It's that time of the year....

It's that time of the year that many people come to dread. Evaluation time.

My boss asked everyone to email him a several page listing of our accomplishments for the year - presentations, conferences, papers, classes, patents, programs, etc. On top of that, the form is really tailored to the scientists and not to me, a technician. However, I was able to fill out quite a bit of the information, so it didn't look like I was a complete slacker. This is the first evaluation I've had with this group, so I wasn't sure what to expect, and I don't know how the evaluation is going to come out.

I work for one PhD in the branch. We have several PhD's, engineers and scientists/chemists. I know my boss has seen that my PhD's work output has increased since I've come on with the branch, which I hope is a good thing. My PhD has been pushing for a promotion for me, which would be my last promotion - but it would be a great one. I don't think I'll get it this year, but it's nice to know that he's pushing for it. I only expected this guy to be the one to give feedback to the boss about my job skills and work for the past year. Not so, it seems. I guess he asked for an evaluation from one or more of the others. I was sent a copy from another PhD, with 2 pages of him commending my work. It's a seriously glowing recommendation/commendation. I was floored when I read it.

Here's part of it: (with the name changed to protect the not so innocent)

"With somebody like Ms. Mystery observing and thinking about the miscellaneous problems that continually arise around here, I am much more confident that the even more complex problems which may arise in the future will have a brain trust in the Branch adequate for their solution, rather than a few isolated, overworked individuals. Everybody on this Base ought to be like her, oriented toward problem-solving and assistance, and to have her inquiring and interested attitude, and yet all too few actually are. The ones who actually do have these attributes should be encouraged to stay on and continue to grow.

Agatha Mystery is a highly skilled and able worker in an ever-more-specialized area, who is not afraid to take on the extra mental and physical efforts needed as the changing demands of the work cause her job to move into new and strange areas. She is a colleague in every sense of the word. I would strongly urge that she be given a Performance Review commensurate with her abilities, and in recognition of the extra efforts she puts out for the success and for the future of this Branch."


The statement "colleague in every sense of the word" just floored me. I consider that such a compliment from this guy. And he's not even the guy I work for. He's just another PhD that we have in the branch.

It made for an interesting day, to say the least.