How to survive a PIP?

[Getawaywithya]

Have you survived a PIP? How did you cope during it and after? I’m struggling with the what if I don’t survive it as I have children and I would have to sell my home. I really don’t feel I should be on one - usual new boss scenario when I was doing absolutely fine before they arrived. I can’t work out of the genuinely want me to succeed. I managed to negotiate extra time negotiating it but it is still very subjective ie do x, y and z but still up to my manager and leadership team if you’ve done enough! My colleague was going to be out on one too but he raised a grievance. Once that passed they’ve tapped him on the shoulder saying they want him gone with hardly any money (presumably to avoid paying out for redundancy as he’d been at the company a long time!). Business isn’t very good and many staff are being told to retire. I am applying for other roles and the last ones I got to final stage to I just got rejected so I feel I’m running out of time.

I think it’s really dependent on the PIP and the company/their intention behind it.

I haven’t been on one personally but have managed members of staff who I have placed on one. In every instance I’ve used it though it had been done with the intention of helping them improve and get “up to speed” with clearly defined goals, lots of support in place to help them achieve. It was a problem solving exercise and I genuinely wanted those people to succeed so all of the training, support, advice, mentoring etc was in place to give the best possible chance.

Unfortunately there are some employer’s who really just use it as a tick box exercise in managing someone out as having tried a PIP makes things easier for them if it ends up at tribunal down the line.

If the PIP is genuine then my advice would always be to engage with it thoroughly, ask for help/guidance, ask for clear instructions etc if possible and focus on putting your best foot forward. In a productive PIP scenario that is the best you can do and if I can see an employee trying to improve and engaging with/asking for the guidance needed I would always be prepared to provide anything needed. Sadly though if the PIP is being used as a tool to manage out, and is subjective for that reason, it can be impossible to “survive” it as the employer simply doesn’t want you to succeed.

I’m sorry OP it’s a tough one.

I was put on one by a dreadful ex manager who wanted me out.

I fought against anything not SMART and made sure I successfully completed it.

However, their manager was supportive of me so unless you feel someone is on your side, I'd look elsewhere as you rightly say it can be subjective.

Is it too late to raise a grievance? Did you sign anything agreeing to the PIP?

I had a terrible manager try to put me on one. I had a track record of excellent performance that I could evidence and that year had been one of my best, hitting all my targets and annual goals. I’d been promised a promotion to her grade so was fully expecting that at my review. She, on the other hand, had not had a great year and hadn’t hit her targets and had even pretty much plagiarised something of mine in attempt to meet one.
She tried to put me on PIP so I raised a grievance, hired a solicitor and scared the crap out of them. It was no win no fee with a solicitor who only dealt with employment law. They hadn’t followed their own company policies to the letter and she hadn’t been following any at all throughout her employment so all of that went in the grievance. A week after submitting it to HR my solicitor contacted them and suggested they pay me to go (I knew I couldn’t work with her or in a company that treated me like that). I’m pretty sure she got in a lot of trouble because before I left I saw HR communications to the whole company about how managers were supposed to follow policies, treat staff etc. all related to the points raised in my grievance.

Do you know if they’ve followed company policy? Have they any evidence that you’ve underperformed? Have you evidence that you haven’t?

I know it can be pretty terrifying. My MH took a dive and I was really unwell through the whole thing but having a solicitor deal with it was really helpful. Having money to live on whilst looking for jobs was also a help.

Hi I’ve not raised a grievance. Last person who did was shown the door before he could even complete his. I need to keep a
roof above my head for as long as
possible. Was going to leave it until I need to. I have good examples where my manager has back tracked on my performance slightly but any opportunity where my manager can magnify an issue which normally would not have been a big deal is still being done. I have not signed it but have replied to areas I don’t agree and it’s written up. My manager does on occasion start harassing behaviour but they have started being a little nicer to the team since my colleague put in his grievance so think HR is telling them to be careful. Do I have areas to improve - like everyone we all so but I’m not difficult or disruptive. My manager is not listening to understand as they don’t have any experience in my area but falls on deaf ears and they cannot relate to what I’m trying to say as they are new in.

im trying to keep my business focus as the shock has sunk in so I can be level headed about it. But I do panic and think what if! I am quite senior and I’ve not had issues until this new manager came on! Hence why think I’m being managed out.

I'd look for a new job as in my experience you are pros ably being managed out.