How to Respond to a Write-Up at Work

⚠ Have you ever been written up at work? How did you respond? Did you make any mistakes? ⚠

I responded by quitting and starting my own business. I'll never work for anyone ever again and it gives me peace of mind and makes me happy.

In my experience, a good manager will give you an "unofficial" verbal warning with constructive criticism if it's a legitimate problem that they want to fix and keep you. Anytime the official write up comes into play, it's about protecting the company while they get ready to fire you, regardless of if it's for a legitimate reason or not.

A write-up shows you're working in the wrong place. When you're written up, one of two things is true. Either a) you're not doing the job well or b) the write up is bogus, and they're laying ground work to fire you. Either scenario shows that, regardless of whether it's your fault or their fault, you're employed at the wrong place. Once you get written up you shouldn't focus your energies on "improving", you should focus your energies on obtaining your next job.

As a HR person in the past. This attorney is absolutely 💯🎯

My daughter had a negative write up and was called into HR. Fortunately she had notes from every meeting, including after action notes, and copies of every email. She showed up at HR with a thick notebook with the pertinent pages tabbed. She ended up getting a promotion.

I got my one and only write up in twenty years earlier this year. I left the meeting, walked out to the parking lot, and made one call to an employer I knew. (I tend to keep potential employers in the background. My first responsibility is to myself and my family!).I had an offer in hand two weeks later. You can imagine the joy with which I turned in my notice immediately thereafter. I absolutely love my new job and the potential career path it has opened. :)

I worked as a public defender for over 10 years. In my last year there, the office tried to assign an excessive amount of cases that was predetermined as unethical. After a point, I refused to accept new cases because I am ethically required to do so. Soon after, I was written up. I stayed long enough to refinance my home and then left to open my own practice. These office managers are not your friends. They are not family. Always have an exit strategy when you have a boss.

In my experience, when they give you the first write-up you’re on borrowed time. Start looking for a new job after the FIRST write-up.

I’ve been written up over 15 times and I’m still here 30 years later.

I would like to add the #4 reason to write you up. In some companies is it general policy that if you have a write up within a certain period of time , 3-6 months, that you don’t get a wage increase. It was training for new managers that you should be writing up people at least once a month so that around 1/2 of your employees do not get a raise and that saves the company money. It also makes it look like I’m doing my job so I can get a better raise later.

Years ago I got written up for violating a company policy. I had to meet with my supervisor, manager, director and some person from HR. I was shocked because I thought I had followed the policy to the letter, but I was getting written up for the way I “handled” the situation. My manager attached a copy of the policy I was accused of violating to my write up. The write up outlined my actions which was almost exactly the same as the policy. They actually proved in writing I was correct! They also accused me of leaving early that day and attached my time card which showed I clocked out three minutes after my shift ended. It was one of the most bizarre experiences of my career.

A write-up is nature's way of telling you to find a new job.

My wife works at a hospital and they covid test all employees once a week. So yesterday she had a positive test. I called work and told them I can't come in. My manager said it would count as a call out and I would be written up. I said okay I can come in and when I spread covid I'll make sure to tell everyone who gets sick that you made me come in. She said stay home

This brings me back to when I worked at Walmart. I was a cashier, and pretty good at it. Well, one of the registers I ran, was short on money. I didn't get written up, but the next day, they wanted another employee to shadow me. I wasn't mad at first, I didn't think anything of it. But out of curiosity, I asked why I was being shadowed for the day, and their reply was "You've been making some mistakes, so we just want to make sure you're up to par." I was upset, and wanted to improve, so I asked what mistakes I've been making. The same person said she didn't know. It was that moment when I realized that I hadn't made mistakes. They're treating me like a thief and watching me. So on my 15 minute break, I took 45 minutes. I let it brood for a bit. When I returned, it was busy. And in front of customers I told the CSMs that I'm leaving early and I do not appreciate being treated like a thief. And told them if my early leave affects my attendance and this treatment continues the next day, I would get HR involved. Well, it didn't affect my attendance, and the bullshit stopped.

Got two write ups for egregious work-related mistakes on my part during my first year of employment. Write ups covered only the issue at hand and were handled professionally by management. Next year after working diligently and following the performance improvement recommendations, the very same manager who issued me the wrote up and coached me to improve, gave me the employee of the year award (among 100+ employees) along with a bonus. Some managers are fair and just do their job.

I had 3 toxic write ups in 40+ years in IT. First one was the day after my management at a law enforcement agency found out I was pregnant (1980). I responded. I got another one the next day.... and responded...and they proceeded to write me up 2 times a week, every week. Since Id had two years of commendations, I pointed out the odd correlation between their awareness of my pregnancy and the initial write up. I asked with each write up what specifically I needed to do.... which they never did. So, I kept detailed hourly documentation, continued to do my job, read the policies and requested an Internal Affairs investigation. I found a new job, turned in my notice and figured that was it.. nope. They wrote me up for "misfeasance, malfeasance and non feasance" which is criminally failing to do your job, the next day. Game on. Long story short, had an IA trial...me with 4 4" binders of documentation, and them with nothing. I won. In front of me the IA Captain told my 3 managers if I sued them, the department would NOT stand behind them. I did not sue, but their careers in the department died. Worked for me. I was 24. This was my second job in IT. It was a well learned lesson. The next two write ups were 13 and 25 years after that first one. I was unsurprised and handled both the same way. Although, I admit, on the last one I made it a vendetta to get her gone, and I succeeded. However, the stress nearly destroyed my health. As much satisfaction as I got from her transferring out, it was not worth it. Best advice I can give, do EXACTLY what they tell you in the performance improvement plan. Second toxic write up said I had to work 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with an hour for lunch at 11:30 to 12:30. So, I did exactly that. If there was a production support issue going on and 4:30 hit, I left, with apologies that I wasn't allowed to work beyond 4:30. If I was in a meeting, I would leave at precisely 11:30 for lunch. I successfully navigated that because they were very specific and I followed it exactly. Once I was officially off it, I continued to do the plan to avoid any future issues... and found a new job. Do exactly what's in the plan and find a new job.

As a business owner I appreciate your videos, I do not want my HR department to fall into the trap of protecting the company at the cost of its people, you are helping me to see where those temptations and pitfalls exist. If I can help steer my HR staff toward a more caring and legal ethic as a result of what I learn here than many people will win as a result. We work hard to create an attractive culture for our employees, I'd hate to see all that work undone by some of these practices I hear about from your content. Thank you sir.

I injured myself at work and as a manager I saw what my job was doing 2 years later. I have lifelong injuries due to my accident, and once I got fired I sued and won. I even coached others dealing with my exact situation. It was sad to see people emboldened with such power squirm in front of the judge and even be questioned by the judge directly, but I’m proud for standing up to them.

Got a written warning with a performance improvement plan. Please pray for me I saw “ termination “ as an option if they do not like my performance at end of the month, and I need this career at the moment.