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Navigating Performance Punishments in Workplaces

Apr 23, 2025

Performance Punishments: What They Are And How To Avoid Them

Introduction

  • Speaker: Niki Jorgensen, Director at Insperity's service operations
  • Focus: Understanding performance punishments, their implications, and how to avoid them in organizational settings.

Common Scenarios in Performance Reviews

  • Scenario 1:
    • Employee receives high praise in yearly reviews.
    • Not ready for a promotion but receives more responsibilities.
  • Scenario 2:
    • Employee struggles with core competencies.
    • Receives fewer responsibilities to focus on skill development.

Understanding Performance Punishments

  • Phenomenon: Top performers are given more work without additional compensation or title change, known as "quiet promotion."
  • Impact:
    • Increases stress levels.
    • Potentially harms productivity.
    • Could lead to increased turnover if top performers leave.

Strategies to Avoid Performance Punishments

1. Develop Skills Throughout the Year

  • Consistent Feedback: Regular feedback should prevent surprises during yearly reviews.
  • Continuous Development: Assign skills development activities and connect employees with learning resources.
  • Benefit: Keeps top performers engaged and helps lower performers improve.

2. Assign Work Fairly

  • Balance Workload: Avoid overburdening top performers; aim for equitable work distribution.
  • Team Collaboration: Pair top performers with those needing skill development.
    • Benefits: Allows for mentoring, skill-sharing, and balanced workload.

3. Communicate Expectations

  • Promotion Clarity: Ensure top performers know the path to promotion.
  • Open Culture: Encourage transparency about career ambitions and potential opportunities.
  • Managerial Role: Managers should offer leadership development opportunities and advocate for deserved promotions.

Conclusion

  • Manager Awareness: Recognize and prevent performance punishments to avoid employee alienation.
  • Organizational Growth: Through skill development, fair work distribution, and clear communication, promote individual and organizational success.