Employee is put on PIP after refusing to join a 10 PM work call, tries to understand if they're getting fired: ‘Is this a genuine improvement plan?’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Jun 17, 2026 9:45 AM EDT

What came first, the Performance Improvement Plan, or the late-night work call?

Most employees know that when they get an email from HR telling them that they are being put on a performance improvement plan, PIP for short, that their days in the company are probably coming to an end. It is rare for an employee to get a PIP and actually be given an opportunity to improve before they get fired. That is just the way things go.

That being said, most employers need a reason for why they decided to put an employee on PIP, which leads some employers to set their workers up, which is what some people think happened to the employee who shared their story below.

On a random workday, this employee was contacted by their team lead late at night. The team lead wanted the employee to join a meeting at 10 PM, which was quite unusual. The employee couldn't join the meeting and explained so to the team lead, but the next thing they knew, they were contacted by HR and told they were being put on a performance improvement plan.

Now, this is where things get confusing to the employee. Was the PIP planned, and the meeting just an excuse to put them on it, or was the reason they were put on PIP because of their refusal to join a meeting after work hours? And even more importantly, are they getting fired, or do they have a solid chance to improve and keep their job?

After they posted the story on an online community, they got varied responses. Some think the employee should already be looking for another job, while others think there is a solid chance to keep the job and come out of this issue stronger. Keep scrolling to read the full story and decide your stance.

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