I am working as an architect at an IT firm in Hyderabad. Below is my story, and I need advice on how I can proceed with this.
Project Experience and Initial Challenges
I was part of a project at the beginning of this year. I performed well and was appreciated by my manager for my work. Due to downsizing of the project, I have been released to the bench. When releasing me to the bench, my manager termed my performance as "Needs improvement." Due to this rating, I did not receive my variable pay. I escalated this matter to HR. Due to the high-handedness of my manager, HR served me a "show cause notice" stating that I indulged in improper activities. I was asked to reply within one week. I replied to HR, and the matter subsided there. But later, I was put into a performance improvement plan (PIP). HR scheduled a meeting and canceled the PIP meeting without citing any reasons. After a few days, I got a call from someone from HR asking me to meet him in person to discuss something. I promptly did not meet the person. Instead, I met with the TAG team for my next project and got into another project.
Current Project and Managerial Issues
My manager in the current project started picking on me based on my previous project's performance. He mentioned that the management wants me out of the company. He spoke with me about unethical things and discussed going legal against me, ruining my life for no fault of mine. I tried to ask him why he was talking like this, but he did not stop. I just ignored him, went on with my work, and performed pretty well as usual. Looking at my proactive performance, I was asked to support another project in parallel. So, I was working for more than one project. Here again, I received email appreciation for my work.
Ongoing Politics and Demoralization
Now, onto the politics. The manager in the current project rated me as "needs improvement," and again, I did not receive my variable pay. I have an impeccable track record of being a top performer in my previous organizations. With consecutive "needs improvement" ratings, I am demoralized now.
What should be my best course of action next? Please advise.
From India, Bengaluru
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Project Experience and Initial Challenges
I was part of a project at the beginning of this year. I performed well and was appreciated by my manager for my work. Due to downsizing of the project, I have been released to the bench. When releasing me to the bench, my manager termed my performance as "Needs improvement." Due to this rating, I did not receive my variable pay. I escalated this matter to HR. Due to the high-handedness of my manager, HR served me a "show cause notice" stating that I indulged in improper activities. I was asked to reply within one week. I replied to HR, and the matter subsided there. But later, I was put into a performance improvement plan (PIP). HR scheduled a meeting and canceled the PIP meeting without citing any reasons. After a few days, I got a call from someone from HR asking me to meet him in person to discuss something. I promptly did not meet the person. Instead, I met with the TAG team for my next project and got into another project.
Current Project and Managerial Issues
My manager in the current project started picking on me based on my previous project's performance. He mentioned that the management wants me out of the company. He spoke with me about unethical things and discussed going legal against me, ruining my life for no fault of mine. I tried to ask him why he was talking like this, but he did not stop. I just ignored him, went on with my work, and performed pretty well as usual. Looking at my proactive performance, I was asked to support another project in parallel. So, I was working for more than one project. Here again, I received email appreciation for my work.
Ongoing Politics and Demoralization
Now, onto the politics. The manager in the current project rated me as "needs improvement," and again, I did not receive my variable pay. I have an impeccable track record of being a top performer in my previous organizations. With consecutive "needs improvement" ratings, I am demoralized now.
What should be my best course of action next? Please advise.
From India, Bengaluru
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Dear friend, your manager placed you under the Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) twice. However, did he assign credible reasons for doing so? If yes, then what is your take on that?
You also say that you have received email appreciation twice and that too in different projects. If the manager was frosty to you, then how come he also appreciated you? If not him, then who appreciated you?
Your manager threatened to ruin your career. But do you have evidence of him doing so? If not, try generating evidence by recording the audio conversation surreptitiously.
You have not received your variable pay twice. This is because your rating in the Performance Appraisal (PA) was "Needs Improvement." But at the same time, you were appreciated for your work. Therefore, you may bring this contradiction to the notice of your management by submitting an application. In the application, just submit the facts without logic. At the end of the application, request a review of the rating by the Manager.
Once you submit the application, let us see what decision your management takes. Further advice will depend on that.
Thanks,
Dinesh Divekar
From India, Bangalore
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8072You also say that you have received email appreciation twice and that too in different projects. If the manager was frosty to you, then how come he also appreciated you? If not him, then who appreciated you?
Your manager threatened to ruin your career. But do you have evidence of him doing so? If not, try generating evidence by recording the audio conversation surreptitiously.
You have not received your variable pay twice. This is because your rating in the Performance Appraisal (PA) was "Needs Improvement." But at the same time, you were appreciated for your work. Therefore, you may bring this contradiction to the notice of your management by submitting an application. In the application, just submit the facts without logic. At the end of the application, request a review of the rating by the Manager.
Once you submit the application, let us see what decision your management takes. Further advice will depend on that.
Thanks,
Dinesh Divekar
From India, Bangalore
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