I was put on a PIP at a top tech company. It was a much-needed kick in the butt and I was determined to overcome it.

Mon, 04/22/2024 - 05:05

Guy looking at PIP paperwork — A performance improvement plan can be an opportunity for growth — or the end of your time at a company.
PeopleImages/Getty, Tyler Le/BI

A former program manager was placed on a performance improvement plan (PIP) at a major tech company.
It was an unexpected wake-up call, but they did experience friction with a new manager beforehand.
They saw the PIP as a kick in the butt and met the challenge but left by choice a few months later.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with a 36-year-old former program manager-turned-entrepreneur in San Francisco. The source's name and employment history are known to Business Insider but are not named to protect their privacy.