Off Prompt

AI Tools for Small Business

Operations

Write a Performance Improvement Plan for an Employee

Use this prompt when you need to create a formal performance improvement plan for an underperforming employee and have no HR department. Fill in each bracketed field with your specific employee details, incidents, and goals before running it.

The Prompt

I am a small business owner without an HR department. I need to write a simple, professional performance improvement plan (PIP) for an underperforming employee. Please draft a one-to-two-page PIP using the information below. Use neutral, factual, constructive language only — no threats, no emotional language, no assumptions about why the employee is underperforming.

Employee role: [e.g., Barista at a café / Retail sales assistant / Apprentice electrician]

Main responsibilities: [List 3–5 key duties]

Performance issues (be specific): [e.g., Late to shifts on 4 occasions in October; received two written customer complaints in September regarding poor service]

What good performance looks like: [e.g., On time for all scheduled shifts; no more than one customer complaint per quarter; completes closing checklist without reminders]

Support already provided: [e.g., Verbal warning on October 10th; additional training on coffee machine maintenance on September 15th]

Support the business will provide during this plan: [e.g., Weekly check-ins with manager; updated opening/closing checklist]

Plan duration: [30 / 60 / 90 days]

Consequence if targets not met: [e.g., Further disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment]

Format the document with: an introduction paragraph, a table of measurable goals and check-in dates, a section on employer support, and a signature block for both parties.

From the guide

How to use AI to write a simple performance improvement plan for an underperforming employee without an HR department →

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