Quarterly review – is it normal for them to feel so negative?

[workworkisthereagain]

Hi all,
Just wondering if anyone here—especially those with HR experience—can shed some light on what a quarterly review is meant to be like.

I recently had mine, and it felt really one-sided and quite negative. It focused solely on things I apparently need to improve, with no acknowledgement at all of any of my contributions, progress, or the effort I’ve made to adapt.

Is that normal? Are reviews generally just for reporting issues, or should they also recognise what someone is doing well? Would really appreciate some honest views.

It is normal, if you have an incompetent manager. An incompetent manager will see it as an opportunity to ensure that you never ask for a raise and/or an opportunity to bully you

I would see it as a sign to look for another job.

Agree with PP.
They are a 2 way thing. It sounds like your hard work is not acknowledged, and your expectations are being managed re pay rises and promotions.
Look for another job if you feel undervalued.
Know your worth. You don't owe them loyalty. There are jobs I had that I should have left in this kind of scenario.

It is not normal.

If they are real issues with your performance your manager should have addressed them early on and work with you to get you to improve.

They should not be waiting until your annual review.

You are right that a company that values you would also highlight all your good points in the review.

Frankly you either have a really crap manager or they are trying to manage you out.

Either way I would start looking at other opportunities.

In the meantime I would respond in writing to your manager and copy HR in. Tell them that you were surprised to have such a negative review and wonder why the topics raised were not mentioned before your usual one to one meetings and also highlight your key achievements for the year and ask why none of them were acknowledged. Remain professional in the way you write it but make it clear you are concerned that the review does not reflect accurately what you have done this year.

If done well, they should reflect positives and negatives, but also the employee should leave with a clear impression of their perceived performance.

So if your boss has concerns about your performance, the take away message should be that there are issues. Not that you’ve done well. Even if you’re awful, they should have scraped around and found something positive to say at some point. Even if that’s just that you’re pleasant to be around.

For an average person it should be balanced some positives and some things to work on.
For a weak employee there still should have been something positive.

Overall you need to reflect if it is true, people do not like hearing the truth these days. If it is, face up to it and change. If not, cut your losses and find another job.

I am currently job hunting.
i am neurodiverse and they are aware of it and i can see that the role does not suit my disability but thats not to say I haven’t done good things and its all bad. I responded as are to to the review stating all the positive impact i have made and the good things I have done.

I wonder if the employer can allow one to resign with immediate effect without working the notice period due to the fact that I am sort of struggling in the role