Now that we are starting the performance evaluation process, I’m reminded of how little the PDS process has to do with the actual work the employee has done.
The share holders have always been the number one priority, but that doesn’t mean the company has always royally screwed over the employees in the process of making profit and paying dividends.
Sure, the company has never been all “touchy feely”, but in all the 30 years I’ve worked here, there has never been such a disconnect between the quality of work and a person’s ranking. Not too long ago, there was at least some semblance of reasonable & fair evaluations (with decent pay). Those days are gone.
Many lost respect for the company & the PDS process when EM sent that BS email to all employees saying there will be “no layoffs”. A couple months later, they turn around and pass out BS PIPs and forced retirements.
Sending that “no layoffs” email was cruel and absolutely unnecessary.
I know for a fact the PIPs were just a thinly veiled layoff process used the company used to save face publicly. Some (if not all) supervisors were specifically told that they need to get rid of x number of people (regardless of their performance or ranking that previous year). The supervisor’s were also told who they’d (HR) suggest to eliminate (high earners, old but not near enough to retirement, etc.) but it was ultimately up to the supervisor - as long as they cut the number of people suggested.
Therefore, MANY people thought they were doing a good job, when they were blindsided and put on a PIP. The company chose to gaslight them by using the PDS process to hide the fact they were laying off people. So, they decided to tell employees they were underperforming INSTEAD of just admitting they were being laid off.
It was dirty, insulting and wrong.
I just had my preliminary PDS discussion and although it went well, I know that it is just theatre. I could conceivably be considered an “A” performer, a “C” performer or even PIPed after the bloodbath ranking process. No employee should be completely unaware of their standing to such a degree, but it’s a reality for many.