Work & AmbitionEuphemism
Performance Review
per-FOR-muns rih-VYOOnoun
What it means
An annual ritual in which your manager reads aloud a document written about you, in the third person, months ago.
What it actually means
Here is a verdict you cannot appeal.
How it is used in a sentence
"We'll discuss your performance review ratings in the calibration meeting."
Filed under
Work & Ambition — Everything your employer calls a benefit and your therapist calls a symptom.
Euphemism — The phrase hides something specific. We decode it.
How are you coping
Related entries
Managing Up
Work & AmbitionMAN-uh-jing upnounEuphemism
The unpaid second job of translating your actual output into language your manager can repeat to theirs.
Real meaningDo your boss's job of understanding your job.
Employee Engagement
Work & Ambitionem-PLOY-ee en-GAYJ-muntnounEuphemism
A measurement of morale, taken repeatedly, without any commitment to act on the result.
Real meaningWe will survey you about this forever.