A reader writes:
I simply obtained my annual assessment.
I’ve been handed between 4 managers over the previous 12 months – certainly one of whom was fired, one who was very hands-off for almost all of their time with me, one who labored with me for 3 months, and one who turned my supervisor comparatively lately.
All my managers aside from the fired one contributed to my annual assessment. Every of their feedback present up individually, in a single place. The vast majority of the suggestions was constructive: I’m clever, hard-working, and thorough. The vital suggestions was largely that I shouldn’t soar to talk too shortly in conferences, be extra structured in my strategy to work, and ask for assist extra typically. It was “you’re doing properly, we requested a promotion for you, listed here are some issues to concentrate on subsequent yr, be careful for this space for enchancment.”
Apart from one supervisor’s suggestions – the one who was my supervisor for 3 months. That particular person wrote that I’m ultra-controlling, I’m condescending, I berate my colleagues, and folks keep away from working with me. Basically, she took every of my flaws and exaggerated them so it seems I’m a monster to work with, who’s verbally abusive and alienates her colleagues. She by no means shared this suggestions with me after I reported to her, and no one has ever come to me with one thing like this earlier than. Outspoken and candid, certain. Perhaps a bit vital or visibly pissed off when issues go unsuitable. However berating and alienating folks? It seems like a extremely critical accusation to ship for the primary time, in writing, in an annual assessment.
This particular person was taken off the challenge (presumably as a result of her personal efficiency points, however I’m unsure) and the opposite two managers delivered my assessment, not her. They didn’t agree together with her statements, however didn’t explicitly disagree with them both. There was plenty of “possibly that is her notion.” Perhaps I’m this particular person in her thoughts! I feel that’s doable. But it surely appears insane to place in my assessment with out even a warning or prior dialog. She offered no concrete examples.
Our HR system requires “confirming” you obtained your annual assessment to finalize it. I don’t need to “verify” I obtained this suggestions. I’m not the best way this particular person describes, and I need to change into a supervisor myself – I don’t need this on my “document.” What do I do? I need to write a rebuttal of kinds, or have them taken out, however I don’t need to open a large HR can of worms both. (We’re each ladies, so there isn’t actually a gender dynamic at play. She is considerably senior to me.)
First, speak to HR and ask to have the suggestions eliminated. Level out that this particular person managed you for a really transient interval, didn’t even trace at any of this suggestions when you reported to her, and it’s at odds with the evaluation of the opposite managers who contributed to your analysis. They could or could not take away it, however it’s affordable to ask for.
In the event that they gained’t take away it, ask so as to add a written response to the analysis that can be stored in your file together with it. They’ll in all probability allow you to do this.
Should you do a written response, maintain it as goal and factual as doable. You’re proper to be pissed off, however you don’t need an emotional response sitting in your file endlessly. As an alternative, keep on with the details: this particular person solely managed you for 3 months, didn’t allude to any of this suggestions beforehand, and offered no examples, and the suggestions isn’t echoed by anybody else accustomed to your work, as the remainder of the assessment reveals. Say that you simply dispute its accuracy and also you ask that or not it’s discounted in favor of the suggestions by managers accustomed to your work.
I wouldn’t get into a giant battle over refusing to verify you obtained the assessment. That actually is simply to acknowledge receipt; you’re not saying you agree with or settle for the suggestions. You’re actually simply saying that the assessment itself was offered to you.
