Space_Ghost20

Account Executive

Valued Contributor

Failed PIP: what am I supposed to do today at work?

Was put on a PIP first week of September, per the wording of the PIP I had to hit monthly quota for September and every month moving forward or I’d be terminated. I didn’t hit it, not even close (only 2 AEs on my team of 10 hit quota in September, and only 7 of 30 AEs in the US did). Asked my manager during our 1:1 on Friday what will happen come Monday if I don’t hit, was informed that he has his meetings on Monday, he’ll speak with HR and then on Tuesday during our 1:1 he will let me know what comes next.

In the meantime, no one has given me any direction on what the hell I’m supposed to do today. If I’m fired come tomorrow morning at 11, then it makes no sense for me to do calls or conduct any meetings. If for some reason they decide to give me one last chance, well then I shouldn’t waste today doing nothing. Also, why do they feel comfortable giving me access to leads and their system, if I’m on borrowed time? Not that I would do anything nefarious, but it is a vulnerability point that someone with a lower moral threshold could exploit.

Anyone who’s been on a PIP before have any insight on this?

Update: Everything was normal today, until it came time for my 1:1 with my manager. I was first to show up in the Zoom meeting, followed by my manager and then someone from HR. They are offering a severance of one week, provided I sign some form she went over, that I'm supposed to be receiving in my personal email shortly. Why this couldn't have been done yesterday is unknown.

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jefe

Arsonist

4

🍁

Make sure your shit is packed, I guess.
This is dumb.

Space_Ghost20

Valued Contributor

1

Account Executive

WFH, so nothing to pack.

jefe

Arsonist

3

🍁

Walk your dog, lift weights, do admin maybe?

Space_Ghost20

Valued Contributor

2

Account Executive

Monday is my recovery day for lifting, but I did go for a 2 mile jog earlier.

jefe

Arsonist

0

🍁

Atta boy.

Let us know what happens tomorrow.

Phillip_J_Fry

Opinionated

3

Director of Revenue

Not sure I would've even come in today. If you know you're being let go, just email your boss and tell him to reach out to you with next steps.

Space_Ghost20

Valued Contributor

0

Account Executive

I'm in the interview process for a couple of jobs, and I'm hopeful that at least one of them will pan out. But if it's at all possible to get another 30 days of runway, it would absolutely help.

But you're right, if it's a fait accompli, then there's no point of me even bothering to sign in. Having never been on a PIP before, I have no idea if this is normal, but it just seems odd to have a loose thread like this.

SaaSsy

Politicker

3

AE

Ugh, why are “leaders” such an idiots. Sorry this is happening, work hard if you think you can mentally get past this, give up and apply if you’ll still be pissed.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

3

🦊

Story of our lives 😆

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

2

Sales Rep

Update the resume and start applying, unfortunately, you will most likely get laid off, so might as well start the search.

Space_Ghost20

Valued Contributor

0

Account Executive

Yeah, I mean I've been looking for a new job for a while. I have a second interview this week which looks promising. I'm just wondering what the "professional" approach should be here.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

0

Sales Rep

Get a 30 day plan ready on why you will hit in October if you stay, and be ready to transition opportunities to another rep if you leave

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

2

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

Well, get that resume updated and out to your network! Also, any update prior to the meeting tomorrow? If you are getting fired, that would have happened, wouldn’t it?

Space_Ghost20

Valued Contributor

0

Account Executive

I've been interviewing and networking for the past year, nothing will change on that front. And no, there's been no word at all from my manager or anyone else. I have full access to everything and I even have a meeting this afternoon that would be ~25% of October's quota.

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

1

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

Then keep selling and interviewing.

Filth

Politicker

2

Live Filthy or Die Clean

Keep up appearance but don't let anything stress you. Keep up on the other job opps and see if you can dig out a few other options. If they keep you around, just look for another job even harder b/c chances are it's not a stay of execution, just a small delay. Best of luck!

Diablo

Politicker

2

Sr. AE

start applying, save your ass before than later. Its most likely going to happen if you are too far from the given quota.

Space_Ghost20

Valued Contributor

0

Account Executive

I've definitely been applying. I guess I'm just wondering if the "professional" thing to do is continue to work as normal, or if that's even worth bothering with at this point. Never been PIP'ed or fired before so I have no idea if this is normal. When I was laid off, if it was instant.

Pachacuti

Politicker

2

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Back up your computer to a USB drive (especially Outlook contacts), take home anything you REALLY want to keep, and just act like business as usual. With 4/5 of the team not performing, I doubt they want to clean house that badly. But you never know.

0

Sr Solution Sales Executive Employee Workflows

If you have a non-compete or NDA, watch what you take from your computer as all of this is trackable and actionable against you. Have used an app in the past called "Contact Mover" to maintain contacts without taking any privileged data

Space_Ghost20

Valued Contributor

0

Account Executive

Honestly, there was nothing on the laptop I wanted. If I'm ever in a position of having to sell to these "businesses" again, I will have made a massive career blunder.

Beans

Big Shot

1

Enterprise Account Executive

Hindsight moment, the moment the PIP landed you need to apply elsewhere.

1

Sr Solution Sales Executive Employee Workflows

Completely agree with Beans. Once you are on a PIP there is a target on your back. Even if you get off of the plan, easier to put you back on it and it is now documented for underperformance.

Space_Ghost20

Valued Contributor

0

Account Executive

It's not just that. I knew from the start I didn't want to be at this company any longer than I had to be. It was a step back from my previous role and I felt (at the time, less so now) that I could find something better/more in line with my previous job. So even after accepting this job, I never stopped applying and looking for other opportunities. Nothing ever panned out. Even if I had made it through the PIP, even if I had never been on one in the first place, I wanted out.

Space_Ghost20

Valued Contributor

0

Account Executive

I did. As I have been for the past year. I'm currently in process with 2 different companies. Companies are just taking their sweet time with hiring these days.

Beans

Big Shot

0

Enterprise Account Executive

Glad you're on the path to a new gig, just ride it out til they make a decision.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

1

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

That is aggravating! Honestly, makes sense to take today for yourself and your job hunt.

AnchorPoint

Politicker

1

Business Coach

Keep moving forward until otherwise notified... you are still being paid to do a job... do it.

Revenue_Rambo

Politicker

1

Director, Revenue Enablement

Download and transfer any file you may find useful in a future role to your personal Google Drive.

GDO

Politicker

1

BDM

use your time to find a new gig! good luck!!

pirate

Big Shot

0

🦜☠️ Account Executive

Well that's shit

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

0

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

Hey @Space_Ghost20 , how did the 1 on 1 go with your manager? Updates?

Space_Ghost20

Valued Contributor

2

Account Executive

I put an update in the post. But as I suspected, I was indeed fired. The day went like any other day (daily morning huddle with the team, full access to everything, etc.). Then at 11 I had the 1 on 1 with my manager, HR person in the Zoom meeting room. Manager went off camera as soon as the HR lady introduced herself, she went over the termination docs and that was it. Not sure why this had to wait until Tuesday to do.

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

1

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

Sorry to hear it, and sorry I missed the update. Let me know if I can make any intros or help.

Space_Ghost20

Valued Contributor

0

Account Executive

I appreciate it.

jefe

Arsonist

0

🍁

Sorry that this happened. One week is some BS, but far too common.
Never a good feeling when you see HR there

wolfofmiami

Opinionated

0

🐺

one week is crazy

369DocuSign

Big Shot

0

Sales Director

Not sure the PIP details but I haven't seen many reps who fail to hit expectations get offered a severance. A month timeline for a PIP seems unreasonable if the process leading up to it hasn't been well documented. I'd see what options you have for negotiating the terms and getting a larger payout.

Space_Ghost20

Valued Contributor

0

Account Executive

They offered me one week pay as severance. PIP details were basically "hit quota or be fired." There were coaching assignments and my KPIs (all of which I completed) but the bottom line was numbers or bust. I'm not upset about the job, I knew it wasn't for me from the beginning, but with the market being sideways I didn't really have a choice. Been job hunting the entire time I've been here but no results.

DrChaos

Good Citizen

0

Outbound AE

Fortunately I am not in the US. Here in Europe such thing as PIP has no legislative meaning. You guys in the US don't you have some legal base to defend yourselves? May be we in EU are commies :))))))))) but once your test time passes its pretty hard to layoff someone without a solid compensation.

0

Retired Sales Professional

So that means they should only have 2 employees left from your team and 7 in total throughout the US. Smells fishy to me. Seems to me that this company should be going out of business with these practices soon. The way it looks the goals weren't realistic and leadership sucks, so keep your head up and keep looking for something better. It out there. Be well and good hunting.

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