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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not sign my appraisal (long)

17 replies

WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid · 18/04/2012 10:26

Have no idea what to do about this. I was on maternity leave last year, from Jan to Oct so only worked Nov and Dec in 2011. I completed my appraisal for 2011 in March and it then went to head office to be reviewed and all appraisals were checked against each other to make sure they are all fair.

I was told by my line manager that because I was on mat leave this would be taken into account. He sent it back to me last night and my grade is appalling.

Basically my performance has been assessed based on an employee working 12 months not the 2 months I actually worked. So my performance is about 20% effective for 2011.

My manager has explained that this is fair and does not reflect my performance for 2011 and through my appraisal document it constantly says the I was on mat leave for most of 2011.

I don't want to sign this appraisal as I just don't think it is fair and I don't want an appraisal on my record recording my performance as 20% effective.

AIBU to not sign it.

OP posts:

peugotgringo · 18/04/2012 10:41

Not being BU at all to not sign it.

I wouldn't sign mine if I wasn't happy either.

Tell your line manager, as it's only fair to him, that you don't agree and that you'd like a meeting with HR to discuss it further.

Bambino81 · 18/04/2012 10:42

Don't sign it, i wouldn't.

TroublesomeEx · 18/04/2012 10:45

I wouldn't sign it either.

MsVestibule · 18/04/2012 11:02

Definitely don't sign it. Surely your company must have policies for women returning from maternity leave. If it's been physically impossible for you to reach your targets, how can they mark you down for it? It's blatant discrimination and your HR dept should be able to provide you with some guidance. Are you in a union?

Original poster

WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid · 18/04/2012 11:08

No union. It is a fairly small company but there have been other women returning from mat leave.

Am a bit worried about not signing as the companies record on looking after their employees is poor (several people are taking them to employment tribunal at them moment for various things).

OP posts:

GooseyLoosey · 18/04/2012 11:18

There is a Government guide to rights on maternity leave here

There is also a maternity action group - they explain your rights here and give useful phone numbers of other people you could contact.

You do have a right not to be subject to any detriment by any act of the employer because you have been on maternity leave. You also have a right under the Equality Act 2010 not to be discriminated against because you have been on maternity leave. Certainly worth discussing with them and would not sign it either.

whatsallthefuss · 18/04/2012 11:24

unfortunatley you dont have to sign your appaisal for it to be a company record.

However as previously stated :You do have a right not to be subject to any detriment by any act of the employer because you have been on maternity leave. You also have a right under the Equality Act 2010 not to be discriminated against because you have been on maternity leave.

To Calcuate your effectiveness take your scores for the 2 months and multiply by 6. This gives a weighted total, taking into account that there is no reason, other than preganancy and childbirth, why you would not have reached this weighted score for the entire year. (just be aware that you might have had pregnancy related sickness in the two months)

I would take the document, the original, and write on it, in blue pen, your adjusted scores and your reasons, and then send it back.

this makes sure your opionion is registered, and because its blue ink, its harder to match and therefore 'doctor'.

I spent 20 years working in HR

eurochick · 18/04/2012 11:27

Personally I wouldn't sign it but I would write on the form why you are not signing it. And keep a copy outside the office.

bumperella · 18/04/2012 11:37

I wouldn't sign it. Appraisals can be used for all sorts of stuff, incl things that can happen regardless of how great you are at yr job - deciding redundancies etc. It sounds like whatsallthfuss gives v good advice.

LibrarianByDay · 18/04/2012 11:43

I would sign it with a comment about why the rate appears so low, and ask your manager to countersign that.

limitedperiodonly · 18/04/2012 11:43

Poor you, OP. Why doesn't it surprise me that people are taking them to a tribunal?

Brilliant advice from whatsallthefuss.

Heleninahandcart · 18/04/2012 11:56

Your company has form. Do not sign this as they may try and use it as their 'free pass' to terminate your employment on the grounds of under performance at some time in the future. I would take your appraisal and write a polite but accurate assessment of your 2 months. If your objectives were based on continuous output, you can base your re-assessment as what has suggested. If your objectives were to be completed by the end of the year, this won't necessarily work as you will not have (understandably) completed any. Be sure to state your were on target, and project your progress to what would have happened over the year had you not been on maternity leave.

Original poster

WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid · 18/04/2012 12:05

Thanks for all the advice (special thanks to whatsallthefuss).

Am going to get some figures together and let my manager know I will not be signing it. I think I can prove my performance for the end of nov & Dec was good (my job requires a lot of planning ahead, your performance in Dec is based a lot on your actions at work in Sept).

Thanks again

OP posts:

emmanana · 18/04/2012 14:54

Sorry to hijack the thread, but does anyone know if you are entitled to a copy of your appraisal? In my company, your manager reads his comments out to you, then you sign it. When I asked for a copy, I was told this wasn't possible. Now I had a fairly good appraisal, so don't want to cause unnecessary hassle and kick off, but are you entitled to a copy under employment law?

peugotgringo · 18/04/2012 17:13

I've always had a copy of my appraisal.

Whatsallthefuss seems to be the expert having worked in HR, hopefully she'll come back and help.

(thanks re the tip about blue pen btw, always useful to know )

Debsbear · 18/04/2012 17:22

I've NEVER had a copy of my appraisal but never asked for one either. I believe you are entitled to one if you wish.

whatsallthefuss · 20/04/2012 08:35

yes, you should be allowed a copy of the appraisal. this isnt set down in stone anywhere but it is good practice.

if they offer resistance to giving it to you, explain that you are agreeing to targets for the forcoming year and it would be helpful if you could keep it to keep you on target. And that you want to learn from the 'mistakes' you made last year and would like to keep it handy.

Failing that... Sorry this is going to cause murder.... but the drip drip drip effect we all feel from our kids, works on Managers too. KEEP asking, and asking, and asking, and asking, and asking, and asking, and asking, and asking, and asking, and asking, and asking, and asking, and asking, and asking, and asking, and asking, and asking, and asking, and asking.......

eventually someone will crack and say 'FFS just give it to her!' (dont forget to say thank you, and smile sweetly)

Good luck

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