My Summer Bonus Evaluation: Finding Joy in an E-Grade. I Am the Barrier Standing in the Way of My Depressed Boss.
How are you doing? This is Jun Hiromura of Hiromura-gura.
Have you received your summer bonus this year? As a company employee, I am grateful to say that I was able to receive mine. Thank you, company.
At our company, winter bonuses are paid at a flat rate, but summer bonuses are based on performance evaluations. The internal evaluation scale has six levels: S, A, B, C, D, and E. As for my evaluation, I was the only person in the company to receive an E. Furthermore, there were zero people who received a D. It was a surprisingly low, bottom-of-the-barrel rating. At first, I was angry, wondering why I kept working so hard without being evaluated for it. However, since I had declared at the beginning of the fiscal year that I would let go of my boss's evaluation, I was able to rethink it as a natural result. What I should be happy about is not a D, but an E, which is just one point away. It is an 'EXCELLENT' E, chosen for only 2.8% of the company. Once I realized that, I suddenly felt happy and was able to laugh from the bottom of my heart. This evaluation proved that I am a 'transcendent' being among the employees.
The reason I was able to see things with this reverse perspective is that I know the world outside the company. Another reason is that my industrial physician once described me as an 'artist' who cannot be understood by ordinary people.
As proof of that, I was once chosen as one of four representatives out of 71,000 people. I even became the model for the protagonist of an educational manga. This was an event I felt very proud of. I already know that if someone finds me, I have the potential to shine. It's just that there is no one in the company right now who understands that value.
People often tell me, 'If you're dissatisfied, why don't you just quit?' I also have to make a living to eat, and there are things I have wanted to achieve within the group company since I joined. Also, there is still a lot I can learn at my current company, so I have decided to stay here until I retire.
The other day, at a self-discovery seminar where an acquaintance was a lecturer, I was asked, 'What is an average score? Aren't you feeling safe just by being above average?' These words startled me. I wanted to be a transcendent person, so I realized that with this bonus evaluation, I had already fulfilled my wish. It doesn't matter which one is seen as higher. I am happy to realize that I have proven that I am different from others.
My direct supervisor asked me to respond to the company's demands quickly and raise my evaluation! He said, 'There is no boss who wants to lower their subordinate's evaluation!' Since goal setting is part of subordinate development for a boss, I felt a little sorry for him, thinking that I must be nothing but a barrier to him, as I am drastically lowering those evaluation points. However, watching how he assigns work, I also feel that he does not trust me. I am free under a boss who does not want me to achieve my goals.
It is true that my bonus might be the lowest in the company, but if I think of the difference as a donation to the people who contributed to the company, saying 'Thank you for working hard until we became profitable!', I feel refreshed. Thankfully, I haven't been fired, I am still on the books as an employee, and I am truly happy that I can even receive a bonus. I realized this by writing this article, so I am experiencing firsthand that output is important.
What I wanted to convey is that the environment you are in now is only a part of things, not everything. If you take one step outside, there are people who need your abilities. I will go beyond the barriers to find and discover the people who will polish me.
Just a little explanation so there is no misunderstanding.
Bonus evaluations are based on the company's goal achievement, so I understand that those who have properly completed the work they are focused on receive good evaluations. Why does this gap occur? It seems that my interpretation of the company philosophy and my boss's way of thinking are at slightly different angles. Last fiscal year, I may not have contributed to the profits needed to keep the company going, but I am always acting with the next three to five years in mind. I will keep running to seize that opportunity.
By the way, my personnel evaluation consists of five items where 3 is the standard; I have four 4s and one 3. That is above the standard score. (The distribution table is not disclosed, so I don't know the relative evaluation of whether I am excellent.) Just sending a PDF with a two or three-line evaluation comment. Bosses are busy creatures. Aren't they just doing too much?
It has become a longer post than usual.
Thank you for reading my thoughts to the end.
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Jun Hiromura's Thoughts
I want to contribute to a society where everyone can live easily!
Because,
I realized that I had been
feeling a sense of difficulty in living
for a long time without knowing it.
Since learning and knowing that
contributing to people and society
is a life that feels happy,
I have been practicing it every day.
On note,
I will share hints to reduce barriers for people and towns,
as well as my daily realizations!
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If you are looking for someone to give a lecture on environmental and mental barrier-free practices at companies, accommodations, schools, etc., or on utilizing volunteer activities for organizational and mindset restructuring, please contact me via DM 😌✨
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Thank you for reading
to the end!
Your 'likes' are my encouragement!