Excessive pressure from work - what to do?

[Taylor80]

I could really use some advice, i'm on totally unfamiliar ground.

I'm part of a very small team, there are 3 of us and our manager, but in a very large company. I'm 16 weeks pregnant (they are aware) and I was told this morning that all the members of my team (including my manager) are going to be put on a Performance Improvement Plan as we're not doing well enough.

I appreciate that i'm not being singled out however I have been feeling very anxious and stressed out at work as they are setting unrealistic targets, not providing the tools to do the job and then beating us with a stick to achieve them.

The stress is actually making me feel ill and I don't know what to do. Should I get a solicitor to send a strongly worded letter asking my employer to back off? Should I go to a doctor and ask them to sign me off temporarily?? I've got 5 months left until I go on Maternity leave and I fear it will be 5 months of unbearable pressure and stress.

The worst case scenario is that the go ahead with the plan, I can't keep up with it and I get laid off. I can't afford not to work and I really don't know what to do. Please help!!

Firstly, this is not the end of the world. Forget about solicitors for now. Nothing has happened that you warrants that reaction yet.

Secondly, you need to ask yourself the following questions and answer them very honestly.

1. Are you currently hitting your targets?

1. If not, what support/training have you been given to do this?

1. How have you been managed? Do you have regular reviews or your performance?

If you answer yes to the first question you should not be on s PIP. This is one of those occasions where a one-size fits all approach does not work. You have to look at each individuals performance against their targets.

If you answer no to any of the above you need to write a very brief, factual letter to you line manager stating what the situation is and what you need to happen to address the problem, whether that be more regular reviews, training, equipment or all of the above.

In my opinion everyone should be on some sort of improvement/development plan or what's the point in coming to work.

But if you work for a bank or other insitution that requires you to achieve sales targets often PIP comes out as a threat. Don't let them make a victim of you.

And I am speaking as someone who was threatened with a PIP because one of my team was underperforming. I had been in the role 3 weeks so his poor performance could not be attributed to me - but the process stated the line manager had to capability managed too if the staff member was not performing. Sometimes people forget to engage brain first...

Apologies for shocking typos

Just as an aside the fact you are pregnant is irrelevant and won't be taken into account when performance managing you, unless your pregnacy makes you unable to do your job in some way. But you've not indicated that in your OP.

You don't need a solicitor. And you won't be sacked. You are satisfied that you are not being singled out because of your pregnancy so discrimination isn't an issue.

If you feel you are performing well against your objectives and therefore a PIP is not justified, you can say so. If you agree that perhaps you are not performing as well as you might be against your objectives, but there are good reasons for that, training you've not been given, support not available or whatever, again, you can say so. Hopefully if there is something affecting your performance either internally (lack of training or whatever) or externally, you will have already made your manager aware.

Dismissing someone for poor performance takes ages anyway, going through PIPs, trying everything to improve the situation, then warnings, before dismissal is even an option. Even assuming the absolute worst that it gets to that, you are in a far better position than your colleagues. I would eat my hat if your employer sacked a pregnant woman for poor performance.

Thank you so much for your advice, it's really appreciated.

I (and my team members) have not been achieving targets as the company has not provided training, support, strategy etc.

I have written a strongly worded email to my manager, which i'm sure he'll escalate. I'm going to stick my heels in!!

Thanks again, you've made me feel much better.

A PIP can just mean doing things differently, not working an extra 20 hours a week.

It's literally "whats not working, what do we need to change?"

Put your efforts into working out how you think the job could be done better. Tell them what training, support and dire ction you need and why.