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Employee expects promotion with performance review, upper management randomly select him as needing improvement: 'I have had an amazing year'

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  • two men sit at a table in a meeting room together, two open laptops in front of them
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  • Performance Review - Opinions Needed

    We recently had our yearly performance reviews. I was fully expecting a promotion, and pay increase as I am due for one, my manager told me he put me in for one, and I have had an amazing year.
  • I work in technology. I received an On Track on my mid year review as well.
  • Performance review day came around and my manager brought me into the office and told me that I not only didn't get the promotion, but I got no bonus, no raise, nothing.
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  • I was also told I got a "Needs Improvement". When I asked him why, he had no answer.
  • He said that I have done everything he has asked and have done an absolutely amazing job this year.
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  • unfocused image of people working in an open plan office behind a glass wall
  • He said that he received a call from upper management who knows nothing of what we do and was told that he was forced to choose a person on our team to receive a "needs improvement".
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  • He gave them someone else's name because I EXCEL at my job. They then turned around and said "never mind, we made the decision for you" and they picked my name out of a hat.
  • That was last week. I have no had a PIP yet; and my manager says he hasn't received any word that I'll be put on a PIP or anything because there is nothing for me to improve on.
  • My question is, does this sound strictly budgetary for the bonus/raise, or should I be concerned that my head may be on the chopping block now for the next firing?
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  • Also, is it worth it to prod HR for a proper reassessment (if that's even a thing) or should I just shut up, take it, and just be thankful I still have a job (for now).
  • a man points at writing on a whiteboard while another man sits at a table and watches him
  • mehere14 Your head is 100% on the chopping block. The "needs improvement" out of nowhere is classic layoff setup they need documentation - to justify it later. Don't bother with HR, they're not there to help you. Start job hunting immediately but do it smart. Take the time to actually read what companies are looking for and match your real experience to their needs. I wasted months applying to everything and got nowhere. Then I started being selective, pulling keywords from postings, showing how
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  • Glscot06 Original Poster's Reply That's exactly what I was hoping wasn't the case, but assumed was the case. I can't be too selective, I've got a 2 year old and 2 month old. I just recently got off of paternity leave! Good point about keeping records. I'll start on that today.
  • AdMurky3039 Your bosses bosses boss has no idea what your performance is like. Sorry, but I'm calling BS on your manager.
  • Glscot06 Original Poster's Reply That's why I'm so confused, and again, that's why he was confused as well as to why the decision was made for him. He told me he fought back against it and was eventually told "well I guess we picked the wrong person" but I guess at that point it was too late. Again, this is just what I'm being told.
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  • niemzi Something similar happened to me at my prior job. Was there for 5 years, promoted once. A year after promo, I received a "partially meets". I contested it and asked why, brought proof that my metrics were above average (I was actually towards the top of a team. of about 30). Mentioned that I was recently promoted and didn't just forget how to be a top performer in less than a year. Didn't matter, my rating was going to be a partially meets. Someone I worked with once told me performance r
  • Professional-Box1252 It sounds like their HR framework requires negative reviews as justification before they can go ahead and layoff people, and this is how they're going about it. Wouldn't be surprised if there's a mass layoff coming soon.
  • Nightstick11 You probably got dinged for taking paternity leave.
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  • TaydasBelishaBeacon I'd be so pissed, that I'd start looking for another job. Totally unfair.
  • Hotgalkitty Sounds like they have a bell curve and unfortunately you are taking the hit. Amazon does this all the time. There are NUMEROUS articles on it! Do you have a written copy of your mid-year and any other positive feedback? Frankly, your manager probably should be worried as well because they clearly don't respect your manager's input IF your manager is being honest with you. I have seen weasel managers that SAY what your manager told you but say something different to senior leadership.

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