Given a performance improvement (PIP)notice - please share your wisdom

[Anonymous]

Due to reorganization, there are lots of conflicts between my new supervisors and the original team that I was supposed to support. I was the one being caught in the middle. My new supervisors have been doing bad things I didn't agree with but I didn't say anything. They started to push me for the impossible purposely. I got annoyed, they retaliate including the performance improvement. I would appreciate some advice for me to take proper action.
1. I plan to write to the top management about what has happened and provide some solutions. Hope they would understand.
2. I plan to write to HR but I don't plan to sign PIP.

Please help, thank you!

[Anonymous]

Due to reorganization, there are lots of conflicts between my new supervisors and the original team that I was supposed to support. I was the one being caught in the middle. My new supervisors have been doing bad things I didn't agree with but I didn't say anything. They started to push me for the impossible purposely. I got annoyed, they retaliate including the performance improvement. I would appreciate some advice for me to take proper action.
1. I plan to write to the top management about what has happened and provide some solutions. Hope they would understand.
2. I plan to write to HR but I don't plan to sign PIP.

Please help, thank you!

[Anonymous]

Are you a fed? If so document everything. Everything you do, e-mail stating you have completed it. If your supervisor makes any mistake having an impact on your work, e-mail asking for clarification. Create a paper trail to support an eventual grievance or MSPB complaint

[Anonymous]

Find a new job, a PIP is just a paper trail to terminate someone.

[Anonymous]

Look for a new job. I only know 1 person who survived a PIP and she just keeps getting shuffled from department to department -- no idea why she is still around.

Don't bother giving your ideas. If the PIP contains unreasonable goals/timelines, you can document that (use data!) and refuse to sign. But be ready to be let go. Sorry you are going through this.

[Anonymous]

OP, consider this a warning that you are going to be let go at some point.

Take all that frustration and energy you have and channel it into a job search. Pushing back on the PIP will just confirm to management that you aren't a good fit.

Sorry you are dealing with this.

[Anonymous]

Whatever letter you send to HR and management should be concise and supported by objective evidence. Given you’re on a pip, the instinct will be that you are just trying to defend yourself.

[Anonymous]

Shotgun your resume out. You are being papered out the door. Get out before that happens.

[Anonymous]

Can you ask for short term disability leave due to mental health issues? I don’t know what state you are in, but could be a way to buy you time to interview.

One guy was PIPed by Amazon and was paid 60% of his base for 8 month before new offer 😄

[Anonymous]

I know a few people who have taken the PIP to heart and turned it around in ways that no one expected.

It really depends on your organization.

Can you write your PIP in a way that requires your manager to do things? To create your paper trail of the situation?

[Anonymous]

If you don’t sign it, they will just terminate you.

[Anonymous]

I had a staff member I put on PIP and really turned it around. But post PIP he knew first to be fired or laid off

[Anonymous]

Prepare for the 1-on-1 ambush meeting.

PIP

[Anonymous]

I'd assume going forward that unless management suddenly changes, nothing you do will be right. It becomes you vs. them. They're not interested in seeing you succeed, especially if the person who actually recruited/hired you is no longer in the picture. They're trying to establish a team that makes them comfortable and for whatever reason, you don't. You remind them of something-- a former colleague they also ganged up on, or you remind them that they're incompetent. Just get out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd assume going forward that unless management suddenly changes, nothing you do will be right. It becomes you vs. them. They're not interested in seeing you succeed, especially if the person who actually recruited/hired you is no longer in the picture. They're trying to establish a team that makes them comfortable and for whatever reason, you don't. You remind them of something-- a former colleague they also ganged up on, or you remind them that they're incompetent. Just get out.

+1

First of all, it's not your fault, PP. You unfortunately happened to be in the way of their political crap. The new people want to push you out because they associate you with the old guard. Document everything (but don't be obvious about it), keep an eye open for other jobs, and start packing your office. You could do everything perfectly and they still wouldn't be happy, so don't sweat the work stuff too much. I also wouldn't be surprised if there are others at the company who are suddenly "poor performers;" your description of the situation is giving Latham circa 20089. Again, it's nothing you did, so don't let them stress you out or try to push you into thinking you're at fault.