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Original poster

DH threatened with a PIP

32 replies

pip2025 · 10/04/2024 12:24

DH had a meeting with his manager and was threatened with a personal improvement plan if he doesn't improve his performance. His notice period is 3 months.

This came out after she asked him if he had been rejected for an internal role he applied for. He said no as while he had been rejected for one internal role, he hadn't been rejected from the other one he interviewed for as it happened last week.

His notice is 3 months so realistically how much time does he have before he is fired?! He has been unhappy in this role and has been searching for a new one.

OP posts:
Greyat · 10/04/2024 20:21

Presumably she wants to know if he got the internal role because if he did, he'll no longer be her problem and she won't need to do the PIP. Odd way to phrase it though.

Original poster
pip2025 · 11/04/2024 04:35

HundredMilesAnHour · 10/04/2024 20:14

I think applying for other internal roles so early in his employment there is a mistake. Many banks don't allow internal transfers if you have less than 2 years in your existing role. With good reason. He needs a valid reason why he wants to move or it will look like he's not committed or has zero self-awareness of his capabilities. Any other open roles will seek internal feedback so if his current manager has concerns about his performance, that will reflect badly on him and not do him any favours. Unless he's applying for very different roles where his lack of being proactive etc wouldn't be an issue (not sure roles like that even exist in banking to be frank!)1

Whilst AVP isn't senior, it's not super-junior either and the feedback is quite concerning for his level. Is this his first time working at AVP level? The PIP might be the best thing that happens to him as he will get some support and a clear escalation path if he continues to struggle. The question is whether this role and level of seniority is too much of a stretch for him and he would be better moving elsewhere, or if he's capable of pulling his finger out and taking ownership of his responsibilities and driving things (he sounds very passive by banking standards - you can get away with that at the very junior levels but he needs to start stepping up as a AVP).

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He does try to escalate things to his manager but he escalates things back to him and then says he isn't escalating...

OP posts:
thehousewiththesagegreensofa · 11/04/2024 05:03

I've worked with people on PIPs. With two, it led to remarkable transformations; one plodded along and started looking for other jobs and found one within 6 months or so of being put onto a PIP; another just didn't have what it took for the role (which probably should have been picked up at interview) and was managed out.
With the first one, the man just hadn't really understood what the role involved and there had been a bit of a breakdown in communication between him and his line manager. The man simply hadn't realised that the hints & tips provided by his manager were actually essential instructions on how to do the job. Nor had they fully appreciated that the really dull tasks given to them as the most junior member of the team were still essential and mattered both internally & to the clients.
The lady I worked with who was put on a PIP was just remarkable. She was told about the PIP on the Wednesday & given her objectives, took the Thursday & Friday off which we thought was the end of it but came in on the Monday and arranged meetings with all of those of us she worked with to understand the wider issues and continued to meet with us weekly. She not only resolved the issues which had led to the PIP but became really interested in various aspects of the role leading to some changes across how that role was performed and her becoming a team leader. She was put on the PIP 15 years ago. When the person who had put her on the PIP retired, he was replaced by an internal candidate with that person having also been involved in the original decision to put her on a PIP. This person has since moved companies twice and she has gone with him both times!

HundredMilesAnHour · 11/04/2024 20:56

pip2025 · 11/04/2024 04:35

He does try to escalate things to his manager but he escalates things back to him and then says he isn't escalating...

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That doesn't make sense. His manager can't "escalate back".

It sounds like his manager expects him to be proactively resolving the issues, or at least proposing solutions i.e. be more proactive. Has he ever heard the cliche "don't bring me problems, bring me solutions"? It's very apt in banking.

Original poster
pip2025 · 11/04/2024 20:58

HundredMilesAnHour · 11/04/2024 20:56

That doesn't make sense. His manager can't "escalate back".

It sounds like his manager expects him to be proactively resolving the issues, or at least proposing solutions i.e. be more proactive. Has he ever heard the cliche "don't bring me problems, bring me solutions"? It's very apt in banking.

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Another big problem is that a lot of the solutions need approval from higher management but somehow his manager also explodes when he sends emails to more senior members. So it's kinda like being caught being a rock and a hard place.

Also his manager is not interested in a lot of his solutions and she isn't interested in the details..I think another issue is that he was previously an avp managing a small team of analysts (another bank) and his previous manager wanted him to present the problems rather than solutions

OP posts:
HeadDeskHeadDesk · 11/04/2024 21:11

SevenSeasOfRhye · 10/04/2024 14:38

If he's been there less than two years he has few employment rights, but on the plus side, he has little to lose if he leaves. I'd suggest he starts looking externally as well as internally. You could argue the rights and wrongs of his situation till the cows come home, but ultimately it sounds as though he's just not a good fit.

I agree with this. He's better off leaving of his own volition now than waiting to be pushed, if he doesn't think it's going to get any better. If he's going to leave after little more than a year then it's better than he can control the narrative in future interviews than to have to admit that he was let go.

Original poster
pip2025 · 11/04/2024 21:43

HeadDeskHeadDesk · 11/04/2024 21:11

I agree with this. He's better off leaving of his own volition now than waiting to be pushed, if he doesn't think it's going to get any better. If he's going to leave after little more than a year then it's better than he can control the narrative in future interviews than to have to admit that he was let go.

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I guess I am just asking mumsnetters how much time do you think he has left based on anecdotes/experience

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