I was on a PIP. Often that means firing is inevitable, but my company has generally had a pretty good culture and I (perhaps foolishly) thought I had a chance of surviving it. While I had a pretty good history of kicking ass at work and have a borderline celebrity reputation with our customer, I was put on a new project that had been going poorly plus I had a newborn with lots of additional needs (born super early - doing fine now) so I wasn’t as focused as I had been before. But it did blindside me - I checked in with my direct (and relatively new) manager weekly and she never mentioned any issues.
I was able to show my bosses that the old me was still there. It was 2 months of hell and stress, and even after I was released from the PIP I questioned if I should still be there. Then that manager left not-so-voluntarily (so I’ve been told) and I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders.
That was almost 2 years ago, 6 years total. Still at that company and stronger than ever with them!
Basically, it’s a one on one meeting with a manager, who lays out what you’re doing wrong or not doing. They talk with you about it or goals or whatever, and make a timeline that both of you agree of is fair.
The idea is that nobody is blindsided and expectations are communicated all around. It’s actually great for everybody involved, but is also generally the first step to being fired, since a lot of shitty managers just see it as something they have to check off before pulling the trigger in firing you. Like a paper trail of why you suck.
So, “having a pip”, or be “on (a) pip” just means managers are looking at you closely and recording your performance, and you’re in danger. Not always resulting in being let go, but… You know how these things go.
For context, this is also a company with unlimited PTO that you’re actually allowed to use, and people mostly work remotely. Which I figured meant things weren’t entirely predetermined, and that I had a lot to lose going elsewhere with time off for appointments, being around to help with baby stuff, and insurance coverage with a lot of specialists for the baby.
I was on a PIP. Often that means firing is inevitable, but my company has generally had a pretty good culture and I (perhaps foolishly) thought I had a chance of surviving it. While I had a pretty good history of kicking ass at work and have a borderline celebrity reputation with our customer, I was put on a new project that had been going poorly plus I had a newborn with lots of additional needs (born super early - doing fine now) so I wasn’t as focused as I had been before. But it did blindside me - I checked in with my direct (and relatively new) manager weekly and she never mentioned any issues.
I was able to show my bosses that the old me was still there. It was 2 months of hell and stress, and even after I was released from the PIP I questioned if I should still be there. Then that manager left not-so-voluntarily (so I’ve been told) and I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders.
That was almost 2 years ago, 6 years total. Still at that company and stronger than ever with them!
What is a PIP?
If I remember correctly:
Personal improvement plan
Or
Performance improvement plan
Basically, it’s a one on one meeting with a manager, who lays out what you’re doing wrong or not doing. They talk with you about it or goals or whatever, and make a timeline that both of you agree of is fair.
The idea is that nobody is blindsided and expectations are communicated all around. It’s actually great for everybody involved, but is also generally the first step to being fired, since a lot of shitty managers just see it as something they have to check off before pulling the trigger in firing you. Like a paper trail of why you suck.
So, “having a pip”, or be “on (a) pip” just means managers are looking at you closely and recording your performance, and you’re in danger. Not always resulting in being let go, but… You know how these things go.
Every company iv ever worked for the survival rate of pips is less then 1% at best
Surviving one is a fucking blue moon event!
For context, this is also a company with unlimited PTO that you’re actually allowed to use, and people mostly work remotely. Which I figured meant things weren’t entirely predetermined, and that I had a lot to lose going elsewhere with time off for appointments, being around to help with baby stuff, and insurance coverage with a lot of specialists for the baby.