Being put on a PIP - advice please

[Eucalyptusdreams]

Have a new boss who wouldn’t say I have hit it off with. She’s v inexperienced and has been sending us down rabbit holes and literally not listening or trusting the team. They have been in the job 3 months and is putting me on a PIP (after 28 years in the business with a successful tracked record). Reasons is due to lack of alignment in goals, negative outlook of my team and lack on accountability. They are from US and me UK and this person has never managed global teams before. Anyone been in this situation and any advice you can give? I’m looking for other roles but may not be forthcoming quick enough. Some have full details of expectations yet! I’ve been in the role for just over 2 years and business is bad. Some staff have just been laid off!

I would assume it means they want you out and throw yourself into finding other roles! Sorry this is happening to you.

My advice whilst you're looking is to play the game.

A PIP is to improve performance (whether that's truly their end game or not) so ensure that meetings are arranged and attended where it is laid out in black and white where your performance is failing, what successful completion of said PIP looks like and ensure you accept any and all support / mentoring that is offered.

Three months doesn’t seem like very like very long to decide you need a PIP. Have you gone through more informal performance meetings and target setting? She’d have had to start almost on day 1 to be at this point already.

Check your company policy on performance management.

They want to get rid of you - possibly to avoid redundancy.

Play along and look for other jobs.

Ensure your PIP gets clearly defined goals and states what will constitute meeting those goals. But there won’t be much you can do.

PIP is only ever way to manage out imo. Start looking. Document everything.

It's pretty hard to implement a PIP, you need evidence, warnings etc and it doesn't sound like that process has been followed.

ACAS will be able to advise.

It isn't true that they're always a way to manage people out. I have used them to get rid of people who are underperforming, certainly, but more often than not, I really want the employee to improve and succeed. I take no pleasure in sacking people, and it's a hassle trying to recruit and train someone new, so it is much better for me if the person that we already have in post performs!

I do agree with a pp that 3 months in sounds premature to put you on a PIP, but the only advice I can give is to cooperate and do whatever the PIP sets out. You can look for another job in the meantime, if you're not happy, but you have very little to gain from arguing the toss about whether you should be on the PIP - just play along, make the right noises and do whatever they ask you to do (within reason!). If you do everything that they've asked for, they will have to take you off it. In the meantime, you can assess your options and next steps.

Is your manager in the same location as you?

Have your responsibilities changed as a result of a takeover or change of direction of the company? Do you know or suspect that anyone else in your team has been PIPped?

Have you discussed your PIP with HR? Was HR present when you were informed?

They will be documenting everything; you should do the same.

Play the game and follow the PIP to the letter.

Look for other jobs.

no new US manager! Previous manager laid off my boss and I was made head. My old manager left as felt her level should be higher. I’m UK with 12 years more experience! They have not managed global
teams. Redundancies happening at op
level!

HR was not present at the meeting. they were giving me heads up in mid year!

They want you gone….they can replace you more cheaply…..find another job