Bad news on
your performance review. Everyone performed the same but I’m required to rank
the group on a bell curve. I had to make up some flaws to move you down the
curve. Here’s a pen; sign it.
Dilbert
This
quote taken from a Dilbert comic strip, although amusing, is also unfortunately
true. Many large companies, including major banks, use the Bell Curve for
performance appraisals. Although considered by many to be an outdated HR
practice that undermines employee performance, it’s still in use today.
What is the Bell Curve? The
Bell Curve (also referred to as Normal Distribution) assumes that each group has an equal
number of high performers and low performers, and that most employees
fall into the average category.
Why should the Bell Curve
be abolished? Firstly, why should anyone be evaluated against a group? Each
person is an individual and should be evaluated individually.
Even when evaluating a group, the Bell Curve makes
ridiculous assumptions. What happens if your group has no low performers?
According to the Bell Curve, some of these average performers have to be rated “poor”.
What happens if you’re a high performer, but there are a limited number of high
performers permitted? You’ll get relegated to being average. The Bell Curve is
not only demoralizing but can impact an employee’s bonus which is frequently
tied to their performance review. And a poor performance review (even if
undeserved) can prevent an employee from moving to another position in the
company.
Let’s play fair! Performance
reviews should rate an employee’s performance as accurately as possible. It
should not limit the number of high
performers or lie about someone’s
performance to give them a poor review to satisfy the Bell Curve. Let’s have
all of these major corporations who are touting their splendid corporate cultures
and measures they’re taking to improve employee engagement, really make a
difference and abolish the Bell Curve in favour of fairness and honesty.
Your work has
been excellent all year. I’m rating you “poor” so I’ll have a paper trail in
case I ever need to fire you.
Dilbert
Make
someone smile today.
Geri
