A pig in a poke: Work related stress 4

After the difficulties of the last year, you decide a break is in order. Skye is one of the most beautiful places in this country. 1 week of hill walking, with no phone signal and no emails. Bliss!

I decided at that point that I should only keep people in my life if they positively contributed in some way. The people I decided to keep, are some of the best people I ever met.

When you get back to work, there is an email saying that because of the issues this year, with your workload increasing you have failed your appraisal. You have a meeting to discuss it. Attend in two days time and sign this form saying how much of a failure you are.

The meeting comes and you find yourself sitting opposite your accusers. They walk you through a plan that they want to follow. They ask you if you are sleeping well. You haven't really thought about that for a few months. Well sleep issues are nothing. One of them got up at 4am to do something. Imagine if you had a baby. You definitely wouldn't sleep then. Are you feeling stressed? Stress is nothing compared to what they have to deal with. Read this book. It will help you think clearer. All of it you ask? Meaning are there parts that are more useful. You could read the bloody index page if you wanted but it would be pointless. You could be world class they say. Still not sure what that means.

I think when people are wanting to criticise you, they change the way they think about you. Make up a story to make it seem like they are the good guy. If they make up a story then they can win the discussion that they have invented.

You are presented with a list of improvements you have to make:

• Be faster
• Be more accurate
• Communicate better with colleagues
• Communicate better with customers
• Take responsibility

The one thing you note is that none of these things are measurable. You are to have one meeting every 3 months till you achieve these targets.

After the meeting you think it would be much better to have a trade union rep in the meetings.

You go to your union rep and discuss the last year. How you have to take responsibility for group issues. Comments about job security, insults thrown, competitions in meetings.

Do you have to fill in anyone in the groups appraisal? Then you aren't responsible for them. You might mentor them but you are not responsible. As an employer you can't threaten someone's job security if they have a contract. Having competitions in these meetings is ridiculous and defies the point of the meeting.

I remember listening to some Simple Plan as I was leaving. This Song saved my life.