New Delhi, May 5 -- A decade ago, appraisal day meant a face-to-face with the boss, a sealed envelope with your name on it, and a quiet corner to process the numbers inside. You'd do the mental math, adjust your expression, and return to your desk-grinning inside or gritting your teeth.

Today, it's all digital. Appraisal letters land in your inbox, and a discreet peek at your screen is all it takes. But one thing hasn't changed: the sinking feeling when the numbers just don't add up.

Top rating? Check. Extra effort? Check. So why doesn't your pay reflect it?

In this post, Mark My Worth decodes the math (and the mystery) behind shrinking increments-even when the performance rating looks stellar.

Some of the most manpower-intensive sect...