4 ms·

I read the whole thing too. There's so much reading between the lines to do. The author is obviously unaware of the real issues getting them fired, but I could

I read the whole thing too. There's so much reading between the lines to do. The author is obviously unaware of the real issues getting them fired, but I could never quite write them off as a bad employee or unhinged either. I mean, someone who prides themselves on being a porcupine and asks for a raise by passive aggressively complaining about contract terms is bad news, but they're also so passionate.

megamindbrian2 8y ago
Is everything that isn't perfectly clear and understood now known as "passive aggressive"?
- Noumenon72 8y ago
  Framing a specific complaint you have indirectly, as though it were a general issue with contracts, and waiting for them to tease your complaint out of you, looks passive aggressive. You yourself thought it was aggressive, based on your "I'm going to get fired" reaction when they read it. And had been passive about it for a year without asking anybody. I mean, I get it, I thought my boss said he could do the raise I asked for and went three months before saying "Hey, it didn't show up in my paycheck." Extremely uncomfortable, and I'm procrastinating asking for a promotion because I don't want to talk about money again. It's just a warning sign, you don't come off as an all around bad person.
  - megamindbrian2 8y ago
    I appreciate your candor.
megamindbrian2 8y ago
Would it have been better to leave the space blank, give the manager the opportunity to ignore me, or say "I was hoping this review happened a year ago, is there any chance I could get a raise with this review?" Would that be polite and up-front enough?
- Noumenon72 8y ago
  That is the approach that worked for me -- like "I was expecting this raise to be like $10,000, not $1,400, because things have worked out so well." Ideally you would just schedule a meeting on your own and say "I want to discuss something that was in the contract I signed. Look here..." Seems easier than it is, but when you have a clear business case like that, direct communication is really effective. It works because it says to your boss, "I think of you as someone who keeps his promises, so I'm reminding you of this one." The note on the review starts off on the wrong foot. By accusing them of not honoring terms in contracts, you trigger a defensive reaction -- part "I'm not a bad person", part "Am I going to get sued?" No need to be adversarial when you could be partners.

megamindbrian2 8y ago

Is everything that isn't perfectly clear and understood now known as "passive aggressive"?

Noumenon72 8y ago
Framing a specific complaint you have indirectly, as though it were a general issue with contracts, and waiting for them to tease your complaint out of you, looks passive aggressive. You yourself thought it was aggressive, based on your "I'm going to get fired" reaction when they read it. And had been passive about it for a year without asking anybody. I mean, I get it, I thought my boss said he could do the raise I asked for and went three months before saying "Hey, it didn't show up in my paycheck." Extremely uncomfortable, and I'm procrastinating asking for a promotion because I don't want to talk about money again. It's just a warning sign, you don't come off as an all around bad person.
- megamindbrian2 8y ago
  I appreciate your candor.

megamindbrian2 8y ago

Would it have been better to leave the space blank, give the manager the opportunity to ignore me, or say "I was hoping this review happened a year ago, is there any chance I could get a raise with this review?" Would that be polite and up-front enough?

Noumenon72 8y ago
That is the approach that worked for me -- like "I was expecting this raise to be like $10,000, not $1,400, because things have worked out so well." Ideally you would just schedule a meeting on your own and say "I want to discuss something that was in the contract I signed. Look here..." Seems easier than it is, but when you have a clear business case like that, direct communication is really effective. It works because it says to your boss, "I think of you as someone who keeps his promises, so I'm reminding you of this one." The note on the review starts off on the wrong foot. By accusing them of not honoring terms in contracts, you trigger a defensive reaction -- part "I'm not a bad person", part "Am I going to get sued?" No need to be adversarial when you could be partners.