How do you feel about annual reviews?

aimkins

I have mine today and my manager always gives us our feedback report to read before we meet with her.

I take things so personal. There were so many nice, positive things said but I always dwell on the negatives or the areas where I can improve.

Overall, I'm happy with my review but I'm going to be so fixated on those negative things, it's hard to celebrate the positive.

Am I the only one? Please tell me I'm not.

MelindaMG

I feel the same way even though I know they are virtually required to put in some things that "need improvement."

It especially bothers me when I completely disagree, but it is such a minor thing that it's not worth mentioning or complaining about.

GermanGirl2007

I like them.  I used to take things really personally, but for the last couple of years it has been easier.  I just look at it as an opportunity to get better.  No one is absolutely perfect at their jobs, so I think it is good to know how I can be better.....gives me something to shoot for.  There was only one time that I completely disagreed on a point, but other than that, I agreed with the areas that I could improve and we worked out a game plan to reach those goals.  I am probably the odd one.....I think most people don't like them, I just really do for some reason. 

MrsKizdoodle

I could do without them (as I sit here with my blank personal review that needs to be filled out soon....).

strength

i hate them. my review was due to my manager 4 weeks ago... and i still haven't completed it. i just dread doing them.

MichellePete

Honestly ours are a joke.  They used to rate everyone in a unit and your rating determined the percentage of the raises available.  Then they decided it wasn't FAIR to the people on the bottom or if two people were similar in rating.  So now everyone is failing, unsatisfactory or satisfactory.  And it has no bearing on the amount of raise we get - everyone gets the same thing. 

I've only done about 5 of the 15 hours of training that we're supposed to do each year.  So I'm in movie watching, book reading mode until my review.  However, that's a joke too.  Most of the training isn't really related to our specific jobs and they offer less and less of it each year.

anitalynn

I like annual reviews.  I also struggle (or at least really used to) with taking things TOO personally, or getting worked up about things that I feel are inaccurate.  I am a person who likes - NEEDS - a little bit of validation and recognition, and I think a review is a great time to tell someone that they are awesome.  Especially because at my work - no one is ever told that they are doing a good job, or thank you for going above and beyond, or any special gold stars for any star-worthy work.  Maybe I'm too much a Millenium/Gen Y'er in my need for a bit of encouragement, but I do think that it helps me stay motivated. 

I got a tiny 2% raise this year, and my "manager" checked off the box in my online file (that I can view) that I was given an annual review - but I wasn't.  It makes me mad that I haven't been given an opportunity to discuss this "review" and the 2% raise that went along with it.  I want to know what it is that I can do better to earn a better raise in the future, but I know he just picked an option and went with it.  I'd rather have nothing, that something that I can't defend.

 

MinnaB

I'm an HR nerd so I could write a lot about this, but I think performance reviews are good in theory but they're not always well implemented.  I think that the feedback given in reviews, positive or negative, shouldn't come as a surprise if the review process is done well.

bmcapra

Not a fan of them. I think they should be quarterly. Our department is so busy there is no way my managers could wrap their head around what the staff does for a whole year. I keep a log of highlights each week to help me with writing my review but I feel like they already have my score decided before I walk in the door.

huwehotaling

At my last job annual reviews were a joke.  Everyone got the same raise no matter what was discussed in the review.  I also felt that my supervisor didn't listen to any concerns that I had.  I do think it's helpful for employees to get feedback, but management needs to listen to their concerns as well. 

aimkins

anitalynn:

I like annual reviews.  I also struggle (or at least really used to) with taking things TOO personally, or getting worked up about things that I feel are inaccurate.  I am a person who likes - NEEDS - a little bit of validation and recognition, and I think a review is a great time to tell someone that they are awesome.  Especially because at my work - no one is ever told that they are doing a good job, or thank you for going above and beyond, or any special gold stars for any star-worthy work.  Maybe I'm too much a Millenium/Gen Y'er in my need for a bit of encouragement, but I do think that it helps me stay motivated. 

This is me and my workplace, exactly!

sjb&apa

I would appreciate them if they were more helpful.

I always get tons of positive comments, but the feedback for improvements is never there. I guess it's nice to hear positive comments, but there HAS to be something I can improve on. I'm not stupid enough to think that I do my job perfectly. I would appreciate hearing some constructive criticism so I can improve and learn.

I also get upset over the "goals" my boss sets for me. They are so low that if I didn't reach those goals, I wouldn't be doing my job at all and should be fired. I would like to have something that's more of a challenge to achieve.

Unfortunately, since I work at the U and our salaries have been frozen since 2008, it doesn't matter that I got a glowing review, I still don't get a raise. I would gladly take that "tiny" 2% raise that Anita got ... 

MrsAshley16

Like some others, ours are a complete joke. They are basically cut and paste year after year. The supervisors are too concerned about being nice and giving positive feedback instead of using them for what I believe they should be, improving your staff. Sure, you should definitely point out the good things and accomplishments of your staff, but we all need a little constructive critism as well. It's such a complete waste of time, every year.

We've been on a freeze for years as well. But, when we get raises, we get them, doesn't matter how your review goes. It's a union thing.