Performance Improvement Plan (PIP)
A structured, time-bound plan to help an underperforming employee meet expectations.
A Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) is a formal document setting out where an employee's performance is falling short, the specific improvements required, the support that will be provided, and the timeframe for review. It gives the person a fair, structured opportunity to improve.
A credible PIP defines measurable objectives, realistic deadlines and regular check-ins, and it records outcomes at each stage. Handled well, it can genuinely turn performance around; handled poorly, it can feel like a route to dismissal and damage trust.
In Ireland and the UK, fair procedure matters greatly. Where a PIP does not succeed and dismissal follows, employers must have followed fair processes and natural justice to defend against unfair dismissal claims. Documentation and consistency are therefore essential.
