Appraisals

I hear a lot of this talked about in many contexts.

Every employee worth his two cents awaits eagerly for the results to come out!
Feels like each is sitting on the edge of the chair. Well it's a question of honor, status, performance or vice versa for all the three factors.

Since it's an annual feature around this time in most organizations, one can expect mixed reactions from members of staff.

Even if there are set standards and parameters in place to carry out these appraisals to look professional (read impartial), there will still be some disgruntled voices heard due to expectations not being met.

Such a tricky thing the human mind is. Till the last minute the mind hopes for the best. When the results are known, it becomes a Kurukshetra (the name of the battle ground where the Pandavas and the Kauravas fought - Epic Mahabharata) of emotions.

The resultant pay hike and/enhanced designation can be broadly classified as below:

1. Only nominal pay hike
2. Nominal pay hike but an enhanced designation
3. Good pay hike
4. Good pay with an enhanced designation
5. Fantastic pay hike with a prestigious designation to match

1. Only nominal pay hike -
Means you are where you were but some hike to factor in the rising cost of living has been put in place. Such guys will feverishly start looking for new openings and sound generally bitter about life until they find a better opportunity. They may not change their jobs due to reasons of continuing to work for a brand name in the same sector or due to a hassle-free transportation or due to matters of the heart or may be due to familiarity with surroundings/work schedules or plainly due to fear of the unknown.
There may be many more but these come to my mind as I key in.

2. Nominal pay hike but an enhanced designation -
Means you are ok. You can do better. So not much pay hike but an enhanced designation to boost up an otherwise sagging morale. If this guy is rich and lives by titles alone, he will be a happy soul, otherwise this one too will start searching for jobs sooner or later with the new designation prominently flashed on his CV! He feels better than Case No.1 until he gets out of the present organization, i.e.

3. Good pay hike -
Good going. Means your performance is appreciated by the management but you should improve further to go into the next slot.

4. Good pay with an enhanced designation -
Reminds me of the cat who just had cream! Lucky guy. You have got what any working individual always wants!! After all everyone works for the moolah and the mala (garland, not some girl by that name), anyday.

5. Fantastic pay hike with a prestigious designation to match

*This is the stuff dreams are made of.
*Mother's blessings.
*Fulfilling father's ambition.
*Grandma's topic forever.
*Spouse's pride until next appraisal time;
*Kids joy - dreaming of bigger pocket money and exotic holidays during vacations;
*The envy of some relatives.
*Envious colleagues (What has he got which I don't have; God is blind; Good people are never recognized for their good work; Wondered why butter was always in short supply)
But do you think this guy will stick to the same place? He will try his very best to be made the chief of all he surveys! After all he has tasted success and someone high up knows he's got what it takes. This is the motivation he has always needed to look for an even better and bigger slot.

It is common knowledge that there is an exodus from organizations after appraisals are made public through official channels.
Remember appraisals have meant movement for at least 5 to 10% of the employees. If movement is inter-city then there could be less issues. If it is inter-state or international then from one place to another for the working class could mean a different set of planning altogether - it usually throws the family life out of that big open window;
if his wife is willing and working/not working, she agrees to accompany him to his new place,
if they have school-going kids who are in a good school near their own little heaven, then there are two sets of expenses, besides those travel expenses to catch up with one another,to be contended with each month - one for the master and one for the dame who lives with the kids.

Some self-explaining combos for this word:
Raise
Up-rise-al
raise-(h)ell

The one who remains unaffected by any of the above and puts his heart and soul into work, leaving the fruits of his labour to the master above, in good faith and utmost trust, is indeed the true karma yogi. We have less of those!!

Cheers

Mahalakshmi