JEFF CAPLAN'S MY MINUTE OF NEWS
Jeff Caplan’s Minute of News: No more feedback at work!
Jun 7, 2024, 4:00 PM
An NYU study shows that people with volatile work schedules are more likely to have health concerns and experience burnout.(Canva)
(Canva)
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Editor’s note: This is an editorial piece. An editorial, like a news article, is based on fact but also shares opinions. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and are not associated with our newsroom.
SALT LAKE CITY — It used to be different. When I was just starting out in radio 40 years ago the big boss of my little radio station told me to cover his daughter’s high school band in some competition. And I forgot to do it. There was big news going on or something. But I forgot and was furious. Called me and my news director into his office. He did not offer us a seat.
He reamed us. A fresh-faced 21 year old I apologize, “Mr. Morris I’m sorry.” His face is beat red and he says, “I don’t blame you. I blame Bill here, for hiring an idiot like you.” I was shaking and all I could stammer was, “I’m really sorry sir.”
If this happened today, in 2024, you know what I’d do? Go straight to HR. But back then, HR stood for Ha. Really? But times change and now there’s a grievance procedure for abuse. Employees are to be respected, and it works. But I wonder if we’re going too far when the Wall Street Journal reports that you can’t give an employee feedback anymore.
No, in the HR world experts say the word Feedback scares people. Get an email from the boss that says “I’d like to give you some feedback” and your muscles tighten. Your heart pulses. You know what’s coming. And the answer they say is to use a different buzzword. Call it feedforward.
Feedforward, where you talk about performance and potential. In places where they do this, some workers complain these meetings become a praise festival for snowflakes.
And you know, I don’t remember a single lesson I ever learned from praise. But I still remember getting reamed 40 years ago. I never forgot a task after that. By the way, a few months later, that same evil big boss gave me a ticket to the World Series just to say “Good job.”
I remember that, too.
Jeff Caplan is the host of Jeff Caplan’s Afternoon News on KSL NewsRadio. Follow him on Facebook and X.
