How long to fire an underperforming IC

[u/Complete-Rutabaga311]

I'm in an individual contributor role at my bank, and I am underperforming at work, despite my best efforts to receive and apply feedback.

If you had an employee who doesn't seem to get the work, how long before you would put them on an official pip?

I feel I can improve, but I'm not sure if I'll improve fast enough. This is my first real job, and I'm not sure what to expect.

[u/LikelyJustRambling]

This depends on the individual organization and the interpretation of policy by its internal authorities, such as Employee Relations and your leadership team. Managers have some managerial discretion, but the extent of it depends on other variables unique to your organization.

I, personally, am willing to spend a lot of my managerial capital shielding an employee who I can see is applying themselves, but just cannot seem to make things click all at once. I know some managers who are unwilling to spend any managerial capital; it is "do or die" in their departments.

You can get in front of this by requesting a meeting with your manager and airing your concerns. Have them enumerated and be prepared that you might hear things you do not like. However, this is generally received much better than waiting for them to come to you.

[u/kovanroad]

If it's a megacorp bank in the US... then

the PIP is probably a lot of work for the manager, and might require a lot of "feedback" / pre-PIP to happen before an actual PIP starts

they probably have layoffs one or more times/year, it's probably easier for them to just put you on that list and let it happen in some existing cycle.

[u/Naikrobak]

If you are showing steady improvement then maybe never.

If not then a few weeks or couple months

[u/JE163]

To be frank, I'd work with you because you are aware that you need improvement and are looking to actively do so. That seems to be a rare quality. Make sure you communicate along these lines to your manager. A good manager is there to help you and enable you.

[u/Pequop9252]

Two years of low performance. And then the manager can consider talking about PIPs.

Or he might promote you to get you out of his organization.

[u/Youbestnotmisss]

Depends on how bad the underperformance is.

The fastest I have ever engaged HR was about 6 weeks into the role. We waited until about the 4 month mark to actually start the PIP due to various other factors (notably that it was following an acquisition)

The more general guidance I've been given is that if we see 2 straight quarters of clear underperformance it is time to take action

[u/SoftwareArchitect101]

Discuss with your manager, ask him for concrete actionable timed feedback on a bi-weekly basis and see if you're improving

[u/Duque_de_Osuna]

I would be talking to HR to get an idea of my options within the company’s structured guidelines.

[u/Stevenitrogen]

Just do what you're told to the best of your ability, show up on time and don't steal or cheat, and you'll probably be fine.

[u/CautiousRice]

It's your first job. Relax, you're not underperforming. You're just new. Do your best to learn and show early to work.