What is worse about performance reviews is the categories tend to change from year to year. Sometimes if not always the first time an employee is made aware of

What is worse about performance reviews is the categories tend to change from year to year. Sometimes if not always the first time an employee is made aware of a category is when the review forms land on their desk. Its even worse for self review companies. Then you have those which declare all that "below expectations" ratings is the new normal as no one doesn't have an area they cannot improve. All in all, what a great way to demoralize your people and what a rotten tool to give to groups of managers to take out their pettiness against those they dislike. Hint, groups are meaner that single reviews.