Automation
I know it seems like I have not a lot of good things to say about my work. I am in the process of applying for admissions for a self-paced IT degree. I was able to transfer some of my hours over from the last time I went to college (that's another story) so it won't be as costly as the estimated price.
But, today I found out more about the yearly review I had to sign off on. Apparently, these are saved on a third-party HR software which is facilitated by a computer. Anyone with a low score (which is what I got. I won't go into the reasons. They are in other posts) is considered "bad" irregardless of management comments and is subjected to a check-in weekly or bi-weekly with management for an undisclosed length of time. At first I sort of panicked and felt like I was being persecuted. I mean, why tell me I'm doing well and then make me do regular performance reports? And there's no way to contest it. Like I said, it's a third party software that's running things. Our actual HR is of no help as I found out in October so I have no outlet to express my concerns. I can't bring it up to management because I don't completely trust them. Not with the way the report was padded against me with half-truths.
I personally just want to weather through all this until I complete the degree I want. I can't exactly quit because I need the paychecks to cover expenses like rent, food, and utilities. However, my concern is, if this automated review process is catching on, how are people who are more highly-strung than me going to take it and what logic is used to have a person's career based on an autonomous system that sees things in stark black and white and not shades of grey? People are not one-dimensional like an equation. I was told "we're all human. We make mistakes." Yet I've been tagged for an incident that wasn't entirely my fault. Where's the sense in that? And how does a company expect to retain good people under such conditions?
Hey <3
That all sounds really annoying, I would be very frustrated. I think now bigger companies are becoming more and more reliant on automation to make things easier for them and quicker, when actually it makes it harder for everyone else!
Have you got anyone at work who you've spoken to about any of this? I know you said you don't wan't to speak to your manager, but perhaps a colleague? Are they having similar experiences as you are?
Really hope things get better soon, and we're all here for you.
@Enthenia
@Obstruct
Well as I learned last year, HR is not a venue to use. That apparently made things worse and sort of added to the situation I'm in now. But, as I mentioned to HR and I think here, if there had been regular meetings, communication with others outside of their clique, and a clear understanding of what was expected or when things change, the incident that has apparently branded me for the rest of my time there wouldn't have happened. That still doesn't explain why I was followed by management shortly after my talk with HR and it doesn't explain why I'm being persecuted for one incident when I have done nothing else wrong.
In the review, they stated I'm efficient, I make the least amount of mistakes, and I'm always willing to assist. Yet because of that one write-up (I really think that was payback for walking out when one of the managers was talking. I was beginning to panic. I had two people getting upset with me then a third wandered in and leaned up against the open door and I was starting to feel trapped.) I am under scrutiny for at least six months. I don't get why. All right, walking out like I did may not have been the thing to do but I explained to HR why (but as I and another have found out, HR is only concerned about their department) but I have done nothing else to warrant this hounding.
And, as I said, most of the HR functions have been transferred over to a third-party software system as has our education reimbursement program and a few other programs so there really is no point of contact as I found out with the education reimbursement program. I emailed, made three phone calls to different people, talked to HR, sent emails to another department and I still have no response. I had to eat the money I spent on that class I took (I'm glad I got it at the discounted price) which is why I've done my FAFSA form for the degree I'm pursuing. I don't know if the reimbursement program will actually come through. The university is actually on my reimbursement page this time around but based on my prior experience, I'm not going to expect too much.
I could give plenty of other examples of the lack of professionalism, clarity, etc. with the company I'm currently at. They had to scrap a multi-million dollar advertising campaign because they did not get five-year contracts from all the celebrities involved. One only signed for a year. The year was up a few months ago so they had to pull all the pictures, commercials, print, etc. with this celebrity or else they were in danger of being sued. One of our other offices in another state had to be completely redecorated because of that. Now I've never done advertising but it would seem to me that if you were going to do a major ad campaign, you would ensure that everyone involved in the campaign were under the same contract. Why continue with a campaign when 2 out of 3 signed a long-term contract? If person C didn't want to commit to five years, find someone who was willing to commit. I may have delayed the campaign a bit but it would have saved a lot of time and money in the long-run.
So, as you can see, there really isn't any outlet for me to use. But that's fine. I did my mock class for my orientation last week. I think I'll do well at it and I will be working more closely with the faculty. As I progress and get closer to obtaining the degree, I will probably ask for company suggestions. I think I want to focus on banking. That would be much more structured and sensible than the hospitality industry that I'm currently working in.
So I've got a start date for the course!! February 6. They run in 12 week stints. I received an "Excellent" on the mock class. The only thing I got wrong was the class title. I'm pretty sure the title wasn't available when I did it.
Also, I had another "meeting" at work. They say they will do only one more but I really don't believe anything they say any more. And besides, soon I'll be busy with classwork so I won't really have the time to worry about little things.
And apparently my claim for the course I took last year is still in the queue. I found out that we have a small payroll department taking care of paychecks and education claims for thousands of people. One of the people in my department still hasn't gotten his first paycheck for the year. I'm glad I've been getting mine even though I won't get a raise.
Oh and now my management is asking for suggestions/critiques on how to make the department better. Too little too late in my case.
