Afraid of bosses imposing 'sky-high KPIs', employees proactively work... less

'KPI obsession' has become a hot topic discussed both online and in real life in the first days of the new year. Many people admit that they are afraid of having to set too high KPIs for the next year, so they proactively work less.

KPI (key performance indicator) is used by many organizations to evaluate work performance - Illustration: QUANG DINH

Applying KPI is clearly an important tool and indicator to help businesses manage and measure work efficiency and employee contributions.

Do it moderately, 'leave room' because KPI will increase next year anyway

"Honestly, I did average work last year, but when I saw the 2025 KPI, I was so overwhelmed and pressured that I lost my motivation to work," Trong Phuc (34 years old, living in Go Vap district, Ho Chi Minh City) opened the first meeting of the year with a complaint.

Phuc confided that there was a reason for him to say that. When the average in 2024 for the entire sales department ( medical supplies company) where he was working, it was around 2.7 billion VND/person. However, in 2025, the "ideal KPI level" set by the boss had skyrocketed to nearly 5 billion VND/person.

To achieve the KPI (nearly 5 billion VND) which is almost double the previous year, according to him, is very difficult. "If you want to achieve it, you will have to work day and night, using up all your luck in the year, just maybe," he lamented.

As a credit officer at a large bank in Ho Chi Minh City, Thuy Linh (living in Binh Thanh District) said she was not too surprised to learn that the KPI for 2025 was higher than that for 2024. The "trick" Linh shared was to just do enough, not wanting to receive the title of "outstanding sales person of the year".

"It's certain that next year's KPI will increase compared to the previous year. It's been the same for years, so I have to leave myself a way out. It's not stupid. I don't care if everyone laughs, I just do enough," Linh said frankly.

Relieve the pressure of applying KPIs to employees in many ways

Talking to Tuoi Tre Online , Mr. Quang Anh (owner of a garment business in Binh Chanh district, Ho Chi Minh City) admitted that he applied KPI for the new year based on the indexes of the previous year. The old year's numbers, combined with the expectations of the new year, are the reasons why KPI will increase.

"On the positive side, KPI helps motivate employees to strive more. I also understand that if KPIs are set too high, exceeding the threshold, it will be difficult and create pressure for employees," Quang Anh shared.

To resolve this, Mr. Quang Anh said that the new year's KPI level should only increase by a limit of 25% compared to the previous year.

In addition, businesses need to set KPI levels that exceed monthly, quarterly and annual thresholds, along with appropriate bonuses. "A not-too-high increase will motivate employees to make efforts. If you want them to be dedicated to their work, you must have bonuses that are commensurate with the results they bring," he said.

Ms. Kim Thi (manager of a chain of beauty salons in Ho Chi Minh City) believes that in order to have employees work hard, maintaining business stability is very important. In addition, it is necessary to create programs, activities, vacations... to help employees reduce KPI pressure, regenerate energy, and balance work, life and family.

According to Ms. Kim Thi, KPI is not simply a number of revenue and profit figures. To make employees more active in their work, KPI should be calculated more flexibly, based on contributions to innovation, creativity, and even new ways of doing things.

"This may not be effective right away. The numbers are too obvious, but I believe this type of KPI will create a more dynamic and fresh working space, and employees will be happier to go to work instead of just being stressed," she said.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/so-sep-ap-kpi-tren-troi-nhan-vien-chu-dong-lam-viec-it-lai-20250204174850465.htm