How To Respond To A Bad Performance Review (And When To Quit)

Here's how to deal with a bad performance review in a way where you can actually forge a stronger bond with your boss! I'm sharing several tips to help you handle a bad performance review.

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[savannahthomas]

I was shocked with my first performance review and I addressed it with my supervisor. My review wasn’t just negative it was shockingly negative. I wanted to know what she meant and she told me it’s a standard letter. I am definitely gathering all my evidence to protect myself.

[jackcarraway]

If you're doing your honest best and that's not good enough for your boss, pull the plug and leave.

[KristinAlayna]

What if the review is BS? What if the review is based on how much they personally dislike you or how annoying they think you are, instead of what you actually did? What if they do want you to quit?

[jhunsuc]

We had monthly meetings and she told me how wonderfully I was doing.

[codykonior]

This was extremely helpful advice, thanks. Getting a bad performance review, especially when it's undeserved (e.g. due to new requirements going forward), feels like dying.

[bigneiltoo]

1) Don't argue.
2) Don't insult your boss.
3) Don't blame others.
4) Don't badmouth coworkers.
5) Thank them for the opportunity to improve.
6) Shake their hand.

[danacarmen]

I think toxic workplace leads to bad performance reviews, usually in corporations the boss relies on others bs feedback and not on metrics. On 360 feedback review usually people just throw their frustrations in there and then the boss uses that against you to not give you a raise. It's that simple and works every time. Turn people against each other by asking the right questions and then uses that as a motive to not give you a bonus or a raise.

[DJCayne]

What sucks is for some companies this sticks for entire career in industry.

[virtuosowins]

The most important thing is to recognize all the sweet talk in words and on paper and no negative comments from the manager but then giving you a rating lesser than optimal to meet the efin Bell curve. What might be the best way to deal with it ?

[randomoverpopulatedworldid]

I've worked through COVID with a very high risk population since 2018. I've watched various employees around me slack off. Now I'm quiet quitting. F them I'm waiting for them to lay me off. I've dealt with many deaths and personal problems and all they care about is productivity. My productivity was great until they got rid of my high yield clients. Feel like they're pushing me out. Or make me a manager which I've turned down MANY TIMES for ethical and legal reasons. So the manager who did my review I trained and I also trained many people along the way too.

[MsPriyaLal]

Are you serious? If you give someone a true negative review there is no way they are going to improve to be a powerful force together. The relationship is strained and doomed. Its better to get a different job. But what you describe is negative feedback or a negative comment in the review. Negative comments are where you can show and improve .

[peaceatlast]

Bad advice, a negative review a sure-fire way to get someone to leave.

[jhunsuc]

Also when I asked for specifics, my boss got angry and stated she wasn't prepared for that question.

[Richmonkey]

What if the performance discussion comes in the middle of nowhere when you already applied for another position in the company and you are going to have an interview? Now your manager decides to do PR with you before the interview.

[nickpapageorgio]

Good advice. Do you have a video on how to deal with a boss that wants you to take a different career path (to suit their career aspirations) vs what you want? A path that has nothing to do with your passions, strengths, skill set, and interests?

[mw]

My supervisor isn't interested in checking in with the staff. She does not care to see if the partner's claims are true or false.

[peonyflowers]

The problem is reviews are used as weapons by insecure people.

[sherrim]

What if they read what you wrote in remarks and tell you to change it, ?

[jhunsuc]

What if they refuse to give you a copy of the review?

[savannahthomas]

Do I need to sign my performance review if I don’t agree with it?