I Am New (yes... starting anew that is)

Got the outcome of my appraisal yesterday. Was placed in Band D, the worse band... so no further increment or performance bonus for this year. The reason given - I am still new in the Board.

Actually after the talk given by CE last Thursday... I walked away feeling baffled with what I heard. He was telling us not to be dishearten because there are good officers being put into Band D when the officers of the same cohort are ranked in order. The hidden message that I hear is of course the Board is trying hard not to differ too much from the fixed percentage they have set for each band and hence some officers have been sacrificed in the process. The ranking is tied to the increment and bonus... so are they trying to tell us that "sorry you did well but since you are in Band D, we can't recognise your efforts duly... so just too bad".

Having spoken to my direct boss... all she could say was that it was because I am new (hello I have been with the Board for more than a year), definitely not because I am not performing up to standard and won't be in the lowest band come next year. She wants me to continue the way I have been working (well that is provided if I am still with the Board) and not feel upset over this. Told her that I would like to know what are the factors the Board takes into consideration when they decide who in which band... she obviously ain't too sure about it herself and so far the Board has kept mum about it as well. I doubt that she will get back to me with anything concrete even though as a staff I feel that I have the right to know in order to justify my "death".

Oh well despite feeling crappy about what I have heard (definitely not feeling sorry for myself)... am taking it well. Maybe because the amount involved is just a token sum... it was either NIL, $10, $20, $30 or $40 max. God... I am so out of here!!!

Daddy got an increment of close to 10% and 1.2 months bonus though... good for him. Mummy has no luck where money is concerned... I think I have resigned myself to fate... but still I am so out of here!!!