[apple4ever]

Yes of course in most cases they may not snap back, but it's not a bad faith expectation. It's a good faith expectation that they need a chance regardless of whether they end up doing it.

Also of course a well-performing employee could be harmed by this, but the method is irrelevant - that is a bad company and the employee is well to find another job anyway.

I think the problem with your statement is you are trying to overgeneralize. PIPs run the gamet depending on how good the company is. I've never see a PIP be used in the ways you described, and I have never used them in such a way (and never will).