Oracle

It's a good company for freshers and also for the person who is not bothered about their pay hike.

There is no exact schedule for the appraisal cycle. Initially, appraisals used to happen twice a year. Then, they changed it to once a year, i.e., a June to May cycle.

Even for the June to May cycle, the appraisal process, like review meetings, keeps on going until June or July. The results of the same may come anytime. For example, I got a hike once in November, once in January of the next year, and once in July.

So, they can give you a hike five to seven months late and that too without paying you arrears.

From May each year, employees are not given any information about hikes, like when they will happen. So, for five to seven months in a year, employees are left wondering whether the hike will happen or not this year.

And yes, the company does not even inform the employee in case a hike is not going to be considered for all employees in a particular year. It is only after six to seven months that they come and wish to inform employees that a hike won't happen. The reason is – "It's a higher management decision."

Moreover, the appraisal process is not at all transparent. An employee's manager can give any rating, even after the final meeting with the employee, to that particular employee. They say they have the right to do adjustments. The final rating is informed to the employee after five to seven months.

In other companies, whatever the ratings are, whether an employee agrees or not, at least the ratings are given and conveyed to the employee during appraisal meetings. Here, it is only conveyed to the employee while giving the hike, i.e., after five to seven months.

Two pieces of advice:

1. Make the appraisal process very transparent.
2. Set a proper appraisal cycle. Pay hikes to employees on time. In case there is going to be any delay in paying the hikes, inform the employees and pay with arrears.