Set up by employer to fail?

[Twars]

I was placed on a performance plan, I agreed with most of it and genuinely tried hard to work to pass it. I’ve failed it. My issue with the employer is

• They extended the PIP by 7 weeks with zero acknowledgment. Manager was off sick for 4 weeks but not even HR acknowledged this.
• They tried to combat this issue I brought up by saying I had more time to show improvement.
• They never went through the plan with me and discussed the issues.
• Absolutely no feedback was provided at any point, and there were definitely no check ins or progress reports.

I’m not passing the buck, but I do think it’s been an unfair process. I genuinely thought I’d improved and feedback would have been vital in helping me understand areas they think I hadn’t improved on.

A lot of the time PIPs are there for the employer to prove they tried to help ypu before they fired you, its a legal tick box
Probably best to look for another job asap

I mean I am well aware that it’s just a route for them to go down to avoid an unfair dismissal.

But I do think they have to provide proof there were attempts to support you. And if they extended it and provided no feedback with zero communication then they haven’t been “fair” in their process.

The process should indeed be clear and fair.

• Clear, achievable, measurable targets
• A training/feedback/support program
• A fixed timeframe
• Consequences of failure to meet targets

If these weren't agreed and communicated to you, if promised training and 1-2-1s didn't happen, if there was no feedback until you were told you'd failed, the process wasn't fair.

Did you raise the lack of feedback/support at this stage? Or at any stage?

What was the outcome of failing the PIP? Formal warning? Dismissal? Regardless, assuming everything you've said is accurate, you should appeal the outcome of your PIP. Check your company handbook for info on how to do this. Speak to ACAS if the information isn't there.

Putting everything else aside, how long have you worked there for? If it's less than two years, you cannot make a claim for unfair dismissal in these circumstances.

You could raise a grievance, but you may want to consider whether its worth the hassle if you think they're looking to manage you out.

If you've been there longer than 2 years you're in a much stronger position.

People always get excited about pips but done properly there really useful @Kimura
summed it up
as for them disciplining you or even sacking there on thin ice as they haven’t followed there own process with reviews feedback and coaching

I’ve been and put people on pips
personally I worked well with my pip I was told clearly where I was falling short what I was expected to achieve and offered support it’s was regularly reviewed