If you work for a large American corporation you've heard this story many times...

[Xolodno]

30. Lot of IT related posts...trust me, it ain't just there....

I've seen a lot of people shafted over the years, could probably write a book on it. So, I'll just mention my experiences.

1. Working in pricing/product, to meet deadlines I would start at 5 am and not finish until 11 pm on a Friday...saving grace, I was working from home. But still wouldn't be done, so, Saturday, after a good nights rest started up again...emailed my manager...and he would respond. Did this for a few years, every review he said, "again I put you as a four" rating was 1 to 5, one means your gone in 90 days and 5 is up there with unicorns, but a four comes with a nice raise and bonus. And sure enough those higher than him forced him to push me back to a 3. Never complained since I didn't play the politics game, I knew the price.

Until one director decided he was going to force me to do so. Was up for promotion several times...and passed over. One pricing/product manager that left even told the Director, he needed to move me up as I could do better than he did. Long story short, he didn't and hired somebody that was way sub-par and went on leave within the first year. And while this person was on leave, in addition to doing my regular duties, I had to assume hers as well. Oh and while doing this, I standardized our training program and pricing change practices...a month before we got hit by the auditing team...of which they commended for having a good process in place.

And, I got passed over again. Started job hunting...

2. Then out of nowhere, I got asked to come up to Distribution/Marketing Analysis with a promotion. Apparently someone there noticed. I was thrilled...for awhile. Then I realized the politics was even worse there. But I pushed through, one thing I noticed, in my years, if you don't play the game, but do your job and do it well, they won't advance you much, but they won't dare demean you, as they do rely on everything you do. Well, long story short, first year was just a 3, expected, still was learning the ropes. Second year, yeap, was told I was rated a 4 again...and was pushed back to 3.

Third year, my research/work got some serious notice....even a call from the CEO, of a multi-billion dollar company. Other managers/directors have even told me I changed the direction of the company. My work is now the first thing on the companies long term strategy. It take precedence on all the slides. It was the only project I worked on the whole year as it had tentacles into everything...but it was a huge f'n project...and didn't get much support from other groups. Earned praise from the field up to senior management. And while this was happening, back filling for someone who left the company and a person who left for pregnancy leave roughly the same time.

I got rated a "2".

Granted, the company "changed" its view on 2's as being as a person who met expectations. But you still suffered the financial consequences as being sub-par, that is 1.5% raise and loss of 50% of your eligible bonus. But I sure was hell not a "2".

And you don't have to be a genius to figure out why. One of the "favorites" announced she was taking over my project since it was going to be included in one of their initiatives. Well, my manager and I fought against this and won...even though my manger thinks its...and I quote "bullshit" (if its not his idea, it doesn't feed his ego), he wasn't going to relinquish the glory. And despite working intensely with other groups on forecasting, bonus determination, etc. I always sensed a resentment. Even another Director said he thought...despite the analytics I provided...thought it wasn't important. Yet when it comes to geo-intelligence, he is the first one always asking to "borrow me". Plus, after being there for 18+ years, they probably thought, "he'll just take it on the chin". Well, I sure as hell haven't taken it on the chin, I've been hiding my emotions and seething every day I come in...but I take solace on the day I quit.

So what exactly happened? Apparently the higher ups stated our division doesn't have enough "2's"...despite the official HR mumbo jumbo about no "specified distribution". So it was forced to take a certain number at each salary grade...and in my case, they decided it was going to be on the number of projects completed...yeah, everyone else did more "projects"...but they weren't much work. But the others are under the political "umbrella". Hell, my manager...probably sensing something is wrong, is throwing a lot of projects at me this year so they can't use that excuse, but they are boring regurgitating scorecards on reports we already publish. In other words, its boring me and certainly doesn't help the company.

And to drop the other shoe, should layoffs happen, though unlikely, because I got that "2", a rating I have NEVER received before, I'm on the firing line.

3. Updated my Resume and started applying to a few things that interest me. Not in too much of a hurry just yet. The company freezes the pension at the end of the year. However, the closer we get to that date, the more aggressive my job hunting will become. Funny thing is, I was already thinking about moving somewhere else in the company as I felt I could leverage what I learned to help somewhere else...but after getting that "2"...just going to take a number 2 on the company and move on.