PIPed while 9 months pregnant

New
sCnt87

New

sCnt87
Nov 5, 2019 517 Comments

I worked at my current company for 2 years. I got a promotion in first 6 months. I have been a high performing employee. i took over all the work, trained everyone and kept the ship afloat when my manager went on her maternity leave.
I got pregnant after and let my company know. I also hired and trained a team to get the work done. My manager started lashing out on me on unreasonable things after she came back. I thought she was trying to establish her control again or was going through something so I let it go. She has been trying to find my faults in random things even petty small things. I was very polite but she wouldn't leave any opportunity to highlight the minor issues in emails to entire group and higher ups.
I went on vacation and before I left there was a problem in one of my projects. I was swamped with work and put in so much extra effort to fix the problem which I did. After I came back, she completely changed. She started assigning my projects to other people, took over my team without asking me. she still kept on belittling me, making sarcastic comments. She started hiding things from me. She escalated her attacks on me and in my review, gave me a performance improvement plan. Before that she lashed out at me in front of my colleagues and my direct reports, blamed me for things as if trying to set me up. HR was there in my review and she gave me a PIP which was fabricated.
She didn't care that I was 9 months pregnant, so close to my labor. All she cared was how I'm going to transition my projects and kept on reminding me of that. I tried to explain my position to the HR but it was of no use. i couldn't resist but writing a rebuttal to that PIP explaining my story with facts and evidence.
My health was deteriorating. After I wrote my response, They discussed all the points and the higher ups acknowledged that' it's a miscommunication problem but the manager didn't back down. Eventually the HR sided with her and they retracted few points but didn't take the entire PIP back. No one seemed to notice my pregnancy and that I was in so much stress etc etc, all they cared was me to improve in my 9th month on things that were made up. the higher ups agreed with me on everything but said that they cant do anything to help. My doctor was worried about my health and took me out due to health reasons which led me to start my maternity a month early.

They stopped my PIP but wanted to start the clock once I came back after the leave. they even wanted me to blame my direct report but I didn't do that. My doctor removed me from that situation but it put me through a lot of stress.
Upon return, they gave me the same PIP on the first day so I gave notice the same day.

I wonder if this is a norm in most companies?

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TOP 517 Comments
  • Google / Eng
    vanostrand

    Go to company page Google Eng

    PRE
    Microsoft
    vanostrand
    Sue their asses. PIPing a 9 month pregnant lady is just brutal.

    There are always two sides to a story, but in this case, I don't even have to listen to the other side. The fact that they PIPed you while you were about to go on maternity leave just shows how bad your manager is.

    Sue. You will never have to work for someone again!
    Nov 5, 2019 12
    • You need a different lawyer. Your current lawyer doesn’t seem that bright
      Nov 7, 2019
    • If this goes to court, any Jury is going to hammer the employer for PIP'ing a 9-month pregnant woman with a past of high performance/promotions.

      They'll settle fast.

      And honestly, just write to the NYT. They love this shit and would publish this story. The employer would be buried at that point. Large-scale media attention seems to clear the upper ranks out pretty fast when they're nationally embarrassed for their behavior.
      Nov 10, 2019
  • Amazon
    vVQq62

    Go to company page Amazon

    vVQq62
    Definitely not the norm. You might be covered under local employment law, depending on where you live. Try to talk to a lawyer
    Nov 5, 2019 8
    • New
      sCnt87

      New

      sCnt87
      OP
      That is a good suggestion.
      Nov 6, 2019
    • New
      usTX76

      New

      usTX76
      Go on reddit you'll have more answers (/legaladvice).
      Good luck, that really suck, sorry about that
      Nov 6, 2019
  • New
    QTdN03

    New

    QTdN03
    Microsoft hired a 9 month pregnant woman who had been laid off a few months prior to her due date. She was allowed to take the full maternity leave benefit starting on her start date. There are good companies with compassionate people out there. You just have to find them.
    Nov 5, 2019 1
  • New
    SrZeroCool

    New

    PRE
    IBM
    SrZeroCool
    What company is it? You seriously need to out them!!!
    Nov 5, 2019 7
    • Uber
      klsee

      Go to company page Uber

      klsee
      Sorry to hear this. You should find your way out of this toxic environment. You can always get anther job... Should not put your baby thru this.

      I don't r like pubic shaming, but it has worked before.

      Your VP might have a point. You should be more vocal and document your work carefully. Make good relationship with peers and skip level... Sounds like your company doesn't have this at all. Move on to greener grass. Good luck.
      Nov 5, 2019
    • LinkedIn / Eng
      QGdY34

      Go to company page LinkedIn Eng

      QGdY34
      Probably Apple lol
      Nov 8, 2019
  • Flagged by the community.