Never Make These 11 PIP Mistakes: Hidden Secrets to Surviving your PIP

Employees can survive a Performance Improvement Plan if they are proactive. This video covers 11 common mistakes that employees make in the performance improvement plan process and how to overcome those mistakes. This is practical advice for anyone facing a PIP or who could face a PIP in the near future.

A performance improvement plan is typically given to employees who receive an unsatisfactory performance evaluation. The plan usually covers 30-90 days and places expectations on the employee. However, employers can use these plans to cover over illegal discrimination or other illegal workplace acts. People who blow the whistle on their employers often are given PIPs so that the employer can document and justify a later termination. Whatever the reason for the PIP, employees need to be forewarned about what they can do to protect themselves.

These are practical tips for surviving the performance improvement plan process and ensuring that if there is any legal issue, an employee has generated evidence that can establish the unfairness of the PIP or the process. An employee can challenge a termination through a union or merit systems protection board, and can defend against illegal discrimination or retaliation using this evidence.

If you are facing a PIP, I wish you the best of luck. Many employees do not survive this process, and it is critical to begin fighting back from minute one.

For federal employees, the following detailed description of the PIP process is from OPM:

[susgra]

A PiP just documents your termination, to cover HR in court. It buys you time to search for a new job, but I've never seen anyone come back from it. They can twist your words and actions just to make their claim; you're basically betting against the house in Vegas. Sucks because I've had it happen to me because I saw the company doing something super shady. I've also seen where you get zero direction and are set up to fail, or where your boss just wants to put their own friend in your job; you don't stand a chance. You may suffer mental health, financial, relationship damage, self esteem issues, sleepless nights, and even physical health concerns. They couldn't care less. If you have the means to run your own biz, do it. That's the only way you're safe from being run out of your job, despite your very best efforts and commitment. There oughta be better laws to protect employees!

[randyriegel]

Nope I got a PIP once because my new manager was interfering with my software engineer job and not letting me get stuff done. Old boss gave me great reviews. If they think that way I don't want to work for them. I had a 2 month plan. After a month I got told I was being better. A week after that I landed a great job. Went to my manager told her "I only stayed to get paid until I could find another job." and gave her a 2 MINUTE notice and walked out.

[theprtillierypodcast]

Lol, just got a “Pre-Pip”. Already looking for another job. I’ll beat the PIP easily and leave anyway. Ironic for a company motto being “Employees First”, yet not even taking the time to understand why the employee may not be performing up to standard, even after having stellar performance marks until that point, and even making them aware of the personal reason for the temporary decline. Oh well, its like they always say- “People don’t leave bad jobs, they leave bad management”. ✌🏾

[jasondesignmedia]

I was forced to go through the PIP process and was dismissed, it absolutely destroyed my career and years of hard work. Do not fall for the improvement lies you will never improve enough, it is about gathering evidence to fire you. In my personal opinion, you have two options to get a job elsewhere and leave before you are sacked or find valid evidence to quit and claim constructive dismissal.

[User-zzyyxxvv]

I honestly never seen a PIP used in good faith. If you know your craft, don’t waste any more energy proving yourself to a company that doesn’t value you. If you are on a PIP, start looking or another job. Most companies use PIP for that exact reason - for you to get the hint and quit

[orome]

You forgot #1 mistake "assuming you shouldn't look for other jobs and leave your employer soon as possible". Even if you pass PIP, they will know that they can bully you into squeezing more work out of you (especially if this is a salary position), and will make your life living hell.

[mr.atheist]

(16:50) I got surprised by a PIP without the manager telling me. The lack of feeback and transparency made me angry. Now, I also surprised them a resignation. What comes around goes around.

[callmeishmaelk]

This gets really dicey when your at a company for 30 years, with a pension. They want you to leave...DO NOT LEAVE. force them to wheel you out of there with a generous severence package.

[roberttrask]

There is no surviving a Pip. Your mgt has decided to terminate you and are just doing the legal CYA as requested by the HR dept.
Why try to stay with people who want you gone? Use the time to find another job and say goodbye to these crumbs.

[NerdyPengin]

Today, I was told about being on a secret PIP. In the same tone when you call someone out for something they say that's very rude, and then they tell you "calm down, it was just a joke". We all know it isn't a joke.

I'm not taking it as a joke and I didn't even laugh. I continued being professional and am acting accordingly going forward. It's too fresh, being today, but I'm on this video, so that should tell you something.

[grazynawolska]

Thank you so much for this. I missed an urgent email from a boss while I was away sick. My inbox receives 1300 to 1500 emails a month. It's unmanageable but I am suddenly due to that 1 missed email "not doing my job". Upsetting. I am a documenting queen who does nearly double the workload of my predecessor. Your advice was greatly helpful on how to proceed with caution now. No PIP yet, but I'm preparing as if it was happening just so I am protected.

[hobgoblin]

Slide on 3:13 highlights a key truth in this process and Corporate America as a whole. HR is never on the employee's side. HR people may have a nice demeanor. You may think that nice guy/gal in HR is there to help you. They are not. Do not be fooled by their "niceness". HR works for Management. There only job is (A) to procure human capital when the company needs it (B) administer payroll and benefits and (C) throw you out when Management decides you are not needed or when they decide they don't want you. HR does nothing else. That fight between two employees - they may fire one of them and the other (person who did not get fired) may think they are great but they are not. They shit canned the other employee because he/she was a lawsuit waiting to happen and/or was not worth the revenue they were bringing in. HR IS NOT YOUR FRIEND, ADVOCATE, ETC. ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT!

[excellence_is_me]

My manager harassed me and put me in PIP... I have done all what you said in my email reply to manager copying HR DIRECTOR but guess what I am still on PIP and I am working one to most renounced non profit organization. I am.so disheartened by this and I have taken stress leave now... but I have to be back I have to be in PIP again... my manager is still working without any problems.. guess she has been appreciated of the abuse she did to me

[eriktaylor]

A PIP is basically your employer telling you they don’t like you there and they want you gone…but they want to get a paper trail going so it looks like they made the effort to work with you to improve. PIP’s are a dog and pony show. If you’re presented with one, your days are already numbered.

[bluebo]

PIP's are meant to mainly gather evidence to fire you down the road, especially when your boss does not like you as a worker or person. Get out before you have to check YES on the job application under Asked to Resign.

[jamestatler]

My sister is an HR manager and they had multiple cases of employees undergone a PIP who passed and kept thier jobs. Thier purpose of the PIP is to really fix what is wrong and to improve employees work performance. In other organizations maybe their purpose is different. The key is to look at the PIP details if the goals and expectations are reachable.

[asmitachatterjee]

This was very helpful. Thank you for putting this together.

[BoxingConceptX]

If you know your doing your job well and you think you can find a better one, than I would say just take that time and interview at other companies . Only stay on a PIP if there is a severance at the end of the tunel. Now if you know you messed up, or were not up to par. Than def focus on doing better . One because, trying to do better makes you better and 2 even if it doesn't work out atleast you gained more experience for your next role

[ssazerac]

PIP - Here is a set of tasks and goals you can't possibly complete or meet in the hope you get demoralized and quit.

[rishi]

I worked as a virtual employee for 2 years generated million dollar work promoted in less than a year my boss went on leave and manager changed... New manager put me on PIP in 3 months. I did not even work on any project with him in that duration still I was given improvement period of 30 days. Thankfully I got a 100% salary raise at a new org in 7 days. I think was purely racially motivated I guess. The description is very accurate.