Perfomance Monitoring - how can i 'protect' myself?

[heylottie]

Nutshell: I have worked for this company for the last 12 years. Was off on maternity leave last year, came back and spent the next six/eight months helping on various projects whilst waiting for a big project to come up that I could manage (like I have always done before)

Had a meeting with my boss three months ago- he said that he hadn't been happy with me for a while (I had NO IDEA about this, my jaw hit the floor) and that I had essentially not done what was expected of me on these projects. Again, no one said at the time that I wasn't doing the job well enough (in fact, I was trying really hard, as back from mat leave wanted to prove my brain hadn't turned to jelly).

I have previously got on well with my boss. I thought.

Anyway I have been in limbo for last three months, working on various projects. But now they have a 'big project' to put me on, but they are going to performance monitor me

Boss is, as we speak, filling in a table detailing in what ways I have underperformed in the past. I happen to know he is going back years - back to BEFORE my last (good) appraisal (in 2013) (ie in 2012 you didn't do this).

so, while I wait to hear how shit I am and have been, apparently, I need some advice as to how to protect myself during this monitoring process.

The problem is I CAN do the job - the mechanics of this don't scare me. But I suspect they want me out, my face doesn't fit, and I worry I am being set up to fail, no matter what I do, and they are doing this so as to make me redundant without an industrial tribunal.

I work in a creative industry, so everything can be quite subjective.

Do I keep a log of what I am doing every day? Detail every element of how the project is going? How can I stop them failing me anyway?

I would love to walk away, but I cant. I am the breadwinner, and getting another job would involve me living away from my children during the week. They are 5 and 18 months. I need to stick it out here for at least another year or two, whilst I work out what the hell to do for the rest of my career.

Sorry its so long. Thank you in advance! x

Make sure all the objectives are smart, achievable and aligned to your job profile. Don't agree to anything in the objectives that aren't in your job spec, (without coming across as being 'difficult'). I assume, if you're to be 'performance managed' then there is a formal performance monitoring process in place and a HR department. If so, make sure you have records of previous appraisals, particularly if they are trying to bring stuff up which pre-dates them.
Request feedback whenever possible, and if they provide negative feedback, ask them to specify exactly what they would like you to do, and then do it. It's a PITA but if you're good at your job then there's actually very little they can do. Can be unpleasant though, hopefully they'll get bored after a while and things will settle down

I agree, it sounds like they are wanting to build evidence to shove you out.

Presumably performance monitoring is part of some kind of disciplinary procedure, at the very least there should be a policy covering it and how it should be done. Have you asked to see this policy?

Are HR involved in this performance monitoring to make sure it is being done fairly? Again, if not, I would write to them (using non-defensive, neutral language) asking them to advise.

I would certainly keep a log of everything that happens, follow up every conversation with an email, avoid as many one-to-ones with the boss as you can (i.e. try to make sure there's always a witness). Get all of your deliverables signed off, monitor your own performance against targets regularly, and if you can join a union, do so.

I would dispute anything which is raised from before your last appraisal, that really is taking the piss. Wait until your list arrives and then be sure not to respond immediately, say you'll need some time to refresh your memory of events before agreeing next steps.

Thank you so much for your advice. I will take a deep breath, log, plan and make records - and think about joining a union (I hadn't considered that before). Many thanks x

Hope it isn't as bad as you fear - it's just so tiring to be having to deal with this kind of bollocks on top of the day job, isn't it?

If they are monitoring your performance and it is part of a disciplinary procedure that will be governed by legal rules which they need to follow. I would also advise joining a union and getting support from them.

If you challenge them about the performance monitoring etc, it should be at a formal meeting with your union representative present.

Once they realise you are savvy about your legal employment rights they may change their tune, but you need proper backing to get to that stage. Unfortunately this kind of thing is quite common with some unscrupulous employers so you need to protect yourself.