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I’ve never ever ever seen a PIP used in a positive way. It’s almost always been a way for petty toxic management that resented an employee not tolerating an abu

I’ve never ever ever seen a PIP used in a positive way. It’s almost always been a way for petty toxic management that resented an employee not tolerating an abusive environment.

tartoran 4y ago
Of course PIP got a huge potential to be abused, it’s like a weapon in the hands of management. I’ve never been under a PIP but if I were I’d urgently look for work.
- nibbleshifter 4y ago
  That's what I did - once I was put on a PIP, I knew it was time to jump before I was pushed.
  - Firmwarrior 4y ago
    Man, it's so frustrating. I just wanted to work hard, do a good job, and make a comfortable living.. but I got repeatedly screwed over by corporate politics several levels above me at my first couple of tech jobs after college. I was forced into learning how to play corporate politics just to stay employed, and now I make 6x as much money and work maybe 1/3rd as much as I used to. If these companies weren't comprised of weasels and wannabe tyrants, I think everyone would be a lot better off. I guess being a manipulative, greedy asshole is just human nature though.
thelittleone 4y ago
I got asked if I'd be willing to take a guy on pip onto my team. The guy was senior to me when I started but he languished a bit so I was now senior. He was good technically but terrible with internal politics. It was a bit of an adjustment but we worked hard and managed a turn around. He was surprised and thankful for the genuine interest in his career and well being. He never became an A player, but he stayed on a few more years and stock splits and we remain in contact 15 years later.
- toomuchtodo 4y ago
  Thanks for being a decent human. In my experience, such is more rare than you would think.
s1artibartfast 4y ago
For management it is a win-win. If the employee fails they have a record that they can use to defend themselves in court against a discrimination lawsuit. If it actually helps, they retain a worker with perhaps improved productivity. Companies can use them for either or both
Falkon1313 4y ago
Yeah, I had a manager PIP me out once like that. I was required to work until midnight to hit a deadline, then get on a call until 3am with the contractors in India, and when my butt wasn't back in the office chair by 8:30am the next day, I was written up for being late. Another warning came from refusing to stay more than 3 hours late one night (unplanned overtime) because I had plans that night, which made me 'not a team player'. After those two warnings, it only took me being randomly 5 minutes late one day for the third and final. Oddly enough, after we 'mutually agreed to terminate my employment' there, I got a call from the director of another department offering me a job in his department and, most surprisingly, a really glowing recommendation on LinkedIn from the very manager that fired me. I don't claim to understand it. But I do understand why the company had such high turnover, and why the guy I had been hired to replace had gone on mental health leave and just never came back.

I’ve never ever ever seen a PIP used in a positive way. It’s almost always been a way for petty toxic management that resented an employee not tolerating an abusive environment.

tartoran 4y ago

Of course PIP got a huge potential to be abused, it’s like a weapon in the hands of management. I’ve never been under a PIP but if I were I’d urgently look for work.

nibbleshifter 4y ago
That's what I did - once I was put on a PIP, I knew it was time to jump before I was pushed.
- Firmwarrior 4y ago
  Man, it's so frustrating. I just wanted to work hard, do a good job, and make a comfortable living.. but I got repeatedly screwed over by corporate politics several levels above me at my first couple of tech jobs after college. I was forced into learning how to play corporate politics just to stay employed, and now I make 6x as much money and work maybe 1/3rd as much as I used to. If these companies weren't comprised of weasels and wannabe tyrants, I think everyone would be a lot better off. I guess being a manipulative, greedy asshole is just human nature though.

thelittleone 4y ago

I got asked if I'd be willing to take a guy on pip onto my team. The guy was senior to me when I started but he languished a bit so I was now senior. He was good technically but terrible with internal politics. It was a bit of an adjustment but we worked hard and managed a turn around. He was surprised and thankful for the genuine interest in his career and well being. He never became an A player, but he stayed on a few more years and stock splits and we remain in contact 15 years later.

toomuchtodo 4y ago
Thanks for being a decent human. In my experience, such is more rare than you would think.

s1artibartfast 4y ago

For management it is a win-win. If the employee fails they have a record that they can use to defend themselves in court against a discrimination lawsuit. If it actually helps, they retain a worker with perhaps improved productivity. Companies can use them for either or both

Falkon1313 4y ago

Yeah, I had a manager PIP me out once like that. I was required to work until midnight to hit a deadline, then get on a call until 3am with the contractors in India, and when my butt wasn't back in the office chair by 8:30am the next day, I was written up for being late. Another warning came from refusing to stay more than 3 hours late one night (unplanned overtime) because I had plans that night, which made me 'not a team player'. After those two warnings, it only took me being randomly 5 minutes late one day for the third and final. Oddly enough, after we 'mutually agreed to terminate my employment' there, I got a call from the director of another department offering me a job in his department and, most surprisingly, a really glowing recommendation on LinkedIn from the very manager that fired me. I don't claim to understand it. But I do understand why the company had such high turnover, and why the guy I had been hired to replace had gone on mental health leave and just never came back.