I've been working on performance appraisals this week and discovered something amusing about our new appraisal system. When you're done, the system runs a spell check. I appreciate that--my brain and fingers get out of sync at times (often). Next, the system runs a "language check". That identifies words that could be considered offensive.
The system flagged words like "short", and "old", and "broad" and asked me to change them.
Are there really managers out there who would use those words in an insulting way in an official performance apparaisal??? Maybe something along the lines of, "The old, short broad still does great work"??? LOL!
I just can't imagine that. But then again, many, many things happen in the world that I don't understand. So I really shouldn't be surprised about a language safeguard being built into an appraisal system.
My dad probably wouldn't have been able to complete an appraisal using this system. His name sounded like "Rick," but started with a different letter. :)
PS - Just for the record, I used those words as follows: "short-staffed"; "old weapons"; and "broad range of duties". Nothing offensive.
hehe.. there are really many strange that is happening in this technological world we have nowadays..yeah like you i don't understand either:)
ReplyDeleteYour Ftaher named Wreck? hehhe..
http://www.traveloverme.com
another new blog of mine Ricky:) hope you can drop by:)
I will, but I get confused where I've been when someone has more than two blogs! :)
DeleteAh yes, the techy world is a strange place... kind of like how the iphone suggests words that are so far off from what you meant to type! haha! Was your father's name..... Pick? or Lick? ;) j/k!
ReplyDeleteHaha! Mr. Kim called me "licky" way back when. :)
DeleteToday autocorrect changed "posted" to "oates" in one of my messages...it looked like I was writing in a secret code.
LOL...yes i agree your dad would never get through the log in with his name! I haven't done the performance appraisal at my company yet..i started a new job in Sept.
ReplyDeleteBelated congratulations! How do you like it so far???
DeleteI'm surprised you're allowed to use words like "weapons". Shouldn't they be flagging that for potential crimes or acts of violence or something!? :)
ReplyDeletexo, Yi-chia
Always Maylee
Haha, yes, that should be a huge flag! Our museum security division had old guns destroyed--it was a complicated, bureaucratic process.
DeleteIt was definitely 'thinking' along the lines of old short broad, LOL! When I first got my new phone I accidentally added the Spanish dictionary and forgot about it, until all my texts got annoyingly autocorrected to weird words. :D
ReplyDeleteHaha, autocorrect errors are funny when it happens to others, but very annoying when it's me. :)
DeleteThank you for clarifying at the end. =)
ReplyDeleteI was wondering why you would describe someone's physical attributes in an appraisal system.
"John is short and is unable to reach the files on the top shelf. He is not an asset to the team."
"Rita is old and hard of hearing. As a result, we often have to repeat our lines and waste precious time."
"Marcus is broad and often gets stuck at the door, obstructing the flow of human traffic."
I do not know if I should applaud the person who came up with the system. He or she did give us a good laugh.
"Broad" was actually flagged as being potentially offensive for gender reasons. It is funny...but sad when I think that people actually use words like that in an offensive way. It's 2012!!!
DeleteMaaan. Now I'm reminded of the performance appraisals that I need to finish. You're lucky, there's a system that makes your life easier. I need to do about 6 or 7 - manually.
ReplyDeleteThe system is a real nag--it's constantly sending out reminders.
DeleteHahahah, awesome. That is just awesome.
ReplyDeleteNow that I know the system does this, I need to work "offensive" other words into the performance plans and appraisals. :)
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