Q2 coming up in the next few weeks. The grapevine is saying Directors/Managers are being pushed to call out low and average performers and put them on PIPs. If true, going to make Q3 and Q4 interesting as far as staffing goes. Interesting way to get around severance pay.
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you hit the nail on the head. 1% of what i do got me off track, because I'm not a su-k up and i'm over 50
I have given up and started applying for other jobs. I consider myself a smart person in some respects and part of that is being aware I can't outwit whatever strategy has been cooked up by the involved executives and McKinsey. Leaving is the best option.
Everything will be based on a tiny, tiny slice of what you do and how you do it, selected specifically to get the result they’ve already decided on. Does you boss, and their boss, and up the chain like you? If so you will grudgingly be given an on-track. If anyone is so-so on you, you or if they don’t know who you are, or if you are over a certain age the chances go up. I think it shakes out like this:
Are you a su-k up? You’ll probably be on-track, regardless of your performance
Are you a so-so, in their eyes? Only half a chance you’ll be off track.
Are you unknown to them? You’ll probably be off track. Maybe an unwarranted/made up PIP, maybe not. 50-50 shot there.
Over 50, twice as likely you’ll be off track, followed by a BS PIP.
Over 60, three times more likely you’ll be off track, followed by a BS PIP
The stress from the lead falls down the chain. The lead on my team is stressed, and is micromanaging everyone else to the point where several people are contemplating leaving.
Being a lead seems depressing; nonstop meetings, having to mentor, doing work yourself, scheduling tasks, and then working with a director. And director roles are quite low, so most leads stay in that stressful environment of working all hours and scared of falling behind on deliverables.
I personally know one team lead who confided in me that his personal life is disrupted by the amount of work he is expected to do. He has fairly young kids, too, so this is sad to hear. He says he can't even remember what he did yesterday because he is handling so much. On top of that, he said that he doesn't even know how "they" perceive him. Listening to him, it made me realize a couple of things. As long as "they" keep you guessing about how much is enough, you will have to hustle like crazy. And "is it worth it?" Short spurts of a heavy workload is probably ok, but long-term is not healthy.
Low performance is "calibrated" by how how far your tongue is extended into your manager's orifice of choice
Is this for level 2s and 3s? Or for everyone regardless? How do they Calibrate low performers since the merit/rating is based across department now? In my level, I’m the highest performer on my team, but always get High meets since another realm has an EE