My company is one of those “nobody ever gets a 5” and “once every 32 years you'll see someone get a 4.” So basically you get a 3 if you're doing fine or a 2 if you are underperforming. Why not just make the scale 1-3 then?
Best part is that a 5 only get a 0.5% additional yearly increase. The unachievable, incredible review is another half percent? Excuse me while I laugh uncontrollably.
They mean nothing for promotions since even a 2 can get promoted if the boss sends them through. They mean nothing for professional growth either since all of the feedback is empty words. It's almost like they're justifying peoples' jobs in HR. What a waste.