The Mechanics of Drudgery
Another annual review rolls around.
Another evaluator passing through.
She thought this one was decent,
But he's new, after all. He needs
To prove his own worth to admin.
Wearing Little Marco Florsheims,
He tells her she jokes too much,
That she makes her colleagues
Smile.
(We know where laughter leads.)
A light heart may cause outbursts
Of hope. We can't have that, not
In the corporate world. She signs
Henrietta on review. Regardless, no
Raises; union got tossed with laughs.
Another friend, at another place,
Had her annual review. Her mid-
Manager tried to give her top marks
In a few columns. Admin denied,
Saying there's always room for
Improvement.
Mid-managers and admin roll through
Under own veil of menace, it's true,
But must their higher paychecks extract
Decency while injecting arrogance?
Would AI bosses soothe stings?
In my years as a government drudge, the above is par for the course. The supervisor who said the worker was joking too much at work and making people laugh, and the one who just isn’t ever going to stop having to give more than their best is the very tippy tip of an iceberg so many drudges are subjected to in their annual reviews. If you knew these two individuals, you’d feel compassion for them.
Sanaa is today’s host for dVerse’ OpenLinkNight.
Tao-Talk 
A very interesting boost Lisa 😉💜💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Willow, thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is incredibly potent! I resonate with; “A light heart may cause outbursts of hope. We can’t have that, not in the corporate world.”
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sanaa, thank you very much.
LikeLike
This reminds me of so many work scenarios over the years, Lisa. I survived the “work wars,” but some scars fade away sooner than others lol. “9 To 5” is a perfect addition here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bruce, I’m happy but sad you have had work scenarios to relate to. I do think some part of the mid-manager’s requirement is to make the person they are rating feel “a little less.” Thanks on 9 to 5. I remember how much I loved that movie when it came out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well done, Lisa! You have summed it up well. I have been there and despise evaluation time!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Dwight. I remember co-workers coming out of their evaluations sobbing. I did the same at least a few times.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not the most fun for sure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very well done, Lisa. Fortunately, I never had the type of job that required evals; they’ve got to be gruelling.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Nancy. Every year, year after year. Where I worked, contractual raises were dependent on getting the review, and if your review wasn’t at a certain level you wouldn’t get one. I always got my raise, but multiple times the evals would be months late, holding up my raise. It would be a retroactive check, but still. Gruelling is an understatement.
LikeLiked by 1 person
UGH! Sounds awful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad that is all in my past. Now, I have a different type of stupidity to deal with! Haha!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you’ve left that form of drudgery behind. It can be demoralizing. The world of work always has some messiness to it doesn’t it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d likely get kicked out of this country if anyone here decided to take offence to some of my thoughts posted on my blog!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hoping they never find your blog then.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This happens way too much in the corporate world.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Reelika, it is standard practice, you’re right.
LikeLike
very cool poem Li so interesting! Great take for open link night!
LikeLiked by 1 person
CA, glad you enjoyed the poem. Thanks!
LikeLike
I remember years ago being in that role… not way to do it well squeezed inbetween
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you were humane about it. In my 25 years, there was little humanity.
LikeLike
LOL Lisa, this one is from the heart I can tell! Reminds me of Office Space and the TPR reports! You probably know my thoughts on the “corporate world”…so Ill spare ya….but loved the poem and I do feel compassion for those souls that are so caught up in that bureaucratic world! Drudgery indeed! Well done! 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks much for the great comment, Cara.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ugh. Annual and semi-annual reviews are a crock. How about you deal with the good and the bad as they happen, rather than drudge them up six or ten months later? Ridiculous process that I loathe. Thank gawd they don’t do that where I work.
This poem rings so very true in so very many of my employment situations! Nicely done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dale, it’s just another way to demoralize the workers. I’m sorry you’ve had experience with this but happy not any longer. Thanks for the kind words.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They say it’s a “fair” way to evaluate but really, it always feels like a time to pick on the crap!
Might be my last year; I might give another. Not decided just yet! And it is my pleasure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Admin denied,
Saying there’s always room for
Improvement.
It is most disheartening to be denied when the immediate should know better. Great lines Li!
Hank
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s too bad those evals are never reciprocal. Thanks, Hank.
LikeLike
correction… the immediate supervisor should know…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fortunately I have never been subjected to such reviews – sounds awful, Li…
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re blessed. Government work can be brutal in many ways.
LikeLike
I’m glad I haven’t been in this situation. I imagine it’s even worse now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The more socialist we become, the more drudges there will be! You paint the picture with painful detail, Lisa.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lynn, thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love it Lisa…I’m lucky…my first jobs were like that…but in the past 20 or so years…every day is different. It’s never all rosy…but overall I am challenged a lot… in IT…the office politics don’t really hit us. The one thing I DO hate is meetings! I hate them more than about anything!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It may be more practiced in government work? I know the non-union people had to have them also (99% sure.) Oh yes, don’t get me started on meetings. We had way way way too many of those for things that could have been handled in an email or an online training. Also when you’re working with a bunch of different agencies you have to try to find a time that works for everyone, a space big enough, etc.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh I’ve seen office politics, up close but I am the person they talk to about it…because I’m not in their circle. I would have no relation to accounting, marketing etc… except to make computer problems go away.
Those meetings are a complete waste of time. I got so mad at the marketing director…I told him straight up…you use meetings to justify your job, don’t you? He didn’t like it…but it’s true. He told my boss…and my boss laughed and told me…I was completely right.
Yes! Just email me or a quick phone call…it’s that easy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The corporate world is not for the faint of heart! You showed this very well :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
No it isn’t, Freya. This was government workplace, but I think they are comparable. Thank you.
LikeLike