Late/back-handed feedback at evaluations

[Anonymous]

Can anyone tell me the propensity to pull this in evaluations? I've found that certain people are more comfortable mentioning sometimes insignificant- yet quite negative feedback at the written evaluation stage, though never mentioning it throughout the period/year. To me it's at a minimum cowardly and immature and at a maximum wholly unprofessional. It diminishes trust in leadership and the organization - at least for me, but I've seen it in multiple organizations, so it's almost as if I didn't get the memo that it's how one should behave as an evaluating manager.

This has certainly shaped my approach to evaluations as a manager, but I continue to be shocked that I continue to see it 15 years into working. Anyone able to shed any light on why this is a common practice?

[Anonymous]

Because it's easy to write it, hard to say it. It's the same reason I could call you a cockguzzler on this board but probably would feel uncomfortable saying that to you in person.

[Anonymous]

I think that's true but it's also that people aren't necessarily giving feedback continuously, but when the time comes to explain why some people are being rating highly and some people aren't you need some explanation. I agree a good manager will try to do that on an ongoing basis but...