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Do Annual Reviews Actually Improve Anything — or Just Tick HR Boxes?

There is a reasonable chance you have gone through at least one annual review at work. I have been through many. But here is the question — do these reviews actually mean anything? Do they help improve performance, or are they just another routine to tick boxes and satisfy HR policies? Most reviews require you to assess yourself across a range of vague criteria — productivity, communication, teamwork, leadership potential, customer service, and of course, the mysterious “exceeding expectations.” What does that even mean? If you are a delivery driver, do you exceed expectations by delivering parcels in half the expected time — at the risk of speeding or ignoring safety? If you are a nurse or doctor, do you exceed expectations by giving double the dose of medication?” That is the problem. These phrases sound impressive, but in reality, they are meaningless unless tied to something concrete and measurable. Isn’t it the job of the employer or manager to observe and assess what we have deli...
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Do Job Descriptions Still Mean Anything—or Are They Just Legal Disclaimers?

There was a time when job descriptions actually meant something. They were straightforward. They told you what the job was, what qualifications were required, and what kind of experience you needed to have. You would read it and know immediately whether you were a suitable candidate or not. Does that still happen today? Modern job descriptions seem to be filled with vague buzzwords and aspirational phrases that often say very little about the actual job. Instead of clear criteria, we now get a list of broad ideals like “cultural awareness,” “inclusivity,” “emotional intelligence,” “team player,” “lived experience,” and an ever-expanding glossary of identity-based preferences. Somewhere along the line, it feels like the actual skills and qualifications took a back seat. Of course, diversity and fairness matter in every workplace. Nobody is questioning that. But when job ads start sounding more like legal disclaimers or social manifestos than actual job descriptions, you cannot help but ...
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The Most Gorgeous Baby Ever?

Have you ever had a colleague who insists on showing photos of their children or grandchildren, whether you want to see them or not? You might be minding your own business or trying to get through your day, when suddenly your screen or your desk is hijacked by yet another baby photo. What follows is often a chorus of expected comments. “Oh my gosh, this is the most gorgeous baby ever.” “She is just beautiful.” And have you ever come across anyone in these situations saying otherwise? Of course not. Because saying anything less than enthusiastic is practically a workplace crime. Sure, it is lovely to see someone proud of their family. Sharing a photo or two now and then is perfectly fine. But when it becomes a daily routine or the highlight of every casual conversation, it starts to feel less like sharing and more like an invasion. Not everyone wants to spend ten minutes every day being part of someone else’s extended family album. The truth is, most people are too polite to say anythin...
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Is Taxing Super Balances Over 3 Million Really Fair?

The Australian Labor Party is planning to impose an additional tax on individuals with superannuation balances exceeding 3 million dollars. As expected, the usual populist narrative is to tax the so-called rich. The crowd cheers, the headlines roll in, and the message sounds simple — tax the bloody rich. But is it that simple? Let us be honest. The whole point of superannuation is to provide forced savings, so that everyone, regardless of income, can have a comfortable retirement. Now, I do not have 3 million in my super balance. Not even close. I will not even have one million when I retire. But I am glad that some Australians have actually planned for their future, followed the existing laws, and built a super balance that works for them. They did not steal. They did not cheat. They simply used the system — the same system available to everyone — to prepare for their retirement. So, why should they be punished? The most worrying part is the idea of taxing unrealized gains — something...
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Whose Lunch Time Is It, Anyway?

Have you ever asked a colleague or manager for a quick meeting or chat, only to hear, “How about lunch time?” No actual time, no real plan—just that vague phrase: “lunch time.” I usually snap back, “Whose lunch time? Mine is different from yours.” As you have guessed, that rarely goes down well. It is one of those office habits that makes no sense. Lunch time is not some universally agreed hour across the building. Some people eat at 11:30 am, others at 1:00 pm. Some do not eat at all. And yet, somehow, “lunch time” is tossed around like it is a real appointment. If someone genuinely wants to meet or talk, just say so—and give an actual time. Otherwise, it feels more like a brush-off than a plan. Worse still, when the meeting actually happens, it ends up eating into your break while the other person seems perfectly relaxed. In a work culture that talks endlessly about “work-life balance,” maybe we could start by respecting each other’s lunch hours. A simple “Let us meet at 12:15” or “H...
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How Was Your Weekend?

The whole “How was your weekend?” question in office settings has become more of a ritual than a genuine inquiry. On Friday, the expectations begin. “Got any plans for the weekend?” If you say, “Not really,” the look of confusion or mild pity from the other person is almost guaranteed. Apparently, if you are not skydiving, brunching, hiking, camping, attending a concert, taking a quick trip to the coast or flying interstate, something must be wrong with you. Then comes Monday. “Did you have a nice weekend?” “How was your weekend?” The same routine. Define “nice” or “good” in this context. For many of us, weekends are not about luxury or leisure. They are spent catching up on laundry, groceries, errands, and housework. If you are raising a family, weekends are often more exhausting than weekdays. Of course, there are colleagues who genuinely care and ask these questions with interest. But there are also those who ask just for the sake of asking, almost as if it is part of some unspoken ...
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Can Someone Explain What “Team Player” Actually Means?

These days, the word “team player” gets thrown around like confetti. It used to be “employee,” “staff member,” or something along those lines. Now, everything is “team.” You do not write “Hi All” anymore—it has to be “Hi Team.” Even that sounds a bit forced. I recently came across the definition of a team player as someone who cares more about helping the group succeed than about individual success. Really? Then who exactly is supposed to be doing the job? Let me get this straight. Everyone is part of a team. Each person in the team has a role. To fulfil that role, each person must be skilled and focused. That means developing, learning, and succeeding in that skill. But wait—if the idea is to stop focusing on personal success and just focus on others, how does the actual work get done? If everyone is busy helping someone else do their job, who is doing their own? It sounds good on paper—help each other, support the team, no one left behind. But in reality, this often translates into d...
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We Are All in This Together – Does It Mean Anything Anymore?

“We are all in this together.” It is supposed to sound encouraging, right? A show of unity. A reminder that no one is alone. But what does it really mean anymore? A quick Google search will take you to a song from High School Musical. That says a lot. A catchy tune, lots of smiles — and very little real-world application. Because in real life, this phrase is rarely used by someone actually sharing the load with you. Watch who says it. Nine out of ten times, it will be the person with the most power in the room. A senior manager. A boss. Someone who, frankly, is not in it the way you are. If you hear it in an office meeting, chances are, it is being used by someone who organized the meeting, not someone doing the heavy lifting. It often feels like a pre-emptive excuse. If things go wrong, well, “we were all in it together,” right? So no one can be blamed. And if things go well, the person who said it — usually without lifting a finger — will take the credit. That is not unity. That is c...
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Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years? — The Job Interview Question That Misses the Point

Yet another annoying job interview question. Honestly, it is none of your business. I am here for the job that is available now. Can we please focus on that? And even if you meant to say, “Where do you see yourself in this company in five years?” — well, for a start, I would need to actually get the job. Without even a guarantee of employment, you are asking me for a five-year life plan. We are strangers. We just met. If I do not get this job, we may never see each other again. So, discussing my long-term vision seems out of place. On the other hand, if answering this question is absolutely necessary to continue the interview or get the job, here it is: I would prefer to work in a place that is not toxic and where narcissists do not thrive.  I would like to be in an environment where a promotion or a reasonable pay rise is based on the abilities I have demonstrated — not on who I know, how loud I shout, or how many forms I fill in to justify my existence. I should not have to beg o...
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Tell Me About Yourself — The Interview Question That Makes No Sense

Tell me about yourself. Yet another idiotic job interview question. What exactly is the point of this? If you had taken even a passing glance at my CV, you would already know who I am, what I have done, and why I am sitting in front of you. Isn’t that what the CV is for? If you did not know me, how did I make it past the first cut and land this interview? The most annoying part? The question is not specific. It is vague and open-ended. For this very question, I once replied, “Did you go through my CV? There are a lot of things I can say about myself. Be specific. Everything pertinent to the job is in the CV. What else would you like to know?” As you can imagine, that did not go down well. If looks could kill… But honestly, if you are being interviewed by people who could not be bothered to read your CV before speaking to you, is that even an interview worth attending? This question gets thrown around like some golden opener, but it tells you more about the interviewer than it does abou...
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