Feeling Undervalued at Work: Navigating disappointment after your Appraisal Pay Review
It's that time of the year again—year-end bonuses, pay reviews, appraisals, and all those exciting discussions about your hard work paying off. But what if the outcome leaves you feeling less than thrilled?
You're not alone… feeling disappointed, undervalued, and maybe even a bit disrespected.
Here's a roadmap to navigate these emotions and turn disappointment into opportunity.
Book a chat with Your Manager:
Schedule a chat with your manager to discuss how you’re feeling. Here are some questions to guide your conversation:
Can you help me understand the reasoning behind the outcome of my review?
What specific expectations or achievements would warrant a salary increase?
If there isn’t budget for a salary increase, are there alternative forms of compensation we could explore, such as additional benefits or professional development opportunities?
Create a development plan and work extra hard to hopefully ‘earn’ your pay increase next year
After the feedback you receive from your manager. Pin point some areas for improvement and develop a plan to address them.
Keep a file on your computer with any positive feedback you receive from your manager or colleagues through the year. Keep a record of projects you are part of. All of this will help you prepare a case for why you deserve a pay rise at the close of the next financial year.
…with the risk of working super hard all year to be met with the same feedback next year that you still didn’t meet the threshold for a pay increase.
Consider Your Next Move:
Realistically, will things be different in 12 months time? If you’ve been feeling undervalued for a while, despite your efforts, maybe now is the time to explore other career options.
This is the time of year that a lot of people consider a career change, when they realise that their efforts are being under appreciated.
If you’re feeling unhappy in your job, now is a really good time to speak to a career coach, who can help you gain clarity on the value you have to offer the workplace, and help you see work options you may never have considered.
Your happiness and fulfillment at work matter. You're worthy of appreciation and recognition for your hard work. Don't settle for anything less! 💼✨
