[qovt]

A company cannot fire you just like that. It should to motivate its decision. Setting goals and evaluating them is an HR way to artificially build a case against people the company wants to fire. That's the primary goal.

It's common that managers receive instructions: one good evaluation, one bad (even if no-one deserves it), and all the rest ok/average.

Usage of this can be broader. For example only the "good" evaluation might be eligible for a raise.

As long as your goals are broad and evasive, you're safe. When they starts to be precise, that's the alarm signal.

[jxf]

> A company cannot fire you just like that.

In most of the US, they absolutely can: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At-will_employment

[danjac]

There's reasons beyond just legality. If you are in a company which has a culture of firing people at any moment for no (obvious)reason, you're going to see high turnover and low morale as nobody wants to work with an axe over their heads, particularly in an industry where it's hard to replace people.

[jxf]

Sure, but that doesn't mean that any one person is protected from, say, a capricious and arbitrary manager — and it's absolutely legal.

In any case, saying "a company cannot fire you just like that" is patently false in jurisdictions with at-will employment, which is what I was pointing out in the OP's comment.

[ojbyrne]

“As long as the reason is not illegal (e.g. firing because of the employee's race, religion or sexuality.)”

While the odds of someone sueing a company for that are very high, the costs are also extremely high. Companies do extensive performance evaluations, performance improvement plans etc, to minimize the potential for wrongful dismissal lawsuits.

[yawnxyz]

in Georgia they can just fire you for whatever or for no reasons! It's called "at will employment" here. It also means people can quit for whatever or no reasons without much paperwork

[wing-_-nuts]

I seriously doubt someone NOT in an at will state CAN'T quit a job as they please, otherwise it would be indentured servitude. I think the whole 'two way street' thing is corporate spin for a system that exclusively benefits them.

[xtracto]

Right, here in Mexico theres no "at will " employment (company has to pay 3 month salary when they fire someone) and any employee can quit on a whim. Otherwise it would be a type of slavery. I love Mexican worker laws

[mgsk]

Likewise California.