DF just called me, incredulous. Was told that despite being a top performer, she's not getting the highest rating because if she got that, they'd be forced to give her such a high bonus that they'd have to take money away from the other people in the group. So the answer was to lower her rating. DF is BIPOC. WOW. I feel like I just encountered institutional racism for the first time in my life. That story really brought it home. Dhs would NEVER in a million years have been told that.

I think it’s sexism as much as racism. A woman, irrespective of race, is told and expected to swallow it and be satisfied with the high praise. OTOH, a male BIPOC might just get the lowered rating without the backstory.
Well, one thing we know for sure is that a white man would have gotten the praise and the money. no way would money be taken from him to spread it around to lower performers.
ITA but I don’t know that it’s poor performers necessarily. Last year when managing a group (albeit a small one with nobody Doing exactly the same job), I gave everyone target equity and bonus comp because I didn’t think anyone performed below expectations and I would have had to give below target to some to give above to others, but I did hold salary increases flat or near flat for some in order to give bigger increases to others.
@Anonymous not poor performers, lower performers.
AA DH is in house counsel. A year ago he requested that HR give him a title (so he has grounds to request equitable compensation to his peers). They told him he can call himself "whatever he wants. His choice" They do this to no-one else in the department (all white). Sleuthing has revealed he's being paid 1/2 of his white peers despite having the largest workload in the department. A diversity committee was formed this year and one of the demands was that BIPOC be compensated relative to their peers (or else?). A little mouse told him he may receive a salary adjustment this year. In case anyone has questions, he's also an officer of the company, has received stellar reviews, awards, and is listed on the organizational chart right under the GC and in line with his fellow colleagues. He's looking to move, but replacing such jobs for black males is even more challenging.
omg. this stuff is so, so real. GL to him. It's crazy.
This is how it works. I was told the same last year and got screwed out of money