4 ms·

Thanks for your thoughtful answer. It contains a lot of things I have to think about. And no, it wasn't too tough, it is the kind of feedback I was looking for.

Thanks for your thoughtful answer. It contains a lot of things I have to think about. And no, it wasn't too tough, it is the kind of feedback I was looking for. One clarification: > A negative assessment of your boss? Whoa. That would piss me off, too. Why didn't you just talk to him? Filling out the assessment form was a required preparation for the yearly staff appraisal. You fill it out, give it to your boss and then you discuss it with him at the meeting. Though the discussion never happened in my case.

abbasmehdi 15y ago
I think that's the point - why didn't you communicate major issues in private before humiliating in public?
- throwaway789a 15y ago
  There was no public humiliation. The only person who saw the assessment form was my boss.
  - abbasmehdi 15y ago
    Glad to hear, however isn't that form added to his record/file with the company? I don't see HR shredding it. Unless I'm wrong.
    - keeptrying 15y ago
      If the boss deserves a negative assessment then he deserves to get one. The mistake that the OP made is believing that HR is there for low level employees and putting his true feelings on paper. Always remember that HR is present to safeguard the company. They will look after the manager more than they look after you because he is, to the company, much more important. OP: you need to learn what I learnt during my time in corporate America - focus on getting what u want instead of focussing on being right. When your a startup founder you can work on creating a better workplace. For now though focus on getting along with the boss. It's a way to make good money and it's a great skill to have - being able to work with difficult people.
      - abbasmehdi 15y ago
        focus on getting what u want instead of focusing on being right. This is excellent advice. If the boss deserves a negative assessment then he deserves to get one. Yes, but not without speaking with him first, giving him a chance to correct himself or working something out with the OP. It is wrong to come at anyone from the left field. Just like an employee does not deserve getting fired w/o fair warning, the boss does not like being written about to HR about without ever communicated with first. Note: I am comparing firing with a bad review because they are both the strongest action the given party can take against the other.
        keeptrying 15y ago
        Lots of my bosses have given me negative reviews without talking to me first.
      - throwaway789a 15y ago
        HR was never involved in this (except in doing the admin stuff after the termination). And it wasn't about my true feelings or me being right. I enjoy analyzing and thinking about stuff, and so when you give me an assessment form with about 20 topics, you will get a (critical) analysis of them. With my thoughts on what's good and what could be improved. And many questions. For me it was like a code or design review.
        keeptrying 15y ago
        Well all reviews go thru HR and its basically safer for you that way. So your saying that a manager fired you solely on feedback u gave to him? I'm pretty sure that's illegal. Also you seem stuck on "being right". That's a lonely place to be in my friend.
        throwaway789a 15y ago
        > So your saying that a manager fired you solely on feedback u gave to him? Yes. > I'm pretty sure that's illegal. Why would that be illegal?

abbasmehdi 15y ago

I think that's the point - why didn't you communicate major issues in private before humiliating in public?

throwaway789a 15y ago
There was no public humiliation. The only person who saw the assessment form was my boss.
- abbasmehdi 15y ago
  Glad to hear, however isn't that form added to his record/file with the company? I don't see HR shredding it. Unless I'm wrong.
  - keeptrying 15y ago
    If the boss deserves a negative assessment then he deserves to get one. The mistake that the OP made is believing that HR is there for low level employees and putting his true feelings on paper. Always remember that HR is present to safeguard the company. They will look after the manager more than they look after you because he is, to the company, much more important. OP: you need to learn what I learnt during my time in corporate America - focus on getting what u want instead of focussing on being right. When your a startup founder you can work on creating a better workplace. For now though focus on getting along with the boss. It's a way to make good money and it's a great skill to have - being able to work with difficult people.
    - abbasmehdi 15y ago
      focus on getting what u want instead of focusing on being right. This is excellent advice. If the boss deserves a negative assessment then he deserves to get one. Yes, but not without speaking with him first, giving him a chance to correct himself or working something out with the OP. It is wrong to come at anyone from the left field. Just like an employee does not deserve getting fired w/o fair warning, the boss does not like being written about to HR about without ever communicated with first. Note: I am comparing firing with a bad review because they are both the strongest action the given party can take against the other.
      - keeptrying 15y ago
        Lots of my bosses have given me negative reviews without talking to me first.
    - throwaway789a 15y ago
      HR was never involved in this (except in doing the admin stuff after the termination). And it wasn't about my true feelings or me being right. I enjoy analyzing and thinking about stuff, and so when you give me an assessment form with about 20 topics, you will get a (critical) analysis of them. With my thoughts on what's good and what could be improved. And many questions. For me it was like a code or design review.
      - keeptrying 15y ago
        Well all reviews go thru HR and its basically safer for you that way. So your saying that a manager fired you solely on feedback u gave to him? I'm pretty sure that's illegal. Also you seem stuck on "being right". That's a lonely place to be in my friend.
        throwaway789a 15y ago
        > So your saying that a manager fired you solely on feedback u gave to him? Yes. > I'm pretty sure that's illegal. Why would that be illegal?