Did I Meet the Mark

November 2

I was looking through the set of job appraisal forms and did a quick assessment of myself. The self-assessment process would be followed by a sit-in one-to-one session with my boss. I made mental notes of why I rated myself the way I did and decided to have them written as I submit the set in next week.

How do we see ourselves in our efforts and contributions to the companies we work for? How do we rate our work performance? Up to par? Below expectation? Effective,or commendable or better still excellent? These are the common ratings of performance. Generally, mid year and year end are the two timelines for such exercises. Some working individuals would shiver at the thought of appraisal, some would get anxious and bracing for the worst they could think of, some could not even be bothered, some take it as it comes, some look forward to it as a form of check and balance, and some get excited because it's time to negotiate for increment and bonus (for those whose companies do not include contractual bonus into their salary package).

Some are extremely fortunate to work for companies that take the extra and conscientious efforts to ensure that employees' welfare are taken care of, including:

• Revising salary package as and when needed to ensure that employees are paid at market rates;


• Ex-gratia (for companies that are able to reward their employees thanks to high revenues and nett profits);


• Providing higher rate for EPF contribution and retirement benefit;


• Revising rates for mileage claims and travelling allowance;


• Higher number of annual leave;


• Replacement leave for public holidays that fall on saturdays;


• Medical coverage (out-patient treatments) for immediate family members without maximum cap, and a fixed maximum amount for surgical procedures & hospitalisation determined by salary grade;


• Life and personal accident insurance;


• Dental and eye care;


• Transportation for staffs working on shifts, and finishing late at night;


• Subsidised handphone allowance for employees who are required to use it out of office;


• Subsidised parking in premises with independent car park operators;


• Safety of vehicles in car park, especially if company owns the premise, or part of the premise;


• Subsidised food and drinks in office cafeteria, or beverages (including soft drinks and energy drinks) and light snacks (eg biscuits & cookies) in office. This is extremely considerate and kind of employers as recent rise in cost of living has taken its toll on the mid and lower income groups);


• Annual dinners and trips;


• Tokens for zero medical leave on quarterly basis;


• Payback for unutilised leave due to work commitments (especially for employees whose scope of work and responsibilities do not enable him / her to utilise all entitled leave; whose annual entitlement exceeds 24 days, excluding the number of days carried forward from the year before!);
  
• ESOS, by default for employees who has completed the first year of service (eg five units to be exercised within a stipulated time). Just to name a few (haha..)

These make up only one aspect of working, having caring employers and your welfare taken care of. Some of us are working for companies that have not been able to provide all these due to many reasons, including lower revenue stream. Do we tell our employers that since they are unable to provide all these benefits, therefore we call it quits? Which is more important? Good salary package and employee benefits? Good career paths? Good employers? Positive, warm and politics-free working environment? Good corporate culture? Team-work driven? KPIs driven? Is each more important than the others? Some may carry more weightage than others, depending on our personal work expectations and priorities.

The question is what are your expectation and priorities? These are up to each of us to define. How good and bad a working place is sometimes how internalised one is with the company setup and culture. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. There must be a sense a belonging, which some of us struggle with as we move about switching jobs and career at some points of our working life. What does it take for us to give our 100 percent commitment and dedication? We are afterall humans, of the flesh, and are susceptible to the ups and downs of life and surroundings, emotions and state of mind. Sometimes we get affected by some idiotic and insensitive people in office, sometimes we get a***holes that constantly make life hellish. Occasionally we get fickled-minded and ego-inflated individuals. Then can you give your 100 percent?

Well, for me, it's .....for you to find out :P and I am keeping my fingers crossed for my session of 'did i meet the mark'.