I'm on a PIP in the US, and seem to be able to complete it (who knows really), but what happens after that?
I heard that those who clear the PIP will be RA'd, but is that pretty much guaranteed? What exactly is the end result even if I do manage to finish the PIP?
There's no severance with PIPs from what I understand, so I'm hoping I can make it to the RA.
@wm That's the sort of PIP that is actually related to your performance. The other is the kind where they want to lay you off but not pay severance...the timing of those is the timing of the desired layoff.
@y0 yes usually same day within minutes. It’s brutal especially to those who did not deserve or warrant a PIP
@we In the US separation usually follows swiftly after an unsuccessful PIP.
@we Can PIPs start any time in the year? I thought they start after the annual performance review only after you are in the 15% low score.
@OP I am also on one in the US. Just started last week. There is absolutely no way to complete it. One of the many items on the list is to fully implement a software feature on a new product. When my team did it on another product it took almost two years. I brought this up to my manager and he ignored it. I brought it up again in the next meeting and asked "Are you or my second level going to engage with my question about the scope and timeframe of this item?" His response was "We discussed it when we agreed on the PIP." No engagement whatsoever, and it seems pretty obvious they are getting ready to fire me.
On another note, does anyone know (roughly) the timeframe from failed PIP to firing? Is it pretty immediate?
@tj this should be standard protocol. If you are on PIP it will be and endless cycle- repeating. Everyone hit with an PIP should drop everything and immediately update resume and start applying to every other job you can find.
You were PIP'ed. Even with successful completion you will get a low rating for 2026. 2027 comes if they don't believe your performance has significantly improved, you're likely to end up on a PIP again. Honestly, complete the PIP if you can and make sure you are looking outside IBM. Leaving will be the only solution to get off the wheel of death.
@qr once you are on pip you are marked for the rest of you career. If you are able survive it and hold on - it will still linger and haunt you 15 years later
There are two kinds of PIPs. The more common is a budgetary issue, not a performance management issue. There’s little way out of these. If you find some HR policy or employment regulation to spare you, they’ll eventually find another way to eliminate you.
The other is an actual performance issue that seems remediable (and might even be caused by short-term things outside of work) In the latter case, HR and management like to say “this is a marathon, not a sprint.” That means that if you pass then you’ll face extra scrutiny for several years.
@OP Get the heck out of the dump called IBM. You're running out of time.
@OP Unfortunately, I am not able to advise as it is country specific. In my case (Europe), I was lucky enough to get "garden leave" shortly after being PIPed. Good luck to you. You will be much more happier outside of this toxic company and work environment. Trust me.
@OP Op you must understand they're PIPing you to avoid having to RA you. They're going to claim to fire you for cause.
India found a cheat code to fire Americans, it's the PIP. Unless you can document that the PIP was impossible, applied unfairly or not universally, et cetera, they're firing you. Even if you can prove all of that, you're still going to be fired, and it would take months if not years of lawsuits to get any recovery.
Hope for the best, but assume the worst. Get your resume in order and find someplace better than IBM. Literally any other big tech company is.
https://www.reddit.com/r/IBM_Employees/s/Zl8OkeiAHs
@OP Please get your ducks in a row and start looking outside.
Purpose of the PIP is for IBM to avoid paying severance - i.e., by claiming that you failed to meet PIP objectives (yes. it's that ugly).