Most of the negative feedback I'd like to share revolves around the annual performance evaluation process, which forces the workforce into Stretch (20%), Target (70%) and Threshold (10%) categories. As a people leader, I was constantly fighting with Sr. Leadership to keep my staff from receiving a Threshold rating, just because Sr. Leadership needed to fill up the Threshold "bucket". Several years in a row, I was forced to rate certain of my direct reports as Threshold performers, even though I recommended them to receive Target or Stretch ratings. This system prevents employees from being fairly and accurately evaluated, and leaves employees feeling that, no matter how hard they work, the forced ranking system dictates your performance outcome, not your actual performance. Every Manager I knew felt the same way. This totally dysfunctional system breeds an excessive, unnecessary level of competition among colleagues, and others simply lose their desire to do a good job. For years, I thought ESI represented the culture of modern corporate America, and that any Fortune 100 company would likely hold similar values. Now that I'm working for another Fortune 100 company, I can say with confidence that ESI is the exception, and that there are still large American corporations willing to put employees first. ESI is a miserable place to work.
