Something weird is going on …as a black person in the “corporate world”

[Sad Bunny]

Man I got promoted last year and got a relatively high rating, after one year of being at the company which is actually pretty rare. My boss whom i report to also got promoted and he was really the champion that led to me getting promoted last year. Whats effed is that the org. hired another Executive Managing Director above him who is based in London (were based in Toronto). As a result of that my Managing Directors opinion holds less weight.

This last year I was going through some personal stuff but really put in a lot of work and managed to still produce in my opinion. I didnt let the personal stuff affect my work at all.

HOWEVER, there were certain instances when it came to some of the less important aspects of the job (back office stuff) that I was a bit inconsistent in terms of the quality of the work. Just little clerical errors and shyt for instance. I wasnt perfect but I dont think I deserve to be given the lowest tier rating and damn near be put on an performance enhancement plan. But i think two of the directors told the Executive MD certain things that created a narrative around me and the work I have done...they clung to the narrative and used it as an excuse to shyt on me.

But thats just the breaks, you have to be extra exceptional/perfect as a black person. Plus you got to play the corporate game that much more - putting on a face to appease and make the 'folks' comfortable. Over the next two months I am really going to have to be on my Ps and Qs

Sorry to hear.

I think you should schedule a one on one meeting with your executive MD and basically let him know you’re willing to put in the work to get a higher rating and basically ask him what benchmarks you need to hit in order to achieve the rating and I would also point out that last year you received the highest rating so you’re not sure how things changed.

After that, see how it goes and if he still fukks you over then you know there’s some bias or racism or hatred at play.

And then you can decide what’s best for you and leave if you have to.

 

[Michael's Black Son]

You just now figuring that out

In order to thrive you have to be an exceptional negro and even that isn’t enough. You have to also build relationships with the right CAC.

Most black people in corporate are comfortable reaching a certain level and are content.

I was talking to a breh I work with today and flat out told him if you are straight, non c00n, have hair on your face, long hair/braids/locs, have sense of self and your voice doesn’t sound like Elmo then you have a target on you out of the gate.

And you have to accept that there’s a finite distance you can go in the company and it won’t take 5-10 years to realize it. By year 2 or 3 you’ll see mediocre CACs getting unnatural career pushes and promotions.

No way they are giving you a flawless performance review so you can become a manager and maybe hire more brehs/brehettes. They are content with abysmal diversity numbers because they pay it forward to each other as long as they get someone who reminds them of their nephew or is the daughter of their frat buddy from Ohio State.

The objective is to make sure they get the next generation of the middle class/middle America employed and in a position to do the same thing in 20 years. And something tells me a bunch of brehs don’t fit the idea they have in mind for it.

 

[Amerikan Melanin]

Need more brehs to start their own businesses and employ black people. Office needs to look like boomerang movie.

 

[Ohene]

Sorry to hear.

I think you should schedule a one on one meeting with your executive MD and basically let him know you’re willing to put in the work to get a higher rating and basically ask him what benchmarks you need to hit in order to achieve the rating and I would also point out that last year you received the highest rating so you’re not sure how things changed.

After that, see how it goes and if he still fukks you over then you know there’s some bias or racism or hatred at play.

And then you can decide what’s best for you and leave if you have to.

yes sir. appreciate the suggestions. he and I had a meeting and although I expressed I was shocked and felt it was unfair...i ultimately assured him that I wanted to leave the past year behind and focus on working with the directors on my team to turnaround my performance and be a better colleague /employee for the team

i also been planning to do the bolded

 

[Sad Bunny]

yes sir. appreciate the suggestions. he and I had a meeting and although I expressed I was shocked and felt it was unfair...i ultimately assured him that I wanted to leave the past year behind and focus on working with the directors on my team to turnaround my performance and be a better colleague /employee for the team

Good shyt. It’s worth a try. I hope things turn around breh

 

[Leasy]

It’s been happening to me this year but I don’t give a fukk I got credentials and experience. It’s been so bad even my HR person noticed it and he a gay white man.

 

[Primetime21]

#1 thing ive learned after 10 years in corporate america is to pick bosses, not companies, to work for.

Maybe in general but I'm in the same boat as OP and it has nothing to do with my direct manager, it came from the higher ups and impacted a number of folks. In my case performance was fine, just got screwed by the suits up top.

 

[Spence]

Time to start looking at other revenue streams breh. Your total salary really shouldn’t consist of just corporate work, because if you died tomorrow they will replace you before your body is even cold

 

[Leasy]

It’s been happening to me this year but I don’t give a fukk I got credentials and experience. It’s been so bad even my HR person noticed it and he a gay white man.

I been starting my online seller business this year as well with good results I might try and go full time grind with it to replace my job. I am just burnt out fareal fareal

 

[MoshpitMazi]

Same shyt happened with Me was expecting 10bands for my review but they fukkED me.

 

[Ethnic Vagina Finder]

I was talking to a breh I work with today and flat out told him if you are straight, non c00n, have hair on your face, long hair/braids/locs, have sense of self and your voice doesn’t sound like Elmo then you have a target on you out of the gate.

And you have to accept that there’s a finite distance you can go in the company and it won’t take 5-10 years to realize it. By year 2 or 3 you’ll see mediocre CACs getting unnatural career pushes and promotions.

No way they are giving you a flawless performance review so you can become a manager and maybe hire more brehs/brehettes. They are content with abysmal diversity numbers because they pay if forward to each other as long as they get someone who reminds them of their nephew or is the daughter of their frat buddy from Ohio State.

The objective is to make sure they get the next generation of the middle class/middle America employed and in a position to the same thing in 20 years. And something tells me a bunch of brehs fit the idea they have in mind for it.

U basically gotta be a will smith Rubik’s cube solving ass nikka…. Around the right person just to get noticed.



And even after that, you gotta deal with competition. And if you do rise, some companies expect you to solve another Rubik’s cubes, crossword puzzles and all types of other weird shyt.

I left a company from being burnt out. They pay was but I never felt any peace.

 

[WIA20XX]

How are things on yalls end? Are yall noticing anything similar?

I know my days are numbered. Not just for this gig, but for this career. Chat GPT is coming for me.

I need to pivot. I'm at the edge of employability - but I should be starting my own shop tbh.

 

[Chrishaune]

You should have had that job with the intention of mo key barring that bytch after 3 to 4 years. They don't want your ass in their long enough to get entrenched and begin to accumulate power favors resources.

And you have to accept that there’s a finite distance you can go in the company and it won’t take 5-10 years to realize it. By year 2 or 3 you’ll see mediocre CACs getting unnatural career pushes and promotions.

2 years at most of these places is too long. Have a plan to get somewhere else when you're going in.

 

[rlg]

Overemployment is the answer. The key is getting remote jobs that is out of state so you never have to worry about a return to office mandate.

 

[hood b. goode]