My appraisal coming soon - can't be good because I was being so sick all the time - who can I put it to my boss?

[connyrabbit]

I have a boss who is very often absent and with who I don't get along much. In fact we don't know each other at all. She's not into babies and that sort of thing.

I am about to have an appraisal on the second part of last year, most of which is a blur as I was so sick from sept to december included, that every waking hour was about keeping the vomit in! (am now 7 months pregnant and a bit less sick, but still not over).

She has asked me to start by appraising myself. I HATE THAT!!

I know my work wasn't too good because I was being so sick all the time. Amazing I even turned up for work every day. I'd like to bring it up as an excuse, but I think it's not the sort of attitude that's appreciated. Bosses don't like excuses.

I don't know how to appraise myself under these circumstances, and I would like to explain why I am below expectations compared to my original objectives...

I just don't know what to do...? Any ideas anyone, please??

[flowerybeanbag]

Presumably she is fully aware of the issue anyway, no? In which case it's not something you need to raise as an 'excuse' as such.

Sept to Dec is 4 months, so you can focus on July and August, highlight your achievements then. I think you should genuinely appraise the quality of your work, your achievements etc, and at the end, there's usually a blank space to write stuff, put there that obviously you were very ill for a large portion of the time during the period being appraised, you feel you achieved as much as possible given those circumstances, are disappointed that you were not able to achieve more but are proud of contributing as much as you possibly could during that time.

I am interested that you hardly know your boss - what are you intending to do about that, and why is her not being into babies relevant? I would say improving your working relationship ought to be an objective. Not to be put on your appraisal form, but to be raised with her in the meeting.