The whole IBM PBC process is a sham. As a previous first line manager, you are given a team quota every year. For example 10% 1's, 55% 2's ( later on 2+ was introduced) , 35% 3's. For those rated 3's you had to document a PIP(Performance improvement Plan). This was a tedious and time consuming process required by HR. Regardless of whether you were under staffed, and all members of your team were going above and beyond supporting customers, and meeting all of their PBC goals, you as their manager were forced to perform the lifeboat exercise and select 35% of your staff for PIP regardless. This decision had to be carefully executed since the next expected milestone (under a secret project name) announced was mandatory staff cuts. The target for those cuts were usually selected from the 3 rated staff. Sometimes they were preselected and other times you as their manager had to make the decision based on the number. I have seen senior staff let go who within a few months were hired back as a contractor in the same departments in the same roles. So in respect, not all persons rated a 3 with a PIP were let go. However, if you were rated a 3 again the following year, the writing was on the wall.
11 replies (most recent on top)
dont even bother once you are on the PIP you are done....stick a fork in it. take whatever severance IBM gives you and gtfo out of there ! I know i was hit spring 2015 and ginny then gave herself a $3million bonus right after. 2 weeks severance and 30 days notice, and then thrown on the street. Of course 1 year later IBM approached me, and several times since to come back....nope.
Funny story.. I was given a PIP (one of the mandatory ones if you are in sales and you did not have sufficient forecasted revenue). It was literally about 30 days after I took the territory over, and I had pipeline, but I was not forecasting revenue yet. I refused to make up a forecast and they put me on a PIP.
I refused to sign it. Then I proceeded to meet the terms of the PIP which was basically beating my quota. They then asked me to sign it, so they could close it as completed. I continued to refuse to sign it because it was BS to begin with.
After they finally paid me (late) for the deal, I left.
Joined IBM in 2000. I was on a PIP in 2004, all went fine, we had a common understanding of the issue (long story) - fixed the issue and left on my own in 2006. I've re-joined in 2010 and left again in 2015. I did not fight it, I just listened and did what they asked me to do.
This is not 100% relevant to your question but it may provide another angle.
Good luck.
See if any of the older threads help...
Has anybody actually tried to challenge a PIP?
October 5, 2017 by Anonymous | 1956 views | no reactions | 4 replies (last October 5, 2017)
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PIP - Gone in 30 days?
September 12, 2017 by Anonymous | 3622 views | no reactions | 9 replies (last October 6, 2017)
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PIP equals firing
September 19, 2017 by Anonymous | 6615 views | 2 reactions (+0/-2) | 16 replies (last January 23)
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PIP Express
June 8, 2018 by Anonymous | 939 views | no reactions | 5 replies (last June 13, 2018)
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Anyone who help me with PIP -Persional Improvement Plan- process??
April 27, 2016 by ...ibm... | 1427 views | no reactions | 4 replies (last April 28, 2016)
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Cut my territory, then PIP
September 26, 2018 by Anonymous | 2657 views | no reactions | 11 replies (last October 1, 2018)
Post ID: @OP+Vl08Kfd
I was PIPed.
I'm not sure about appealing it in the sense of claiming the PIPed was falsely placed on me but I was given a set of goals and I started working on them. I managed and pulled through. It's not the end for you.
A colleague of mine 15 years ago fought a PIP and won. I don't recall details.
More recently, our lowlife manager put an older colleague on a PIP - he immediately reached out to his IBM network and moved to a new group a month later. He was a hard worker who was singled out due to his age.
For what it's worth, I've seen someone go on a PIP, leave IBM of their own accord, only to return a few years later. So it appears they don't hold it against you down the road - if you ever wanted to go back to IBM for some reason. On the flip side, I've seen high achievers leave IBM, and try to get back in a few years later and be denied!
I always heard it was curtains for you if you received a PIP until I seen two horrible employees get through them. I think it depends on the situation.
Not what you're hoping to hear but the answer is NO. You've been marked as next on the list. It sux for sure but I've seen this many times. Just prepare for the next steps. You should have at least 3 months before the axe swings. :(
PIP’s are very tough to win. IBM holds all of the cards. I know of one successful appeal. If you think you have a case, certainly appeal. You may be better served trying to negotiate exit terms instead.