are available in a HR document.

I don't recall ever signing something.

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Was a benchmarking exercise carried out?

it is being done at the moment.

jimmycrackcorm

_Brian wrote:

Wow. After seven years you were accepting a performance review saying you had gaps in your ability/knowledge. And you didn't know !!

_Brian wrote:

Perhaps it was a fair appraisal ?

If the op had been marked underperforming then their manager would have had to take some action to follow up.

I've never heard of this scoring scheme so my guess is the manager didn't have a clue what it meant as clearly the op didn't either.