Friday Feedback

Dear Alan

I have been a faithful reader of your blog for over a year. I truly appreciate the insight and advice you provide. I am thrilled to have found your blog, and find your questions and answers extremely helpful. Regards.

Linda
New York, New York

Dear Linda,

Dear Al

Thanks ever so much for the wealth of information you make available, and the wisdom about how to use that information.

Dan
Acushnet, Massachusetts

Dear Dan,

Rest assured, I have also enjoyed and appreciated our periodic communications over the years.

Dear Al,

I wrote to you asking how HR professionals like myself could help make PIP’s a worthwhile endeavor. Thank you for your excellent response to my question. There are four things that I found particularly valuable and will carry with me from now on: (1) your analogy to a knife, in which you mentioned that one knife can be used to hurt, or save, people, depending on the intent of the person whose hand it is in; (2) your list of all the elements a good PIP should include; (3) the idea of holding the manager – and the HR director – accountable if the plan fails (accountability: what a concept!); and (4) naming things properly (if it’s not truly a PIP, call it a Warning of Probable Termination and provide due process). With thanks and warm wishes for the holidays.