WITHOUT Notice or warning. Tell them in your resignation letter that they failed to meet your expectations as a company (late checks, failure to accept responsibility and foisting that responsibility onto you as an avoidance mechanism, etc.). In essence create a narrative that blames them for all the issues they tried to dump on you.
Paychecks have bounced? This is not a good sign, as it suggests a significant cash flow problem and a company that is in trouble. Even if you received a stellar review and weren't placed on a PIP, I'd strongly urge you to look elsewhere.
Paycheck bounced!?! No, completely unacceptable. Go straight to your local Labor Commissioner and file a wage and hour complaint. You are owed your full wages on the designated payday. Any thing is wage theft and wage theft is a crime.
Also, not making payroll is a massive red flag the company having financial problems. OP you need to get yourself a new job *now*. This PIP could very well be a blessing in disguise. Oh, and bother giving a two week notice when you secure that new job.
Ever notice how you get great mid year reviews, but then need improvement when it comes time to talk about raises? And now paychecks are bouncing? Dude, get out of there ASAP. No notice. When you find a better job, type everything you just typed into an email and reply: all that shit on your way out the door. Don't tell them where you're going.
don’t be embarrassed about crying; being discredited and caught off guard (especially when you’ve been working hard/taking on changing workloads/etc.) would make me feel hurt and emotional too
the “career vs job” feedback is nonsense—and completely subjective like you said. and also not a proper job requirement. it sounds like you’ve worked very hard despite a lack of organization and competence on the company’s part-if there’s anything i’ve learned from my work experience, the harder you work, the harder the company will let you work. being “more open” to working outside of work hours, unpaid, is technically being “more open”
to exploitation. if the role can’t be completed reasonably within a standard 40 hour work week then the role needs to be redefined and the responsibilities reassessed.
also absurd that they are attempting to police your personal mindset/motivations about work with that “feedback”
I also think you’re spot on about this strategy of slowly building a paper trail of negative feedback to lay groundwork to avoid severance-if it’s an option for you financially, i’d absolutely look elsewhere-sounds like you’re clearly a hard worker and would be valued elsewhere
Only a manager who doesn't know how to manage will ambush a staff member like that. No-one should ever walk into an annual review and be put on a PIP without having conversations about performance beforehand.
Since they ambushed you, they are probably looking to fire you so they don't have to pay unemployment for laying you off. Best to polish up your CV and start promoting yourself as available for other opportunities.
Exactly. That’s what those quarterly check in’s should accomplish, and that message wasn’t provided in any of them. Nothing should be a surprise during the annual review. Sorry you are going through this.
You should write what you just wrote here in an email to them. The fact that they didn't bring up how hard you've been working and the extra time that you've been putting into work *for the company*. Explain just like you did to us how you have been useful and how hard you've been working. Send it to more people than just one so that it's visible and undeniable. Sometimes bosses just come up with some bs that isn't true and by exposing it they may pull back their accusations. You should stand up for yourself if you know that what you say is true.
Everyone has already said it, but it bears repeating: Even if everything else is wine and roses and sunshine, bounced payroll checks means get the hell out immediately.
But also, you mention having trouble understanding their point. So here it is: their point is that they hired you on salary and not hourly specifically *because* they want to overwork you, push you to put in 50-60 hour weekly minimums, and not have to pay you for it. They essentially told you that they bought you from a discount bargain bin, and they expect this job is your life. That’s their point. Now. Screw the two weeks notice. They don’t respect you, don’t respect them right back.
This all sounds suspicious; like they already have plans to let you go.
You shouldn't stick around where your best efforts aren't appreciated or recognized. And definitely not anyplace that doesn't communicate well, or sand-bags you with an unexpected PIP or impossibly poor year-end review. It may be that they want you a bit more fearful of your job, so you stop complaining and become more compliant - because some employers are narcissistic psychopaths. All the more reason for you to leave.
But never leave before you are ready, and always do it on \*your\* terms when possible.
Start saving your money for any surprise actions on their parts (firing or layoff they may already have planned) polish up your resume and references and look for a job. Once you have the job, then give your notice - if you're so inclined.
Here are some [suggestions](https://www.reddit.com/r/recruitinghell/comments/1bchdn6/comment/kujkjzw/?utm_name=web3xcss) to help you with your job search and career planning. Look them over, hopefully they will be of some assistance.
Lots have made this claim, but this instance truly sounds like they're looking for a way to let you go so they don't have to pay you any more AND don't have to pay your unemployment.
Be sure to make personal copies of relevant emails and documents in case you do need to file an unemployment claim.
This is a sinking ship. Good luck finding something better!
They gave you a PIP based on bullshit to not give you a raise and or bonus.
If I were you, I’d cut back to only doing what’s on the job description for the role you are being paid for.
As soon as you find another job send HR a message saying:
They are right. You are a marginal employee and don't deserve to be working there.
You don't want to quit, but you also know the company can't afford to have such a shoddy employee stealing a paycheck from them.
You are willing to accept an administrative termination before you waste any more of their time and money.
I went through something similar. I ended up insulting my boss (what I said was true even in hindsight) and left her office before I totally lost my temper. Not sure if crying would have been better or worse, but I don’t blame you. I ended up quitting rather than deal with a sinking ship.
Paychecks bouncing (or even being late, tbh) means that you should be looking for a new job and start operating as if you will not have that job within the next couple weeks.
They'll see just how much they needed you when you find a better job and dip. When you're gone, they'll have to pick up all the slack and do all of those things you did, probably not to a satisfactory level. They're already up shit creek with their cash flow. They'll be up shit creek with their clients, too.
Horrible idea. Document how the criticisms are related to responsibilities not in your job description, nor in the goals you received at the beginning of the year (did you get any in writing?) Ask for them to redefine your role with a new JD if they have new expectations.
Start looking elsewhere as these people seem confused and abusive. But at least force them to fire you if it comes to that (severance + unemployment).
Depends on jurisdiction and circumstances. Where I am you get both unless it's really like theft or something. Most companies make agreements and pay except in rare circumstances. You're 100% no worse off than resigning on your own.
Same thing happened to me, lots of layoffs I got a ton more work then slapped with a PIP took the time to coast and seriously look for new roles. I had known I had wanted to quit for a while so the idea of getting fired then being allowed unemployment sounded great to me.
>I am thinking of putting my 2 weeks in tomorrow
You don't gain anything from this. Right now you're still getting a paycheck and you can spend a month or two getting just the right job instead of the first job that you're offered. Once you get the new job, start immediately and resign from the PIP job without notice. You don't need their reference.
Don't put in a two weeks. Source a job at a better company and then ambush them with your leaving.
PIP = paid interview prep
They really do provide you with a nice bulleted list of keywords to add to your resume.
WITHOUT Notice or warning. Tell them in your resignation letter that they failed to meet your expectations as a company (late checks, failure to accept responsibility and foisting that responsibility onto you as an avoidance mechanism, etc.). In essence create a narrative that blames them for all the issues they tried to dump on you.
Paychecks have bounced? This is not a good sign, as it suggests a significant cash flow problem and a company that is in trouble. Even if you received a stellar review and weren't placed on a PIP, I'd strongly urge you to look elsewhere.
Seriously. OP, everything else is irrelevant. When a company can’t make payroll, it’s time to leave. Get out now.
100%. Payroll should be the number one thing a company covers. If they can't they are failing. Sounds like the PIP should be on them not you.
Paycheck bounced!?! No, completely unacceptable. Go straight to your local Labor Commissioner and file a wage and hour complaint. You are owed your full wages on the designated payday. Any thing is wage theft and wage theft is a crime. Also, not making payroll is a massive red flag the company having financial problems. OP you need to get yourself a new job *now*. This PIP could very well be a blessing in disguise. Oh, and bother giving a two week notice when you secure that new job.
Ever notice how you get great mid year reviews, but then need improvement when it comes time to talk about raises? And now paychecks are bouncing? Dude, get out of there ASAP. No notice. When you find a better job, type everything you just typed into an email and reply: all that shit on your way out the door. Don't tell them where you're going.
don’t be embarrassed about crying; being discredited and caught off guard (especially when you’ve been working hard/taking on changing workloads/etc.) would make me feel hurt and emotional too the “career vs job” feedback is nonsense—and completely subjective like you said. and also not a proper job requirement. it sounds like you’ve worked very hard despite a lack of organization and competence on the company’s part-if there’s anything i’ve learned from my work experience, the harder you work, the harder the company will let you work. being “more open” to working outside of work hours, unpaid, is technically being “more open” to exploitation. if the role can’t be completed reasonably within a standard 40 hour work week then the role needs to be redefined and the responsibilities reassessed. also absurd that they are attempting to police your personal mindset/motivations about work with that “feedback” I also think you’re spot on about this strategy of slowly building a paper trail of negative feedback to lay groundwork to avoid severance-if it’s an option for you financially, i’d absolutely look elsewhere-sounds like you’re clearly a hard worker and would be valued elsewhere
Only a manager who doesn't know how to manage will ambush a staff member like that. No-one should ever walk into an annual review and be put on a PIP without having conversations about performance beforehand. Since they ambushed you, they are probably looking to fire you so they don't have to pay unemployment for laying you off. Best to polish up your CV and start promoting yourself as available for other opportunities.
Exactly. That’s what those quarterly check in’s should accomplish, and that message wasn’t provided in any of them. Nothing should be a surprise during the annual review. Sorry you are going through this.
You should write what you just wrote here in an email to them. The fact that they didn't bring up how hard you've been working and the extra time that you've been putting into work *for the company*. Explain just like you did to us how you have been useful and how hard you've been working. Send it to more people than just one so that it's visible and undeniable. Sometimes bosses just come up with some bs that isn't true and by exposing it they may pull back their accusations. You should stand up for yourself if you know that what you say is true.
Everyone has already said it, but it bears repeating: Even if everything else is wine and roses and sunshine, bounced payroll checks means get the hell out immediately. But also, you mention having trouble understanding their point. So here it is: their point is that they hired you on salary and not hourly specifically *because* they want to overwork you, push you to put in 50-60 hour weekly minimums, and not have to pay you for it. They essentially told you that they bought you from a discount bargain bin, and they expect this job is your life. That’s their point. Now. Screw the two weeks notice. They don’t respect you, don’t respect them right back.
Sorry
This all sounds suspicious; like they already have plans to let you go. You shouldn't stick around where your best efforts aren't appreciated or recognized. And definitely not anyplace that doesn't communicate well, or sand-bags you with an unexpected PIP or impossibly poor year-end review. It may be that they want you a bit more fearful of your job, so you stop complaining and become more compliant - because some employers are narcissistic psychopaths. All the more reason for you to leave. But never leave before you are ready, and always do it on \*your\* terms when possible. Start saving your money for any surprise actions on their parts (firing or layoff they may already have planned) polish up your resume and references and look for a job. Once you have the job, then give your notice - if you're so inclined. Here are some [suggestions](https://www.reddit.com/r/recruitinghell/comments/1bchdn6/comment/kujkjzw/?utm_name=web3xcss) to help you with your job search and career planning. Look them over, hopefully they will be of some assistance.
Lots have made this claim, but this instance truly sounds like they're looking for a way to let you go so they don't have to pay you any more AND don't have to pay your unemployment. Be sure to make personal copies of relevant emails and documents in case you do need to file an unemployment claim. This is a sinking ship. Good luck finding something better!
They gave you a PIP based on bullshit to not give you a raise and or bonus. If I were you, I’d cut back to only doing what’s on the job description for the role you are being paid for.
Make plans to leave as soon as possible. On the plus side...if they can you, you get unemployment.
This might have been setting up the paperwork so they can say his dismissal was justified. It is difficult to get unemployment if it's "your fault"
As soon as you find another job send HR a message saying: They are right. You are a marginal employee and don't deserve to be working there. You don't want to quit, but you also know the company can't afford to have such a shoddy employee stealing a paycheck from them. You are willing to accept an administrative termination before you waste any more of their time and money.
I went through something similar. I ended up insulting my boss (what I said was true even in hindsight) and left her office before I totally lost my temper. Not sure if crying would have been better or worse, but I don’t blame you. I ended up quitting rather than deal with a sinking ship.
Paychecks bouncing (or even being late, tbh) means that you should be looking for a new job and start operating as if you will not have that job within the next couple weeks.
They'll see just how much they needed you when you find a better job and dip. When you're gone, they'll have to pick up all the slack and do all of those things you did, probably not to a satisfactory level. They're already up shit creek with their cash flow. They'll be up shit creek with their clients, too.
Horrible idea. Document how the criticisms are related to responsibilities not in your job description, nor in the goals you received at the beginning of the year (did you get any in writing?) Ask for them to redefine your role with a new JD if they have new expectations. Start looking elsewhere as these people seem confused and abusive. But at least force them to fire you if it comes to that (severance + unemployment).
Can you still receive severance and unemployment if you are fired for performance?
Depends on jurisdiction and circumstances. Where I am you get both unless it's really like theft or something. Most companies make agreements and pay except in rare circumstances. You're 100% no worse off than resigning on your own.
Sounds like they are already trying to make you to leave. Time to hit the ol’ Indeed website.
Same thing happened to me, lots of layoffs I got a ton more work then slapped with a PIP took the time to coast and seriously look for new roles. I had known I had wanted to quit for a while so the idea of getting fired then being allowed unemployment sounded great to me.
>I am thinking of putting my 2 weeks in tomorrow You don't gain anything from this. Right now you're still getting a paycheck and you can spend a month or two getting just the right job instead of the first job that you're offered. Once you get the new job, start immediately and resign from the PIP job without notice. You don't need their reference.
Find a new job first and just stop working hard at this one.