HELP - Pregnant and PIP'd

[MTBMummy]

Hi all,

I do hope this area gets some traffic as I'm in desperate need of some help.

I am currently pregnant (17 weeks) and I've just been given a PIP form to fill in for work.

I had my annual review a month ago and was marked satisfactory (no one gets above that because my boss doesn't believe anyone can exceed expectations) and he had a chat with me about rather than setting annual objectives (as I'll be missing 6 months of the year due to mat leave) that we set 4-6 week ones, I agreed as he's never had much of a clue about what I actually do and I thought this visibility would help him understand the difficulties of my role.

So I asked him for an electronic copy of the form, and it's labeled "Performance : PIP"

He's also recently sacked someone with (what I'm told) no notice, no reviews and no meetings with HR. I'm worried that this other person, who I know rather well, was also given a little form to fill in with short term objectives and has resulted in a method to get him out.

I have to return this form today, so I'm panicking! Please any advice would really be appreciated

No idea but giving you a friendly bump.

Does your boss know you are pregnant?

Does PIP stand for "performance improvement plan"?

If so, I suggest you return it to him saying "I think you've sent the wrong form - we agreed my performance was on target so I just need the form for documenting my objectives for the year"

Thanks CrackFox - Boss knows I am pregnant, I told him at 8 weeks due to previous miscarriages and time off work as a result. He's a temporary boss, my lovely normal boss in currently on Mat Leave

Hermione that's correct, have contacted him stating I will not fill in a PIP form as it's never been discussed that I was to be placed on a PIP, he claims he didn't know it was a PIP form - really?

He sounds awful but you've done the right thing in refusing to accept the form. Stand your ground - and maybe call HR yourself.

Yes, don't fill out the PIP form but ask for the correct one.

How can you sack someone with no notice, no reviews, and no HR?

I would talk to HR myself. (Although if I were going to my own HR, I wouldn't necessarily expect them to be very useful, going on past experience.)

I've got an appointment with HR this afternoon, so hopefully I will get some clarity on what's happening I wouldn't say HR are good, but they do tend to ensure the business keeps it's nose clean.

I don't know the full story on the guy that was sacked, only his version, and obviously rumors, which I pay little attention to, but from his point of view, there was no notice, no meetings, no warnings... It all seems a bit odd

How did it go, MTB?

Ebearhug not great, as far as HR are concerned anyone who didn't get "exceeds expectations" on their annual review is being PIP'd

So turns out my toe rag of a boss was lying to my face, I'm supposed to be in my weekly one 2 one with him now, but as always he's buggered off and ignored my request that we need to discuss this

The whole thing has me so upset, I've worked really hard, but will admit that during pregnancy I've not been at my best, but it's hard when you're being ill all day, and not sleeping due to back and hip pains. I just feel completely at a loss as to what to do. The stress is obviously getting to me, because I'm actually loosing weight during my second trimester, and I'm constantly tearful and snappy at home (which may just be the pregnancy hormones) but I will not let my boss see that he's brought me to tears.

Oh, we only get PIPs if you don't get at least "meets expectations" - you just get a normal development plan if you do meet expectations. (Well, I say that - you're meant to. I'm still waiting for my midyear goals...)

Did he say he was buggering off and cancel the meeting, or did he just go? That would get my hackles up. We have a manager who routinely turns up late for meetings with underlings, or cancels them with no notice - but he is always on time for meeting involving people senior to him, which proves he is quite capable of punctuality, just doesn't have any respect for other people's time. It's a form of bullying when it's like this.

I can be quite arsey at times, and tell people I expect them to be on time for meetings I organise, and have contacted some people afterwards to tell them I would like an apology, when they came in late with no excuse. I have done this with people senior to me, as well, as I think everyone's time deserves respect, regardless of their level. I may be a bit unreasonable about it at times, and also, I am not dealing with a pregnancy, so I'm not suggesting you follow my lead - just be aware that it can be about power and (lack of) respect for other people.

Perhaps you could mail him, so it's in writing, and say something like, "As you missed our 1-2-1 session on Friday, I'd like to rearrange this, as we need to discuss my PIP and what we should be doing next. shows as free in both our diaries, so I'd like to book this time." (You might have to just suggest a time if you can't see when he's free.) If he then ignores it, or responds and then cancels, or you have the meeting, and he doesn't handle it constructively, then consider taking it to HR.

But you are the most important person in this, so please take care of yourself and your baby. Go to the doctor if it's getting too bad - no one should be making you feel like this - and the people who do manage it are usually the ones least deserving of that much head space and emotional energy.