It is good to praise people for a job well done. Accomplishments should be applauded, and people that show total commitment to the task at hand deserve any recognition they receive.

“Please join me in wishing Debbie every success in the future as she transfers into our Consulting division at the end of this week” read the email.

“She has been instrumental to our success in the last 2 years and has never given less than 200% effort throughout her time as part of our team.”

In isolation this looks like a nice thing to say about someone who is leaving your team after working with you for a couple of years. However, when put it in the context of last weeks email about the success of Project X, then you realise it was a deliberate slight on the character of the remaining team members.

“I would like to congratulate the project team for the outstanding success of Project X. Each and every one of you has contributed 110% effort to bring about such a succesful outcome for the client. I congratulate you all.”

Clearly the Boss was actually calling the Project team a bunch of fucking work-shy slackers that are at least 90% short of Debbies level. I’m sure he is ruefully wondering what a team full of Debbies could have achieved.

All that said, and Debbies ego suitably stroked, Christ knows how she is going to react when I send out this afternoons memo thanking the temp we’ve had in for her 300% effort in looking after the post this week.

No tags