and I'm kinda pissed about it.
First off, my review should have been done in February. My boss kept telling me he'd "get to it"... this went on and on for months. Today I was in his office and he said "let's do your review." OK, fine.
Well he started reading this typed of sheet of paper... basically the same generic review I've gotten for the past 4 years... "MiaMichelle is a self starter, highly motivated, blah blah blah." When it came to areas of improvement, he said it would be great if I understood the chemistry better, but he understood that the company doesn't provide training or opportunity to learn the chemistry. OK fine, but in my personal opinion I know the chemistry quite well for sales. I've rarely run into a problem not knowing the chemistry. Whatever. Then he went on to say that they really want me back full time, and he wanted to know what my plan was for coming back full time.
Back when I found out I was pregnant, I knew I was not going to be able to pull 40 hour work weeks. I have a commute to work - 30 minutes in the morning, and 1-1.5 hours in the afternoons. There was no way I could be a mom, and work 40 hours, and spend so much time in the car. So I negotiated with work, and they agreed to allow me to come into work Mon-Thurs, and I could take Friday off. I offered to work Friday from home, but they thought that would set a bad precedent for the rest of the employees. So now I get to work by 7:30 am Mon-Thurs, and am out of there by 3-3:30. If there are any things that need to get done on Friday, I do them. But they do not pay me for Fridays. So I make less money than I used to. It's OK with me. They said I could have this arrangement as long as I wanted to, and as long as it wasn't a problem for the company in terms of work not getting done. Well I get all my work done, no problem. There has never been a problem with me not being there on Friday... I'm always accessible by phone and email and check both constantly.
So this really pissed me off. Add to that, he handed me a sheet with these categories where I am rated 1-5, 5 being the best. Well he had 4 marked straight down the sheet. 4 means "meets expectations", whereas 5 means "exceeds expectations." I'm not one to toot my own horn, but I know I do a damn good job. My boss makes commision off projects that I bring in! I took over responsibilities from someone else in our department and got NO traning on it, and have done a great job. There have been no problems with the projects that I manage. I travel on a moments notice, lugging my breast pump along, getting stuck in airports. I am as available to my company as I can be while being the best mom I can be, and that's just "meeting expectations"?
I have to write him a letter about all of this. I'm not going to do it in an attacking way, but this is just not right. If he thinks I'm just "meeting expectations", I'd like to know what he thinks I need to do to "exceed expectations." I'd like to know where he thinks I could be doing a better job. Like really.
And as far as going back to work on Fridays, it ain't going to happen. I really value my Fridays with Maya and I won't give them up. And in reality it's a great deal for them. They get 100% of my effort for 80% of the pay.
Sigh... thanks for letting me get that out.
Re: Ugh. Had my review at work today
Oh, darn! I'm sorry your effort got belittled like that. Your boss is a jerk. End of story.
I would want to write a letter too. Maybe write it and then sit on it a day. Sometimes it's better to let the emotion cool down first.
aah, that sucks...
If it makes you feel any better - there was this big press for our reviews to be graded 'harder' and it used to be that I would "exceed expectations" or even "Far Exceed Expectations" however then this big thing came out that basically said to managers - if your employee is exceeding expectations then the expectations/goals are not high enough and the bar should be raised...
So... now "Meets Expectations" is the new "exceeds expectations" and it totally sucks donkeybutt.
I am jealous of your fridays off! That sounds so nice!
Ugh, I'm sorry. Do they not give you a time during the review to say or write any comments that you have regarding any of it? I know that I just had mine and most of it is computer based. Both the manager and I are required to sign with our electronic signatures, but before I sign there is a page with a blank text box to type whatever I want.
That is horrible that they are now calling into question the arrangement that you made with them long ago that had no stipulations for length of time that you could do it. That just isn't right.
Men have NO idea how hard it is to be a working Mother. ?I'm getting some rolling of the eyes when I say I need to leave at night (at 6:45pm btw) it's ridiculous. ?
Hang in there. ?Entertain other offers - see what they'll give you. I did. It was good, really good. I chose to stay but those other offers are still open to me if I want to leave. ??
Ditto! I am sorry your boss does not appreciate all you do. It sounds like you are doing an awesome job. I hope you are able to get your frustrations out to him and he learns to value you more.