Regardless of where you work, your job has a process for performance reviews. It can be done every six months or yearly. There has been many occasions when an employee was shocked, angry, and confused when they received a negative evaluation and no raise. If this has happened to you, could your attitude be a factor? It is easy to blame others when things do not go as expected. How can you determine if your attitude is the reason for a low raise or no raise at all?
1) Do you complain when assigned to a different work area? If you answered yes, this is a huge problem. It is a fact that people do not like change. When you clock in to do a job, your employer has the right to tell you where to work. For example, if you are a nurse that is usually assigned to work section D, and your employer moves you to section F; work that section and keep your mouth shut. Screaming and venting does not hurt your supervisor, It only hurts you. If you are asked to do something extra, it is not a personal attack. This is a job and you are getting paid, so get to it.
2) Are you a team player? Do you work well with others? Or, do you complain when assigned to work with certain people? Are you willing to try new things? Are you nice to the new employees, or do you complain about them? It is easy to be critical of other people and how they do their job. Just because someone does something different from you, does not make it wrong. It is just different. How do you respond to your supervisor? Do you act like you know more than they do? Even if you are smarter than he or she, do not let them know it. Always seek feedback and be positive when working with others.
3) Do you have poor attendance? If you call in frequently, do not expect a raise. It causes your supervisor the pain of finding a replacement and incurs overtime. Are you frequently tardy? Once a shift is over, your coworkers want to leave. Do not be fooled into thinking that the number of times you stayed over and helped will save you,because it will not. It is the absenteeism and tardiness that is being recorded, not the number of extra shifts you worked.
4) Do you make valuable contributions to your job? Can the progress be measured? Do you have documentation to prove it? Make sure you take care of yourself in this instance. You will be very angry if your boss takes credit for your ideas. Inevitably, you will develop a bad attitude that will only hurt you.
5) Do you act like you don’t care? Do not ever act like you don’t care. Personal feelings should be kept out of the workplace. While at work, think of yourself as an actor or actress and put on a good show. Perform your job like it is the best thing that ever happened to you. Love that job, even if it sucks.
6) Talk to your supervisor. Ask for their input and apply the counsel. In life, constantly seek ways to improve. At the beginning of each workday, ask yourself, what can I do to make this day better than the day before? Put these few tips in practice. You may be pleasantly surprised by your next evaluation.