Unreasonable Workload, Crazy Boss and PIP

[Anonymous]

I’ve always been a top performer until recently. They reorganized my company and eliminated 50% of manager positions. This was after eliminating almost all support positions two years prior. My department went from 25 to 4. They made no investment in resources to help. Leadership sends simultaneous emails about “Innovation” and “Cost Cutting”.

Our product has become crap - our clients are dropping us, but with all the cost cutting our stock price has gone up. Which is all that really matters to the top who will sell before long term impact.

I worked really hard to get this job. The problem is that my work load is beyond unreasonable. Global sets demands, arbitrary deadlines, communicates it out then dumps it on me to figure it out. There is no one to delegate too, no external help etc. they won’t pay.

I can not keep up. I work 7-7 and weekends. I already lost 3 weeks of vacation (cancelled) over the year to try to meet deadlines. I barely see my kid. My health is suffering.

I raised my hand and said too much, suggested priorities. No help- was told by my boss to make slide decks about it. Slide decks that went nowhere and took more time away. I went to HR after a string of abusive emails and texts from a boss. HR said said “it’s a difficult situation and you should try to set priorities and manage up”.

I’m about to be put on a performance improvement plan. I got a rising star award last year and now I’m considered a poor performer. I’ve been told by high ranking people that’s it’s not my fault. My work quality is good but I’ve been set up to fail.

Aside from looking for a job, what would you do?

My resume is going to be messy if I leave or get fired; most likely they will “reorg” to eliminate my job to avoid having to go through with HR documenting.

[Anonymous]

I'm so sorry, OP. It looks like your company wants you to leave. All I can say is to put 100% of your energy into getting out. Not sure what you mean when you say your resume will look messy if you leave?

[Anonymous]

Whatever you do, don’t become a teacher! It will make your current situation look like a cakewalk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whatever you do, don’t become a teacher! It will make your current situation look like a cakewalk.

Oh please... Nice try, but no.

[Anonymous]

I normally say never quit a job, but in your case, you should quit, especially before they have a chance to slap you with the "perfomance improvement plan"
ASAP- get your resume together and send it off to at least 6 recruiters and get meetings on the schedule for next week.
Then resign next week or sometime before your performance review and raise (do you get a bonus- I guess you should stay for that)

It's a great job market , you should be able to get a job quickly

[Anonymous]

It's always easier to find a job when you have a job, so I would saty. Needless to say, being put on a PIP already has you with one foot out the door.

If I were you, I'd be copying all relevant documents and contact lists you might need going forward, sending out as many resumes as you can, and networking with as many peers and mentors as possible to let them know you are ready to make the leap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I normally say never quit a job, but in your case, you should quit, especially before they have a chance to slap you with the "perfomance improvement plan"
ASAP- get your resume together and send it off to at least 6 recruiters and get meetings on the schedule for next week.
Then resign next week or sometime before your performance review and raise (do you get a bonus- I guess you should stay for that)

It's a great job market , you should be able to get a job quickly

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I normally say never quit a job, but in your case, you should quit, especially before they have a chance to slap you with the "perfomance improvement plan"
ASAP- get your resume together and send it off to at least 6 recruiters and get meetings on the schedule for next week.
Then resign next week or sometime before your performance review and raise (do you get a bonus- I guess you should stay for that)

It's a great job market , you should be able to get a job quickly

Yes -- when will they hit you with the PIP? I'd stay til right before that, if you know when it will be.

[Anonymous]

I'm in a similar -- but not nearly so bad -- situation, and I'm getting out. I strongly, strongly urge you to do the same. Honestly, just getting my resume out there and getting some calls was a huge mood booster. You can and will be successful somewhere else.

[Anonymous]

Not to highjack your thread, but having gone through something similar, a little rant: why do companies use the PIP as a signal to generally decent employees that they're about to be let go? Is there not a better way to say "hey, you're great, but this isn't working out and you should prepare to be on your way soon"?

[Anonymous]

How long have you been at the organization? Do people know externally how bad it is?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not to highjack your thread, but having gone through something similar, a little rant: why do companies use the PIP as a signal to generally decent employees that they're about to be let go? Is there not a better way to say "hey, you're great, but this isn't working out and you should prepare to be on your way soon"?

Because then if you try to sue they can say hey we put him/her on a PIP and s/he still didn't work out, we tried everything and gave fair warning, etc.

[Anonymous]

Unemployment rate is under 4% in this area, and is even lower for people with college degrees. Look for a new job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm in a similar -- but not nearly so bad -- situation, and I'm getting out. I strongly, strongly urge you to do the same. Honestly, just getting my resume out there and getting some calls was a huge mood booster. You can and will be successful somewhere else.

NP here. Similar situation but with those jobs requiring 4 interviews it became hard to take time off after going through that with two companies. Will start again this week. It is so depressing going into work.