It’s been over a month since the “PIP” exercise started. Has anyone on PIP been terminated? Trying to understand how it plays out. During the bi-weekly meetings, does supervisor give you hints that it is not headed in the right direction? Or do they just surprise you with a termination? Would like to hear from those with personal experience.
16 replies (most recent on top)
From the few replies directly addressing the question, it sounds like we are all being strung along to squeeze a couple more months out of us, and those lucky few with good supervisors that care about them might have a chance as the company hedges against wrongful termination suits. Not sure how others feel, this has been miserable for me, made worse I’m sure by a supervisor who has always thirsted for power and is enjoying crushing what little positive morale I have left.
@2cpj+16NI0lNA - thank you for sharing your personal experience. I am undergoing PIP and empathize with what you went through. One question - on the last day of pip when they asked you to resign or you would be fired, what was the difference between the 2 options? Did you resign or did you choose to be fired? It appears there were pros/cons to these options.
A clarification is needed:
It's not as though the Supervisor was specifically Trained for this current PIP function.
The Supervisor was identified previously (as late as last year) as being:
- Team-player
- Sycophant
- Sadist
So it is really not the Super's fault at all.
The true deciders, stated below, are the two levels above them.
These indeed did receive special training of additional non-native skills.
This is very expensive training by the way. Far-away dungeons and what-not.
I don't think you're a troll. Good luck!
Here's my advice: I was put on a PIP several years ago. I was in a very toxic work area. And I decided early on not to put my integrity and character at risk for the ranking game. I was doing some really good work at the company. Nobody really cares about your work. At the end of the day its all about your ranking and dividends. My PIP was very doable even though it increased my workload and one component required me to train other subordinates which should be a red flag to everyone: if you are NSI why would they make you train others if you are no good? To get a good feel about your supe's position on your progress I would do two things: be observant about their/others body language during your meetings and be observant on what they are not saying especially if you think you are accomplishing the tasks on the PIP and feel that appropriate feedback is warranted. During the very early days of my PIP I reached out to people who were mainly far out of my orbit to get their advise: 1) a refinery manager I knew from back in the day, 2) a senior advisor on major projects who was overseas, 3) a manager in a totally different department and 4) a colleague/friend with 20+ yrs with Mobil/Exxon. These were people who could be trusted, some I knew pretty well, some not so well. A majority of these folks said do not fight the PIP with management. By the way, I completed the PIP after 3 months with no deficiencies but on the very last day I met with HR and my supe and he said I did not complete this one particular task (a lie). I was given the option of being fired or resign. This is just my own experience.
Good-luck
The original poster is just a troll looking for insider information. Do not feed the troll.
I’ve worked for Exxonmobil 24 years. I was placed on a PIP and successfully completed it. I was placed in a new group and had no further issues. Never was told in the new group that I was in there were any problems with the support I was providing to the team. However they changed the ranking process in April and placed me in the bottom 8%. That was they way of forcing me to resign without having to pay me a Severance package. This was clearly a lay-off. I spoke with legal counsel and Exxonmobil covered there a– well so that I can’t come back and sue the company.
I am on PIP as well and honestly believe I was put there by my old group who had to make up the numbers. (Always been in the top tier with excellent pay raises till recently).
New group is working with me and seems to genuinely care about my success based on discussions and feedback. I continue to ask them (my manager and one above) about the integrity of the process and they continue to insist it is solely with them the decision on the outcome. Will see, especially considering the bigger lay-offs scenario emerging. At this point, I am optimistic clearly knowing I might be shown the door at the end of PIP.
Re comment below:
Understand HR & Law involvement, try and ensure Supervisor doesn’t expose the company. However the who actually makes the decision is unclear, my supervisor claims it is him, but from past experience of having to Pip somebody, I know it would have to at the very least include his supervisor, however I haven't seen that piece of the process written anywhere, nor have I seen it written that its 2 managers above - has anyone had that confirmed as fact?
“It's not up to the supervisor. The decision is made 2 managers above along with HR and Law.”
They have to pass some.. to show it’s is to help the employees. Frankly, with this forum, EM is on their toes already. Which is a blessing for employees in PIP. Cheers to Real Yammer
It's not up to the supervisor. The decision is made 2 managers above along with HR and Law.
Re: OP is a troll hunting for insider information. I believe OP. But so what if he is? There is no love lost for XOM, especially here, especially now. Secrecy has not served us well over the years. Let's shed some light on what's going on.
I completely understand OP. So far I’m getting indications it’s going well. I’m also finding that my supervisor’s manager is in the loop as well and is updated on my progress. I’m assuming they need to be onboard with the final decision too.
I still think it’s the PIP lottery. Those that decided to stay are either with a supervisor who doesn’t care or one that does. And then you could be in a group that too many took the PIP vs PIL. I know each PIP is supposed to be independent but I’m sure there is a target number that HR is looking to let go.
In the end though they need to keep some to say it was an independent process and everyone had a chance at proving they deserve to stay.
I think it would be best to just ask, be vulnerable and tell them you don’t want to feel deceived again and based on current progress what is their expectation. It’s in nobody’s best interest to not be straight forward with the PIP right now. Additional layoffs are coming but ideally they are independent of the PIPs - some might overlap but it would be very shady if all the PIPed people are gone with the “ work study”. Maybe even ask every other week , based on current progress will I pass? Each situation is different but managers should have the integrity to be honest.
OP here. I assure you I am no troll. I am on a PIP myself and quite anxious. There has been no negative feedback from my supervisor during PIP. But don’t know what to expect. Will they warn you or just surprise you with a termination? I was told I was doing well all year long and then surprised with NSI.
OP is a troll hunting for insider information.
still optimistic here, I hope I will make it