Okay so I work in one of those amazing tech companies where you have to submit 360 feedbacks every 6 months & will be PIPed etc. As here because unfortunately the programming related communities seem pretty inactive.
My former manager had putted me on a PIP before switching teams (first time ever in my 10 YOE). I somehow managed to survive that and now was asked to provide a 360 feedback for this old manager who PIPed me.
I didn’t bother to answer the request, but now the skip level of that manager reached out via Slack and wants my feedback because they’re having „additional calibration sessions“. He asked me to provide it via Slack „to save time“.
I asked ChatGPT to word it in corporate speak so it sounds diplomatic even though it’s like 70% „constructive feedback“, but I’m wondering if I have anything to gain from this.
Would you send the feedback? Is it weird that they want it via Slack when it takes like 2 minutes more to fill this out in Workday?
When dealing with children, the “oreo cookie” method works well - start with something nice, offer a “suggestion for improvement”, and then finish with something nice as well.
You’ll want to submit the politically correct version through official channels for traceability. After it’s submitted there, you can give a copy over slack. Don’t let anyone make any claims about what you supposedly said over slack dm. Leave a paper trail.
You’ve already been PIPed, so they have reason to look at you. Play nice and check the boxes; I would do the feedback even if the submission is entirely “yeah it was fine” level bs.
All of the above is playing it safe. Offer to provide additional feedback / “discussion” over a voice call as well, and ask what they’re looking for. If they’re building a case against your former manager, you can be honest.
If they just want “general” feedback, or they want it over text (“no time for a call”), or there are multiple people in the room, or the call is being recorded, then fall back to the politically correct version you already submitted.
Your nuclear button is to claim the PIP was retaliation for (something; you can make this up, just make it realistic), but you don’t press that button unless you’re about to be fired. It makes things extremely complicated.
I really hate office politics, but half of being promoted is knowing how to play this stupid game :(
Oreo cookie? That’s a shit sandwich!
Thanks a lot for the thoughtful comment. I did what you said and submitted the PC version via Slack and Workday and offered to provide additional input if needed via voice call but they said it’s not necessary.
So I’m sticking to the official version. No idea what’s gonna happen with the PIP, I wasn’t affected by the last round of layoffs but maybe it’s gonna happen now during performance review.
I also hate the office politics, but learned a lot about it from being PIPed and likely (?) surviving it.
Adding - triple check / proofread / rephrase the ai output. Assume the words may be used against you. If your manager is close with whomever reads the feedback, they could ask for “evidence” of any claims. You either need strong evidence, or to avoid any concrete claims. More vague more better / more defensible.