The Sydney Morning Herald
· collected 2026-10-08 · by Jonathan Rivett
Some time ago, my manager gave me glowing feedback in a formal check-in; there were no concerns raised at all.
asserted
manager → give → in
More recently, things have shifted – they got a lot more hands-on, started overriding decisions and stepping into my work tasks in ways that felt like I was being undermined, rather than supported.
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I → shift → ways
It got to a point where I genuinely questioned whether I was still needed in my own role, and asked my manager directly whether I was being pushed out.
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I → get → manager
They were defensive and said that was just their job as a manager.
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that → say → manager
At my most recent formal review I got a low rating that cited issues my manager never raised with me directly – no coaching conversations, no heads-up, nothing.
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manager → get → me
Is it normal for a rating like this to show up out of nowhere?
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rating → show → this
What am I entitled to ask for in terms of evidence or examples behind the rating?
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I → entitle → rating
I’m already worried about now having a target on my back.
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I → ’m → back
I think this is a really odd case, and so does Professor Denise Jepsen, whose opinion I sought after reading your question.
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I → think → question
She’s an organisational psychologist and works in the Macquarie University Department of Management.
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She → ’ → Management
“The golden rule for performance appraisal is ‘no surprises’, so this is not a good sign,” Jepsen said.
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Jepsen → say → appraisal
“I read in it that something has shifted for the manager.
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something → read → manager
Perhaps their KPIs have changed.
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KPIs → change → ?
Perhaps they are under threat, or maybe profits have turned to losses.
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profits → turn → losses
Businesses are doing it tough, and AI is just around every corner.
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AI → do → corner
But in this instance, it sure sounds like the manager is being pressured.”
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manager → sound → instance
She said that at the centre of most managers’ roles is a simple objective: to get work done through other people.
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work → say → people
If your manager does indeed have pressure coming from above, this essential goal can become distorted.
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goal → have → pressure
If they feel the work is no longer being done for some reason, they may feel it necessary – very possibly unfairly – to take out their frustration on you.
uncertain
it → feel → you
But have your work habits or performance changed?
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habits → change → ?
From everything you’ve said in our correspondence, it sounds like the answer is no.
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answer → say → correspondence
Could it be, then, that the manager is looking at your work in a different light?
uncertain
manager → look → light
To be clear, I’m not suggesting that you’re a bad worker who’s been getting away with it for years.
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who → suggest → years
But I do wonder whether it’s worth considering that the manager sees something now that, to quote Jepsen, “they hadn’t previously worried about.
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they → wonder → Jepsen
Or that did not matter in the past but does now”.
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that → matter → past
“The golden rule for performance appraisal is ‘no surprises’, so this is not a good sign.”Professor Denise Jepsen
The problem is, even if this is the case, it sounds like you have very little idea what exactly about your own performance justifies such a worry.
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what → sound → worry
It sounds like you’ve received feedback, but you can’t match the criticism with your work or behaviour.
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you → sound → work
So, should you ask for additional information?
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you → ask → information
“As part of the organisation, you are perfectly entitled to ask for more evidence for your low rating; that’s just simple procedural justice,” Professor Jepsen said.
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Jepsen → entitle → rating
“I’d caution about going in too heavy.
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I → caution → ?
It sounds like the manager, being defensive, was not comfortable with the recent changes.
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manager → sound → changes
Things do change in workplaces, and we sometimes have no idea what shape this change took until months or years later.
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change → change → shape
“So unless you have a particular reason not to, you could give them the benefit of the doubt and try to find out what is going on for them.”
Like Jepsen, I think something has shifted at the top of your organisation; whether it’s a new direction, harsher policy or startling set of numbers, it hasn’t filtered down to your level.
uncertain
it → have → level
It makes sense, then, that this dramatic change in attitude seems so out of the blue.
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change → make → blue
And I think you deserve an explanation.
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you → think → explanation
I agree with Jepsen that your manager probably finds themselves in a difficult, possibly even an alarming position.
uncertain
themselves → agree → position
But, to be frank, the abrupt move from sparkling praise to stern disapproval, preceded by no warning, is simply poor management.
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move → precede → warning
I hope you can get some clarification and that this helps to allay your fears.
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this → hope → fears
Nobody should feel undermined and targeted in their job.
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Nobody → feel → job
Get workplace news, advice and perspectives to help make your job work for you.
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job → get → you
…and 1 more, not listed.
The Aporia
