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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by snoozin on July 12, 2005, at 8:47:11
I have been working in the same place for about 7 years now, and have always had excellent reviews, until last year when I got marked down a bit for missing deadlines and stuff. I talked to my boss and told him it was due to my depression, which was really bad, and side effects from drugs, which seemed almost as bad sometimes. He understood.
I tried to improve on the major area where they marked me down, and thought I did a good job with it. But I got my next review, and I *still* am being marked down for it. And got busted in a few other areas as well, saying I've been *distracted by personal matters.*
I am allowed to write a statement in response to this review. Do you guys think I should state that the personal matters that have distracted me have been health related? Mental health related? Or not even address it? The other thing I want to do is state I'd appreciate it if someone told me *when* I screwed up, so that I'd actually know I was doing something wrong, and have an opportunity to fix it. What do you guys think? Any feedback would be *much* appreciated.
In the mean time, I'm looking for other jobs. <wan smile>
S
Posted by AdaGrace on July 12, 2005, at 10:38:18
In reply to Bad Performance Review At Work, posted by snoozin on July 12, 2005, at 8:47:11
I may be totally wrong here, but it sounds to me like they now have an "excuse" to use to rate your performance poorly. Once you informed them your personal issues regarding your depression & drug side effects may have affect on your work, you have given them the ammunition they can use to rate your performance poorly from now on. I know there are EEOC rules and regulations, believe me I've been on the employer side in these issues, but things can be worded in such a way that it sounds like it has nothing to do with your depression or drug side effects. If if were me, I would certainly state my reasonings for the perfomance problems just to have it all down in writing and submitted in triplicate, but keep in mind it probably will do you no good, even if there were a discrimination case on down the line. Good luck in your job search, and I don't say that tongue in cheek.
AdaGrace
Posted by Racer on July 12, 2005, at 12:19:47
In reply to Bad Performance Review At Work, posted by snoozin on July 12, 2005, at 8:47:11
You might have some protection under the ADA, which is worth looking into. In order to have any protection from it, though, your issues have to be in writing, so it's definitely worth responding to your review.
Here are a few suggestions for that response:
1. Keep your emotions out of it.
2. Keep a tight lid on reactions, just state what needs to be stated: you have a health problem that interferes with your work at times; you're working on that issue; and you have not been informed at the time that your performance is lagging, only after the fact. That last part is a great point, since that's certainly a "reasonable accommodation" of your disability.
3. Don't give too much detail, only what you need to say in order to get your points across.
4. Try to format your response as your review was formatted: if they have three points, you should have three points.
5. Try to remind yourself that this is a kind of a game, not life or death. Play the cards you've been dealt, and do your best -- your reponse has to be DONE, it doesn't have to be PERFECT.
(I had to remind myself of that a lot when I was writing my complaints to the licensing boards about my last pdoc and therapist -- took me from September of last year until the end of last month to get the damn things out, but they're out now and I feel SOOOO much better. Even though I had less at stake than you do, it still felt as though those things were hanging over my head all the time. Now that they're gone, everything is so much easier to face.)
Best luck to you.
Posted by snoozin on July 12, 2005, at 14:27:13
In reply to Re: Bad Performance Review At Work, posted by AdaGrace on July 12, 2005, at 10:38:18
I'm worried about permanently ingraining in my personnel record that I've dealt with depression.
:-(
Posted by snoozin on July 12, 2005, at 14:28:54
In reply to Re: Bad Performance Review At Work » snoozin, posted by Racer on July 12, 2005, at 12:19:47
Good suggestions, thanks.
I wasn't, although maybe I should be, worried about losing my job. I will be as professional as I possibly can....
Thanks!
Posted by alexandra_k on July 12, 2005, at 17:34:17
In reply to Bad Performance Review At Work, posted by snoozin on July 12, 2005, at 8:47:11
> The other thing I want to do is state I'd appreciate it if someone told me *when* I screwed up, so that I'd actually know I was doing something wrong, and have an opportunity to fix it.
Fair enough. And that should show them that you are taking the review seriously and want to learn from it.
It can be hard to know with employers...
Posted by Damos on July 12, 2005, at 17:36:54
In reply to Bad Performance Review At Work, posted by snoozin on July 12, 2005, at 8:47:11
Hey Snoozin,
Honestly, I've been here for 18 years and so have seen the review process from all sides. Given what I've written on a few of mine I can only assume that no-one ever reads them (here at least), though one boss did ask me to tone down a couple.
The best advice I can give is to not say anything about your personal issues in your comments. Stick to the review, the performance feedback process and the steps you to took to address the previously identified issues.
Good luck.
This is the end of the thread.
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