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After the death of his father, Owen Manley, a former sales executive, found himself in an unenviable situation: sitting in his boss’s office, getting put on a performance improvement program, or a PIP. “I could see, theoretically, where they were coming from. I hadn’t sold anything,” Manley told reporter Jessica Klein. “But the way it was delivered was not very compassionate.”

Over the next three months, Manley ended up crushing his sales goals and exceeding expectations. But he decided to leave the company anyway. “Ultimately, it ties back to loyalty,” he says. “I have a fierce sense of loyalty for everything in my life—family, friends, work. It was about people having your back when you need it. That’s why I sent off my resignation letter.”

Should you quit when you’re put on a PIP?

Many people in Manley’s position make a similar calculation—deciding to find a new job, even if they successfully complete their PIP. And for Manley, it was the right call. He found a new job almost immediately, and hasn’t looked back. But is that always what you should do in his situation?

Not all PIPs are the same, say experts. It doesn’t always mean you have to find a new job. But you should be aware that PIPs often serve as a legal formality before being let go. And even if you do successfully complete the program, it doesn’t mean your relationship with your manager will recover. There’s a reason some HR professionals jokingly refer to PIPs as a “paid interview period.” 

“The best option is to find a different company where you can really start with a clean slate and be successful,” executive and leadership coach Loren Margolis tells writer Alyse Maguire. But while you do your job search, “don’t take vacation days or call in sick,” she says. “Those are no-nos. Interview after hours, network after hours, update your résumé after work.”