I was in a place that decided to give out bonuses to my team (consisting of 3 members and a leader) in the following way:
1. Allocate fixed amount to give out per team
2. Have team leader's manager determine how that pie would be shared between team leader and us 3 team members.
3. NOT have 360° feedback
4. Incorporate team leader feedback on team's performance into this decision
I'm not sure what type of HR schmuck thought up that scheme. About a month after 'self evaluation', we were called into 1-1 meetings with the TL, who told us each separately how disappointing our performance had been, and the usual spiel about 'taking initiative' and 'stepping up' and 'moving to the next level'.
Shortly after that we found out the three of us had received 0% each of the pie allotted to our team as a bonus. And the team leader had waltzed away with ALL of it.
That's right: an allegedly disappointing team who'd failed to achieve any of its goals was compensated for by a super-human team leader who had somehow magically overcome all our shortcomings to over-achieve so much, that even the organisation-wide "curve" was left by the wayside to reward such awesomeness.
This kind of nonsense is why I became a consultant. I get my bonus every day now and I don't have to do any go through the "performance review theater" anymore. If they really have a problem with me then don't renew my contract. It's simple and honest, just how I like it.
1. Allocate fixed amount to give out per team
2. Have team leader's manager determine how that pie would be shared between team leader and us 3 team members.
3. NOT have 360° feedback
4. Incorporate team leader feedback on team's performance into this decision
I'm not sure what type of HR schmuck thought up that scheme. About a month after 'self evaluation', we were called into 1-1 meetings with the TL, who told us each separately how disappointing our performance had been, and the usual spiel about 'taking initiative' and 'stepping up' and 'moving to the next level'.
Shortly after that we found out the three of us had received 0% each of the pie allotted to our team as a bonus. And the team leader had waltzed away with ALL of it.
That's right: an allegedly disappointing team who'd failed to achieve any of its goals was compensated for by a super-human team leader who had somehow magically overcome all our shortcomings to over-achieve so much, that even the organisation-wide "curve" was left by the wayside to reward such awesomeness.