Performance improvement plan

The purpose of a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) is to address and enhance an employee's performance when they are not meeting the required standards or expectations of their role. PIPs serve several important purposes within an organisation:

1. Clarifying Expectations: A PIP provides clarity regarding the performance expectations for the employee. It outlines specific areas where improvement is needed and clearly defines the goals and targets they need to achieve to meet the required standards.

2. Identifying Performance Issues: PIPs help identify and address performance issues in a structured manner. By documenting the areas of concern and the required improvements, it provides a factual and objective basis for the discussion between the employee and their supervisor.

3. Providing Feedback and Guidance: PIPs serve as a tool for providing constructive feedback to employees. They outline the gaps between the employee's current performance and the desired performance, and provide guidance on the steps, resources, and support available to help them improve.

4. Facilitating Coaching and Support: PIPs create an opportunity for coaching and support to help employees overcome their performance challenges. Supervisors can work closely with employees, offering guidance, training, mentoring, or additional resources to assist them in meeting the performance expectations.

5. Setting a Timeline for Improvement: PIPs establish a timeline within which the employee is expected to demonstrate improvement. This timeline provides a clear deadline by which the employee's performance should meet the required standards, allowing for a fair evaluation of progress.

6. Documenting Performance Issues: PIPs serve as an official record of performance concerns and the efforts made by the organisation to address them. They help create a paper trail, which can be useful in documenting the steps taken to support the employee, and may serve as a reference in future performance discussions or decisions.

7. Supporting Performance Documentation: If an employee's performance does not improve satisfactorily within the designated timeframe of the PIP, it can provide the organisation with grounds for taking further action, such as initiating disciplinary measures or considering other appropriate interventions.

Overall, the purpose of a Performance Improvement Plan is to provide a structured approach for addressing performance issues, guiding employees towards improved performance, and enabling them to meet the required standards of their role. PIPs aim to support employee growth and development while ensuring alignment with organisational goals and expectations.

When should this template be issued?
After information discussions have had no effect, and as soon as reasonably practical

Who should issue this template, and to whom?
The Employer (you) to the Employee

In which jurisdictions can this template be used?
Great Britain & NI (United Kingdom), Worldwide