CASE APPLOCATION :
A Stunning Performance Review
“Juan” said team leader Shelia Thompson, “that dreaded time of year is here, and lve got
to do your evaluation this week. So let’s meet after lunch and get it done. For a Hispanic
male I think your’ve handled working for a woman better than I would have thought, so I
think you’ll pass. I really dont know much about your job, but you can fill me in at 1:00
PM. Just think about how you intend to improve your attitude and performance, so I can
get to my 1:30 P.M. meeting with the VP on time. The new form I’II read at lunch – 1:00
P.M. in my office?”
Juan gazes in disbelief but is reluctant to say anything at least until after the appreaisal.
At lunch he shares her comments with his co-worker. Chuck McFarley and asks. What do
you think she meant would you say anything ? Do you think my appraisal could possibly
be fair? She talks down to me and criticizes me when I make a mistake, but doesn’t tell
me how to improve. I don’t think I have a problem with her because she is a woman boss,
I just don’t like the way she treats me chuck what would you do?”
Chuck responds, “I don’t know what being a hispanic male has to do with anything but I
think I’d mention it to someone in human resouces. I don’t know if I’d do it now before
you meet with her or wait till after the appraisal. but I wouldn’t let it go Maybe she thinks
that’s human its not. Maybe she’s not aw2are and needs to become aware or maybe she is
aware and just doesn’t care either way. I think it needs to be discussed so feelings and
perceptions won’t affect your future relationship or performance.
“That’s what I would do : but you have to do what you feel is right. I haven’t had a
problem with her, but then she invites me to happy hour and I go because I don’t want to
offend her and I don’t even drink whatever you do document.”
If you were Juan how would you respond ?
a.
Call or go by HR before the interview
b.
Call or go by HR after the interview
c.
Open the interview by asking her to clarity her remarks
d.
If it’s a good evaluation say nothing
e.
If it’s poor evajuation go to HR and file a written complaint
f.
Call an agency or get an attormey: skip HR and ship Sheia
g.
Interrupt her lunch to clarity comments before the interview
h.
Say nothing and hope the feelings of demotivation hurt, resentment and anger
fade with time
i.
Other
Juan decides to say nothing until after the apprasal is over, then he will ask her what she
meant by the comments, how he perceived it, felt and what he would like in the future.
When he shows up for the interview, she says, “come in.”
“Hey, I checked everything average, because I don’t think anyone is perfect and if I gave
you an excellent 5 rating. You wouldn’t understand when I would ask you to improve or
do more, better, or faster. Almost everyone is getting average. I’d like a better than
average is getting average. I’d like a better than average team, but some of us would have
to try harder and take instruction better, wouldn’t we ? OK, sign at the bottom and I’ll
give it to the vice president when I see him in a minute. We’ll talk more tomorrow, Don’t
be discouraged : the vice president is a Hispanic male”.
Stunned again, Juan does not want to sign the form but is on his way to human resoucres
to formal complaint against Shelia.
Assignment
If you were the HR representative assigned to coach Shelia on the appraisal process.
When are at least ten suggestions you would share with her ?