#I’ve been given a performance improvement plan — should I be worried?

What is a performance improvement plan? I’m new in my job and my boss said that they were giving me one, to outline the things  I need to do and learn in my job. It doesn’t feel like coaching, though — in fact  it feels a little threatening. How should I take this?
Oh, my friend. You’ve been PIP’d, and that’s not a good thing. Employees that the company wants to invest in get a development plan, which  helps them learn new skills and gain new experiences. Employees who aren’t performing their job well get a performance improvement plan. I hate to break it to you, but you need to think of it as a sign you’re not doing your job, and either you improve your performance or you will be fired. Sometimes it’s a sincere attempt to help someone get better, but sometimes it’s a formality before termination. If you fight like hell for your job, have a great attitude and demonstrate that you can get up to speed quickly, you’ve got a chance to keep your job. Good luck.

I’m a health-care worker and I refuse to get vaccinated. I’m currently on furlough and most likely going to be fired. Will I be eligible for unemployment benefits?
Generally speaking, each claim is unique and reviewed on a case-by-case basis, but the New York Department of Labor has clearly stated  that health-care and school workers who voluntarily quit or are terminated for refusing an employer-mandated vaccination will be ineligible for unemployment benefits, unless there’s a valid request for accommodation — and even that’s being challenged in courts. Similarly, all public employees who are fired for refusing the vaccine may be disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits. A worker who refuses an employer’s directive to get vaccinated could be considered in violation of company policy, which generally would disqualify a claim, too. This issue is likely to be challenged and play out in courts for years to come.

Gregory Giangrande has over 25 years of experience as a chief human resources executive. Hear Greg Weds. at 9:35 a.m. on iHeartRadio 710 WOR with Len Berman and Michael Riedel. E-mail: [email protected]. Follow: GoToGreg.com and on Twitter: @greggiangrande