Put on PIP despite improvement

[AmpleOlive]

I’m almost a year in a new job which I got after a referral from a stakeholder I had previously worked very closely with. We have fixed appraisal cycles every six months, my first review was four months in and I received a Met Expectations rating.

However, I started to struggle after that first review as I was given more complex projects (and while still learning about the company). I was given a focus plan by my team lead (who is not my manager but also reports to my manager), with daily catch ups. Still struggling, my remit was revised to align with my current skills. After that I was told that my performance had greatly improved and the check ins were reduced to once weekly with no active check in of my daily schedule. However, the feedback was included in my review and I received a Did Not Meet. Which has automatically resulted in a 90-day PIP despite prior communication that I had already shown significant improvement.

I wasn’t surprised to receive the rating in all honesty, which was down to me not embracing vulnerability and asking for direction (at my level, you don’t get step by step instructions, you get the project goals). But the PIP to me feels like a tick box task just because of our performance review system. Even worse, my manager has also given me the option of a separation package of 12 weeks pay rather than go through the PIP. Which suggests me they want me out, but it’s odd that they would offer that since my tenure is only one year?

I really don’t want to leave, but I realise I need to brace myself for the worst. It would most likely take longer than 3 months to find another job in the current market, so I see no benefit to taking the severance without another job lined up. So I am considering going through the PIP while looking for another job simultaneously (as a plan B), or resigning before the end of the PIP if it is clear I won’t beat it.

Does this plan sound good, or what would you advise?

TLDR: put on PIP with option of separation package, should I go through with PIP or quit?

I think if they want you gone after a year, and with the struggles you describe, I’d accept it’s time to go before you’re pushed. I’d figure out which is the best option for you, is the severance offer only on the table now, or would it still be there a few weeks into PIP?

I would go if I were you OP. It doesn’t sound like they’re at all invested in turning things around.

I have until Wednesday to decide on the severance or PIP.

I live alone so am reluctant to quit immediately even with the money :(

Is the 12 weeks tax free and on top of any notice period?

That I don’t know. It was communicated verbally yesterday (Friday). I’m still in a daze with it all but I fully intend on getting full clarification.

It is generous considering I’m not legally entitled to any severance at all…

You are getting a clear signal here. Companies don’t usually offer severance unless they have to, so they really want you to leave.
PIPs are soul destroying for both the person on it and the manager. I would take the money and leave.

What’s your notice period?

I’d probably take the PIP and plan on leaving when you find a new role as that probably gives you more time.

But check the PiP and notice period
combined duration.

Am I reading correctly that the improvement you made was because your role was redefined?

So, taking data as an example, you were employed for data analysis, struggled, were switched to data entry, and therefore improved. But they needed someone to do data analysis, and you can't do it. Is that the sort of scenario we're looking at?

If so, I think I'd take the 12 week severance and find a job that is better suited to your skill set, because otherwise, you could find yourself out with 1 month's notice.

What is the timescale on the PIP?

Agree, you are out one way or the other - I would bite their hand off.

I was on a PIP as they clearly didn’t want to have to give me a pay out! It was pretty soul destroying as they clinged onto really minor stuff and was getting great feedback. I hung on for about 8 months before I was let go due to redundancy (and nothing to do with performance apparently!!). I would take the money now if I were you or try to negotiate a bit more if you can. It’s not good for the MH. I’ve got a new job now with a dept that understands my line of work and I’ve just passed probation with an exceeds expectation! The last manager had half my experience and has now had loads of complaints about her as it’s my manager that couldn’t do the job not me! Anyway good luck!

Purely off what you wrote in the OP I would suspect the following is the case:

• doing the complex work they gave you after first few months is what they expect you to be able to handle at your grade
• it became clear to them quickly you can’t perform at that but are ok at the less complex matters
• they gave you daily support but you still couldn’t deal with the complex stuff
• given the issues and management time suck they have left you with the less complex work to stabilise things and so at least some work is being done well
• you think this is a success, they think this is a holding pattern whilst they determine what to do with you - doing the less complex work only is probably not sustainable in your role
• The question I would ask yourself is it the above is correct can you quickly get to the position you can do the complex work competently without daily management as that is likely what they will be looking for.
• if you can and you are committed you may be able to get through the PIP
• if you don’t I would take the money. A PIP you won’t meet will be awful to go through. The settlement cash isn’t taxed so may work out better than 12 weeks.

Take the money, and sign on with a temp agency. There are always temp admin jobs going, so you have an income whilst looking for something suitable permanently

I would take the three months' pay - plus holiday buyout - and run. I cannot see this getting better for you. I know what you mean about being the sole earner - I am too - but you can always temp while you are job hunting because you do have a three month salary cushion and whatever you earn on the top can go straight into savings until you secure a permanent position. Good luck.

I think the first 30k of severance should be tax free so it should last longer than 3 months.

This is a late update but thank you all for your thoughts. It was a 12 week PIP.

After a lot of thought and listening to my gut, I decided to do the PIP. My rationale was that they could have simply let me go if they really wanted me out, though it may have given the impression that I wasn’t given an opportunity to improve. Also, this was a job I really wanted for so long, so I didn’t want to throw in the towel after all my hard work.

Now, after 12 long weeks, I’m happy to say that I survived the PIP and everything is going so much better. Whether this affects my promotion prospects in the future remains to be seen, but I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it. The main thing is that I’m still employed and am enjoying the work :)

So this is one PIP success story to share out there!

Glad it worked out.

For your own longer term job security and development it’s worth trying to keep up regular check ins.

Great to hear it worked out.

To be frank I would be surprised if you would be a promotion candidate any time soon. But memories fade.