To ask my manager why he gave me a poor review when he has complemented me to my face?

[DrSeuss]

I had my review with HR the other day. I am three months into a six month period of probation in a new job which I enjoy and need to keep us afloat financially. I was reasonably confident that my manager would speak well of me. He has never found fault with my work, I have taken on a lot of extra projects which go beyond what I am paid to do and the day before, he had said that he always feels pleased to see my name on the list of participants in a project as he knows I know what I'm doing!

However, he stated to HR that he finds my work inadequate. If he says the same three months from now, I have failed my probation and may be fired.

I fought back my initial instinct which was to cry, (did that with a trusted colleague present. She was horrified and disgusted by what I told her.), then find him and call him a cockwomble wank badger! I spent the next two days finding stuff to work on that kept me as far away from him as possible. I could not bear to be near him and his friendly manner just seemed smarmy and two faced.

So, should I confront him? The problem is that he is best friends with the CEO. If I say my piece, even politely now that I feel calmer, will I just make it worse?

Really constructive advice on this thread OP. I have had situations with colleagues I manage who aren't performing well. At the very least, you should have a written set of performance objectives which should be achieveable and time bound - so to complete x number of quality assurance projects in 3 months or similar. Along with guidance on any aspects of behaviour which may be hindering your performance (such as not consulting with colleagues when embarking on a project etc, focusing on problems rather than ways to fix them) - and suggestions for how to approach things differently if it's a mismatch of working style.

Do you know if this is what the meeting with the other colleague is about?

Best of luck OP.

DrSeuss - frankly I think you should look for anther job.

I think HR are just creating a pre-text to get rid of you and it is nothing to do with your performance. Who knows why. Now you cant take an employer to a Tribunal for unfair dismissal for two years anyway maybe they are just looking to make redundancies and setting you up for that.

Why do you care? Why stay where you are not wanted? Why stay in a place you dont like?

You don't need it, especially if you suffer from depression. Some places are rubbish employers.

Just remember ITS NOT YOUR FAULT!

Could you put it in an email to your boss? So it's in writing and you're not as likely to get upset or flummoxed as you may do face to face (as I would).

Dear boss,

As you are probably aware, I had my 3 month review with HR yesterday.

I was told that so far my work has been inadequate and that I need to make significant improvements over the next three months to pass my probation.

I was surprised the feedback was so negative because so far all the feedback I have had has been positive. This job is very important to me and I am enjoying it, however, I of course want to ensure I am fulfilling my objectives.

I was wondering if you perhaps give me some more detailed feedback about where I have been going wrong and what the areas are that I need to improve, so I am able to address these weaknesses as soon as possible.

At the moment I am unsure where to focus as I was under the impression that all my work was good. Once I know the area(s) requiring improvement I will work with X colleague to address the gaps.

Kindest regards,

Dr Seuss

Maybe something like that? Makes it clear you are getting mixed messages (which isn't fair) but isn't too accusatory to your shit manager, and you are giving him the opportunity to so the correct thing, professionally.

Well, right or wrong he gave you a bad review. It's not the end of the world.

Just go up and ask him what he wants you to improve on, I wouldn't even mention his previous feedback. I have had to do the same to my boss.

In the end we worked out that he would have to give me more direct deadline when he wanted something instead of a casual "When you have time", or "do you have time to work on this?" meant "I need this now". Just little things like that. After that he adjusted, I adjusted and I was one of his best employees, he said so and I got high reviews to match it.

It will mean more to him that you are taking a proactive approach in fixing the problem instead of whining about it.