Do People Clear Performance Improvement Plans?

Optimize team management in minutes with ManageBetter. Start your free trial now and join Uber and Microsoft in boosting performance, gathering insights, and generating reviews—all AI-powered, no writing required.

A little-known secret is that more people than you can imagine receive a performance improvement plan (PIP).

What's even less known is the percentage of people who clear a PIP. Most observers assume that PIPs are death sentences. That's, when someone is placed on a performance improvement plan, it's a symbolic gesture to signal that their time at a company is 100% over, and the consequence is that they must find a new job.

Here’s an interesting poll from the workplace community, Blind, that provides some numbers on this situation. An astonishing 41 percent of respondents said they passed a PIP. It’s far from the 0 percent number that many have feared.

This should give hope to PIP recipients. The PIP isn't final. If you play your cards right and change your behavior, you can continue to work for your current employer.

Sharpen Your Leadership Edge: Join 3,000+ executives receiving weekly, actionable insights from industry experts. Subscribe free to The Thoughtful Leader and elevate your team's performance.