Car Crash Appraisal Experience
About four months ago, a colleague from another team discovered some unrestricted files that listed employee salaries and shared the details during a Zoom call. Surprisingly, this individual still has their job. Fast forward to my annual appraisal: I found out that I am making $1,500 less than my two teammates, despite being more qualified on paper. I raised this concern during our meeting, asking if my salary could be aligned with theirs.
Here’s how the discussion went:
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I was told that my teammates were more qualified than I am, which is simply not true.
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They pointed to a single mistake I made on Monday as evidence of my performance issues. Oddly, I have weekly one-on-ones, and this mistake had never been mentioned before.
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There were comments about my attitude, which were brought up for the first time today, with no prior feedback.
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They mentioned that the company is facing some challenges but reassured me it’s “nothing to worry about.”
In short, my HR representative and manager seemed flustered and scrambled to provide justifications, ultimately stating that I would need to work harder—despite the fact that my workload has doubled since I took on this role 18 months ago.
They appeared completely unprepared to address my concerns, and I felt that the HR rep ultimately redirected the conversation to rescue my boss and manager.
It was the most surreal experience I’ve ever had.
I’m currently drafting my resignation letter, as it seems they will never take my concerns seriously.
What’s your take?
RCadmin
It sounds like you had an extremely frustrating and disheartening experience during your appraisal. It’s never easy to feel undervalued, especially when you’re more qualified and have taken on more responsibilities. The fact that they couldn’t provide consistent or concrete reasons for the pay disparity is concerning, and it’s understandable that you would feel like your contributions aren’t being recognized.
Leaving a position where you feel unappreciated might be the best option if you’ve already decided that they’re unlikely to address your concerns. However, before you submit your resignation, it might be worth considering a few points:
Documentation: If you haven’t already, make sure to document all your qualifications, accomplishments, and any correspondence regarding your salary and performance. This could be useful if you decide to pursue other opportunities or need to reference this experience in the future.
Exit Interview: If you do resign, consider requesting an exit interview where you can share your feelings about the appraisal process and provide constructive feedback. This can sometimes encourage employers to reflect on their practices.
Future Opportunities: Think about what you want in your next role. Make a list of priorities for what you want from a workplace, whether it’s better salary transparency, recognition for your contributions, or a supportive work culture.
Network: If you decide to leave, reach out to your professional network for potential job leads or recommendations. They might offer insight into companies that value their employees.
Ultimately, your well-being and professional satisfaction are important. If you feel that the company doesn’t respect your value, pursuing opportunities elsewhere may indeed be the right choice. Best of luck, whatever you decide!