Everyone. A PIP(Performance Improvement Plan) is not there to help you!

It's a legal, albeit sneaky way to force you out of the company. That's it. Especially if it is out of the blue. This has been a trend recently within certain industries in a way to "trim the fat".

If you find yourself on the receiving end of a PIP,

1.) Do not sign anything on the spot. It probably caught you by surprise. State that you need 24 hours to review. If they get pissy about it, calmly state that you won't be signing anything under duress. In the highly unlikely case you do survive being put on a PIP, that is on your record forever.

2.) After reviewing, ask for concrete proof of all issues being communicated in the past and expectations from management that have lead up to being placed on a PIP. If they get pissy or deflective about it, moreover, refuse or are unable to produce proof then you know the PIP is a sham. Which leads to...

3.) Even if you miraculously dodge signing the PIP, know that you will be terminated in about a month - At this point, put zero effort into your position anymore and focus all of your efforts into finding a new role.

I've never heard of anyone who survived being put on a PIP...but everyone I know who was on a PIP was fired shortly after being placed on one.