Awful feedback in appraisal

[ele1000]

Namechanged as identifying.

Today I had my yearly appraisal and as part of it had 360 feedback from my colleagues.

There is a colleague I work alongside, closely, on the same projects but in different teams (think project manager and engineer type scenario). I am the specialist in this case. I have posted before about this man but basically he makes my life hell. He is aggressive, rude, stubborn and thinks he knows more than me desire a degree in my specialism. He refuses to negotiate on any task and any job I do for him is met with constant criticism.

My line managers met with me to discuss the feedback and basically said I had failed to meet my objectives, based mainly on feedback from the colleague. I asked to see the feedback and was told I couldn't. Further questioning revealed this was because it was a three page critique on me, where he has criticised my character, work, ability to meet deadlines, management style etc etc. It is not constructive and more of a character assassination.

I was obviously very upset after this and my managers gave me a hard time. I was told there was nothing positive.

Today I found this wasn't true at all and all other colleagues had given me very positive feedback. In the whole time I've worked in the business and not with this man I've received positive feedback.

So how do I move forward? I feel in an impossible situation where if I continue to work with this man I will never move up. I come home from work crying every day and not sure I can carry on.

I think HR should be of help if you spelt out the basics-
1- 360 feedback all very negative, not constructive and NOT all of the feedback given
2- appraisal wasn’t based on full years work if 6 months ago you were doing well without this guy - where’s that feedback?
3- senior manager said you play the victim card? That’s ridiculously unprofessional.
4- no managers have fed back to you on your concerns which were horrendous! I mean, yes stuff that happens outside of work is not usually any of your line managers, but if you’re being deliberately targeted in front of witnesses then it certainly gives a picture of his behaviour.

I’m really angry for you, and agree you have grounds for a grievance. Document everything.

Can you talk to other female colleagues who have also had issues with this individual? It sounds to me like he hates women and targets them at work: you might be able to raise a collective grievance to the effect that management are allowing sex discrimination in the workplace by not sanctioning this man's unprofessional behaviour.

I'm pretty sure that employers are supposed to treat harassment at after work events the same as if they happened in work.

Tell HR it was assault and you are going to file a police report. That should move up the chain fast.

Appraisals serve no useful purpose - other than to let people know when they are in the wrong jobs.

Only if they're done badly - like here. Done properly, they are a positive and constructive development tool. Sadly, they are often used like this by poor managers.

I've been where you are OP. It's horrible and a clear sign of a toxic work environment. I left, and suggest you do the same. Life's too short to put up with this.

I’d have raised a grievance concerning him and your manager a long time ago.

His behaviour is utterly disgusting.

You can’t claim constructive dismissal if you’ve been there less than 2 years (I think) so I’d suggest that you need to gather some evidence, complain properly and leave.

He’s a cunt and so is your manager.

this sounds like a really awful situation for you, I would ring and speak to ACAS they will be able to offer you advice and support. Good luck op, there is nothing worse than dreading going into work

Citizen's advice, askamanager, union rep. If necessary lawyer up. Bullying really taints a business, which HR will be aware of even if your local line manager is not. Gather all the information as PPs have advised, email issues to HR with evidence. Evidence everything that is said to you, and go to you GP about the weeping. They are demanding you work in a toxic workplace and it's making you cry with stress: evidence it. And begin your new jobsearch because these people are horrors.

What a fucking horrible place. This is psycho territory for sure.

They are a real bunch of shits and are now your enemy.

Get even. You are going to leave for sure so predetermine your exit creating as much havoc as possible. Nobody deserves this. It is inhuman. I am spitting mad. They are bastards.

Can you work for yourself. If so get this going whilst you are still at this dump.

Do not cry. Smile sweetly. Calmly but surely get your revenge.

Go straight to ACAS.
Even if they cant help you (and I think in this case they can) it helps them to know the situation in this workplace.

www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1461

Sorry this has happened. I know this sounds dramatic but for me all trust in my manager would have been destroyed bby this. So I'd start looking for another job. He sounds like a bully and your manager doesn't seem to care..

I don’t have legal advice to add but I had to give someone negativr 360 feedback but even though it was poor, I wasn’t cruel and mean about it. They really were not right for the job and it was obvious they were struggling a lot, I felt I needed to be honest and I did try to include some positives. My hope was that this would lead to the colleague getting the support they badly needed not to get in ‘trouble’

The way they have treated you about this is awful

Prawn juice. Under his desk. You save it from a bag of frozen prawns, give them a good squeeze to get out more.... And then sprinkle it all over the carpet under his desk. No evidence. Just a foul foul smell that emulates (not immediately but gradually over the course of a few days).

Defo contact HR. What concerns me here is that another colleague collated the 360 degree responses. Surely that is not right as should be confidential. For you and managers only.

@BollocksToBrexit I think you are correct - vicarious liability.

Under Data protection you are entitled to see any info kept on you. Request the feedback in writing, copied to HR. Then raise a grievance. And put with it, in writing, a bulleted I page summary of every objective you have & how/when you met it.

360 appraisal was invented by HR to give them something important to be in charge of

Absolute nonsense.

Omg OP. I have no constructive comments to make unfortunately but I just couldn't read and run. You poor thing. This sounds totally and utterly unbearable. I'm senior management and although I'm a total softie there's no way in the world I would accept a member of my staff speaking or behaving to a colleague like this guy has to you.

I'd like to think that the fact your HR department is so detached is a good thing. They'll (hopefully) be able to be impartial and unbiased. You have to speak to them. Raise a grievance and start a job search somewhere else. If your other colleagues are on your side, choose those that you're closest too and perhaps ask them to write statements stating the opposite of the arsehole.

And remember, most importantly, karma is a bitch. He'll get what's coming to him one day and I hope you're around to kick him while he's down.

Sounds like an utterly terrible place to work.

That is not how a 360 review functions. Toxic domineering and character assassinations do not belong in such a process. With awful management like that the organisation is doomed to fail so best get out asap before it tarnishes you any further.

you can request all information held on you
ico.org.uk/media/for-organisations/documents/2259722/subject-access-code-of-practice.pdf

Holy shit I can't believe none of that has been investigated. Your colleague sounds unbelievable.

What concerns me here is that another colleague collated the 360 degree responses.
Surely that is not right as should be confidential

You're correct.

I'm amazed at your employer OP. That idiot poured a drink over you and claims you're beneath him...yet nothing has been done.

There's no way I wouldn't escalate this matter immediately.

My line manager once put a negative remark in my appraisal. I met with her and said our golden rule was no suprises in appraisals and being HR we always advised managers of this.

She told me the feedback was given by someone else and she had forgotten to tell me at the time. She conceded that by not bringing it to my attention, I didn't have the opportunity to correct it and she deleted it.

You've been treated appallingly and you need to do something about it. I've known people be upset with appraisals, but never to cry as you describe.

My thoughts are there are much deeper issues going on here.

I think by not standing up for yourself, this bully has taken advantage of you. Could be he is threatened by you.. or jealous. Or you may remind him of someone he dislikes. That is not an excuse btw.

I wouldn't tolerate a single one of those things he did and by him not facing any consequences, he has simply ramped up his bullying. He sees you as an easy target and so far that has proven to be the case.

You need someone to support you with this.... as I don't think you can do it alone. Perhaps a union rep or workplace colleague.

Your company have failed in their duty to protect you, by not doing anything about the way this man has treated you.

With appraisals it is normal to sign to say you agree with the contents, refuse to sign the form for a start. You don’t agree and quite rightly so. As said upthread advice from ACAS.

Make them squirm for what they have done to you. If it costs them thousands in legal fees all to the good.

I have been in that position OP. It is awful, I walked out a few months later as the situation got worse. Don’t let that happen to you.

OP, Are you sure you really want to stay with this bunch of wankers?..

Your colleague is a bully and your managers are complicit. I think pouring a drink on you can be classed as assault. Definitely take this to HR and escalate as much as possible.

I would get out of the job. Sounds like a terrible situation that your employer gives zero shits about.