At this point, the decision was already made that you need to go I've been a manager with HR in these kinds of conversations. At the point that we decide to p

At this point, the decision was already made that you need to go I've been a manager with HR in these kinds of conversations. At the point that we decide to put an employee on a PIP, it's because continuation of the current performance is unacceptable - not that the particular employe "must go", just the current behavior. We typically have lots of other employees performing at a higher level or with better attitudes, so it isn't just some random whim where we have it in for someone and are unwilling to allow for them to rectify the problem. If the employee were to improve his or her performance (typically improve his or her attitude), as an employer we would be more than happy to continue that person's employment. It's a defeatist attitude that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.