Have name changed for this.
I've worked in financial services for the same company for over 20 years, been in current role for 5 years. Mid management level. Never ever had any performance issues in all of that time.
I've just had my mid year review and have been put in a category which effectively means I'm not performing. This has come completely out of nowhere, no previous conversations about issues with my performance. I'm very angry and upset. The summary that my manager has put together of the first half of the year is inaccurate and unfair. There have been some development needs flagged, which I'm ok with, but I'm not ok with being put in an underperforming category. Manager isn't very good, doesn't motivate, basically made me feel like shit to the point that I was in tears in the meeting and had to cut it short. He suggested next steps are that I work on pulling things back during the second half of the year.
BUT: I don't want what will effectively be a black mark on my record. In the business I work in, this marks you as first out the door if there are redundancies.
I haven't changed anything about how I work, but the business I work for have become more and more demanding around performance and you have to do a lot more now just to be seen as having a good performance.
My instinct says I need to challenge this with HR but I don't know if that will do me any favours in the long run. I also feel like I want out - I'm in my 50s and just don't feel able to cope with these kinds of demands any more. But I can't afford to leave unless I get a pay off.
Any advice?