Appraisal

[Chesta]

I've been contracting with a company for 12 months now, regular sort of stuff, management consultancy, general fundraising, contract negotiation.
I've been requested to attend an appraisal with the Directors on Friday.
Now I've been self employed for 16+ years, and have never attended one of these in my life.
What's it all about?
Should I clear my desk in advance & remove personal belongings from the company-owned car

Edited by Chesta on Monday 29th January 22:59

[srebbe64]

If I were you I'd make a long list of everything you've achieved for the company, quantify it into monetary terms, subtract your costs and then tell the Directors how much your contribution has effected the bottom line.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

If they know what they are doing they will advise you of the content before the meeting. (and perhaps give you a questionnaire to consider)

[Fidgits]

yeah, as above, ensure you can give them a hell of a lot of postitive things about your work...

as likely outcomes are:

a. pack your bags.
b. want a full time job.
c. they're not happy and want you to pull your socks up.

[mcflurry]

...or maybe the directors need some 360 degree feedback on the process?

i.e. are you performing to the required standard, and do you feel they are doing the same?

[rustybin]

I used to get these on a regular basis when I was contracting to the public sector. Generally it was because someone somewhere had decided that all staff needed to be appraised once a year and had arranged the meetings accordingly without working out who was staff and who wasn't. I wouldn't assume a conspiracy until you have ruled out stupidity

(If the company have "investors in people" status it is a common fudge to appraise your contractors and thus increase the precentage of staff appraised and the chances of keeping your fluffy bunny certificate.)

Edited by rustybin on Tuesday 30th January 15:05

[minimax]

mcflurry said:

...or maybe the directors need some 360 degree feedback on the process?

i.e. are you performing to the required standard, and do you feel they are doing the same?

[Red V8]

srebbe64 said:

If I were you I'd make a long list of everything you've achieved for the company, quantify it into monetary terms, subtract your costs and then tell the Directors how much your contribution has effected the bottom line.

Agree with the list but wouldn't go as far as the bottom line.... However, what I would do is give some thought as to what you want out of the meeting, i.e. what parts of the job aren't going as well as you'd like and what can they do to help...

Not all managers use appriasals to beat up their staff... you don't restrict beatings to a once a year excercise!!!

[leeb]

use it to get your feeling about work life out, you go home and moan about stuff, bring it up!

we do appraisals for our staff, and actively encourage people to be honest, it scares the crap out of them, but makes a hell of a difference when they realise they are in a stable job, and have people who will listen, and also pick them up on things they can improve on.

i have never heard of people leaving an appraisal with a boot up the arse and pack your backs being shouted.

surely if they leave negative it is a totally pointless task and will get on t'internet hunting for jobs.

dont worry about it, tis your chance to fight your corner and let your employer know what you think.

just my 2p's worth

[deva link]

leeb said:

dont worry about it, tis your chance to fight your corner and let your employer know what you think.

Exactly - I always thought the best thing to do when being appraised by someone more senior than me was to attack them. I appraised their performance as a manager of me.

[stepej]

Appraisals are for permanent employees. If you're a contractor and your work isn't up to scratch you should be shown the door.

I've contracted for nearly 20 years, never had an appraisal, never will. I've been asked a few times but have always given the above as a response. Mind you I've always found an informal chat every month or so to see how things are going is a good thing to do.

As they are treating you as an employee by doing this I presume you fall inside of IR35?

[srebbe64]

deva link said:

leeb said:

dont worry about it, tis your chance to fight your corner and let your employer know what you think.

Exactly - I always thought the best thing to do when being appraised by someone more senior than me was to attack them. I appraised their performance as a manager of me.

If someone did that to me they'd win the argument but lose the job.

[deva link]

stepej said:

Appraisals are for permanent employees. If you're a contractor and your work isn't up to scratch you should be shown the door.

I've contracted for nearly 20 years, never had an appraisal, never will. I've been asked a few times but have always given the above as a response. Mind you I've always found an informal chat every month or so to see how things are going is a good thing to do.

As they are treating you as an employee by doing this I presume you fall inside of IR35?

I'm not involved in contracting, but I would expect that as a supplier, then you'd be subject to a supplier review.
Arguably they're pretty similar to appraisals, except that it's usually a whole company that's being appraised, rather than an individual. Having said that, I've been in a few where I am the face of the comapany, and they can get pretty personal!

[leeb]

deva link said:

leeb said:

dont worry about it, tis your chance to fight your corner and let your employer know what you think.

Exactly - I always thought the best thing to do when being appraised by someone more senior than me was to attack them. I appraised their performance as a manager of me.

not quite what i meant, but to break down barriers and make valid 'constructive' points haha

[deva link]

leeb said:

deva link said:

leeb said:

dont worry about it, tis your chance to fight your corner and let your employer know what you think.

Exactly - I always thought the best thing to do when being appraised by someone more senior than me was to attack them. I appraised their performance as a manager of me.

not quite what i meant, but to break down barriers and make valid 'constructive' points haha

Of course - that's what I meant too.

[Chesta]

Quite a commical outcome- Operations Manager + 1 of the Directors asked why I was there upon walking into the appointment. The same question was asked of the personnel manager- why was I there, because I'm not an employee?
Cue red face from personnel mgr, followed by a good lunch with the Directors, and some good future developments discussed.
Totally different day to what I'd expected, I suspect personnel may get a talking to behind closed doors though.

[srebbe64]

Chesta said:

Quite a commical outcome- Operations Manager + 1 of the Directors asked why I was there upon walking into the appointment. The same question was asked of the personnel manager- why was I there, because I'm not an employee?
Cue red face from personnel mgr, followed by a good lunch with the Directors, and some good future developments discussed.
Totally different day to what I'd expected, I suspect personnel may get a talking to behind closed doors though.

There's something in negotiation call "embarrassment value" and it can be a very powerful ally. I think you just got a few buckets of it!