The recent retrospectives I had were used against me in my yearly evaluation where it was pointed out that I "complain too much" and that it "looks bad". That's about it for my involvement in this process.
Gotta love how they bank all these complaints for withdrawal at your annual bonus review instead of addressing them with you quickly and privately like an adult.
I once forgot something and several weeks later it ended up on my quarterly review. No reminder that it needed to be done (and it still needed doing) except for that one quarterly complaint.
Eh, they are probably just focusing on what they can change. Changing managers is a hassle with a good chance of getting it wrong. I can clam up, say nothing, and work on other work during retro very easily.
That is normal management, dismissing it as "bad management" makes it sound as if it isn't widespread and that we shouldn't base our practices around working with such managers. Managers who don't penalize you for being negative are rare, even those who say they don't typically do it anyway.
Yet to see any of the methods applied in working conditions. Even the best intentions on "following processes" tend to lead nowhere or just become abused by misapplication.
What works is when people share goals and collaborate.