How would you deal with a PIP? Any tips? Any strategies that can ensure a positive outcome? Just don't tell me to quit, please. I understand that the chances are stacked against me but I can't afford to just walk away at this point for personal reasons I don't want to get into.
21 replies (most recent on top)
Well, do what it takes to keep the job. Once over, then start looking, and leave!
Honeywell has taken PIP to level, that there should be class action law suit. If they don't want to give you a raise, then don't. Explain, you fell into 0% bucket. But why put the employee through emotional stress. Thus lawsuit is warranted.
I was PIP'd by a gutless manager who saw me as a prime target since I was the newest engineer in his group, and also one of the highest paid. One of the "documented" reasons for the PIP happened months before the midyear review, and it didn't come up at all... actually midyear was very positive. For a couple of months afterward, the senior manager (who obviously signed off on the PIP) wouldn't even look me in the eye when we passed in the hall. The PIP "recovery plan" was trivial and a slam dunk, and the first-line manager even blew off a few of our meetings to gauge my "progress." That made it clear to me that the PIP was a quota scheme and it was my turn in the barrel. The same manager who PIPd me even gave me two decent cash Bravos within months of completing my "remedial" work. What a joke - but a demoralizing joke.
I had been with Honeywell for about 20 years when we received a new manager who had previously worked in the department. Reviews came up only a month into her regime and I was put on on a PIP for my production numbers. It was a complete shock to me as well as the rest of the department since I had never had any problems in the past. Apparently, she had no idea what all I had to do. After our 1st meeting, I began documenting all of my extra duties and how much time was required to perform them. At our second meeting, I presented her with the results. At the 3rd meeting I again presented her with more results and she closed out the PIP.
After that I had no further problems with her and she would even seek out my advice.
PIP? PFFFFFT! Wait until you've been re-Pipped a few times.
Bend over and spell the word run
Being on PIP was easier than how much work I was doing prior to it. Just perform to the required tasks and goals.
Immediately update your resume and start looking for work at other companies while you’re in this break period.
PIP affects the remainder of your career there. There’s no option but to leave.
Fake Slap mgr on stage at townhall.
Worked for Will.
Almost everyone that was put on a PIP either got riffed or quit, the ones that stay get a PIP in the future because those in charge now see who is willing to stay even after a PIP, leave to a better company and watch your stress drop substantially, you’ll wish you’d done it sooner
Its the beginning of the end fot you. The scarlet letter of the workplace. No raise this year or next, possibly ever. I stayed, but they destroyed a once attentive/motivated employee. I really don’t give a rats a$$, about the place since that PIP. I actually resigned that day, but was told by manager it was just ‘my time in the barrel’, so I stayed. Completing the PIP was easy since it was cr-p anyway. I did nothing different for next 3 months, continued to get kudos from customers. I even escalated to HR VP, and they are of no help, and there was not a single part of the PIP write-up that they could substantiate. You are marked, it’s permanent, if more than a few years remaining, look elsewhere. It will remain part of your permanent record, which is a shame, because it’s really a manager’s budgeting tool to stretch an inadequate raise budget. The byproduct is a totally unmotivated staff. Honeywell really got their moneys worth out of that…..what a bunch of a$$hats.
Don't think of a PIP as a period where you have to demonstrate better performance, but rather a game of reassigning accountability back to your boss and documenting it all. Document everything. Save anything that shows you are meeting the targets and actions required of you in the PIP, even they are hollow. Make a superficial attempt to do whatever it says in the PIP then document it. Make your problems your boss' problems by asking for help. Do this in writing and document their actions. If you fall short, assign the blame to someone else and show/document how you did everything the PIP or your boss said. At same time, document how your boss wasn't able to help you: their advice didn't work, they couldn't clear roadblocks for you, you did exactly what they asked and it still didn't work, etc...
This is the only way to beat a PIP if the organization has decided to RIF via attrition. Remember, it's not about performance. It's about the blame game and who has better documentation.
Unless you are a slug, don't take it personally. It was your turn in the barrel. Your boss had a quota to rate approximately 5% of the org in the outer L. He will have 3 things you could have done better or 3 behaviors you didn't exhibit. If he/she/it was a fair boss (I heard they still have a couple non-KoolAid drinkers), the PIP is short term (less than 90 days) and has achievable tasks. Theoretically, you should have seen indication in last year's mid-year review that you were at risk. If not, you could ask why this issue wasn't detected and communicated earlier. If he/she/it squirms, you'll know you were just picked.
OP, so many sheep here that are willing to roll over and take in the shorts when PIP'd are offering you advice. Do you really want to continue working for a company with sheep that say things like "it has to be somebody's turn", "don't take it personally", "it was your turn in the barrel", and "suck it up and do what's asked". They're willing to accept mediocrity and poor treatment from greedy management fools. They've been broken by their masters and are content to feed from the scraps that fall from the master's table. They will turn on you in a moment to protect the endenture they've chosen. The best thing you can do is placate the sheep and the masters for now while you find someplace else to work that really is worth it.
There are PIPS, and then there are PIPS. Is it reasonable, possible to fulfill the goals or are they pie in the sky things that Superman couldn't achieve? If the former, like @bgv noted, just do it because it was your turn in the barrel. If the goals are unreasonable, then start looking outside H.
A PIP ain't nothing more than just another set of goals to meet only with a shorter timeframe. If you feel its unfair, share that with your HR who so happens has to ensure that the goals are fair and achievable to show that you have repented.
Do it, achieve it and get the he-l out of the vicious cycle to let some poor old sod have it the following year.
Start a group Gladys night and the .....
Start looking for a new job. When the next RIF comes up. I guarantee you’ll be on the list. Trust me you’ll find a better job and be treated better.
They obviously want to get rid of you. Honeywell has a system in place. When your fellow coworkers don’t like somebody. They either put you on a PIP. Production they just decertify on everything.
Don’t feel bad. There’s some ruthless people here and they played dirty games. It’s all about the matrix. Obviously you don’t wanna work Monday through Sunday. Work overtime or your fellow coworkers just don’t like your personality. You must go and you should be happy.
When you find your new great job with better men benefits. Remember these jerks and make sure they don’t get a job in the same place you work.
suck it up and do what is asked. If they start changing the goal mid way get going with job search. Don’t leave until they fire you if possible to get severance.
Most importantly take care of yourself. Exercise and eat right. Talk to people you trust. Think objectively about the PIP. Don't let people talk you into fighting it because there is no winning.
Watch all the YouTube videos regarding PIPs.
Stay strong and best of luck. Don't let this steal years of your life.
Don't walk out in a huff.
Don't get pi$$ed off.
Don't argue with your boss.
Don't take it personally.
It has to be someones turn. This time it was yours.
I got pipped a few years ago.
I had to report to my manager weekly.
I had forgotten about being on a pip after a couple of weeks.
The weekly reports were the new normal.
In 6 months I got an email stating that I had satisfied the requirements blah blah blah.
The following year, back to the 5 block.
PIPs etc, for one of America's 'Most Ethical' Companies.....what a Crock of S**t !!!
Hope all goes well.
Just go with the flow what they want for the stupid PIP cr-p. I was put on it last year for some d-mb reason just talking to a coworker who ran to HR about what we talked about, but this person has done this like 10 times running to HR baits you in to talk and wham HR calling you or they listen in when your talking to others and again HR at your door. Stinks we have this cry wolf type person here. What really stink was got 0% raise do to this and rest my goals were all meet even exceeded. So do what is told watch who you talk too or who listening as this person has spies too. Just sad how this company is going no more fun here and no talking about anything at all. Good luck all o ha eto say.