Underperformance
A situation in which an employee consistently fails to meet the expected results, quality standards, or goals of their role.
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Underperformance is a situation in which an employee consistently fails to meet the expectations of their role — whether in the quality of their work, the volume of tasks completed, deadlines, or the attitudes and behaviors expected within the team. The key word is "consistently": a single weaker period is not underperformance, but a sustained gap between expectations and actual results is.
The causes vary: unclear goals, missing tools or training, poor communication with the manager, and sometimes personal factors or a drop in motivation. For this reason, the first step should not be disciplinary action but a conversation that uncovers what is really driving the weaker results.
Well-managed underperformance starts with clear, measurable expectations and regular feedback. When the problem persists, companies turn to structured tools such as a performance improvement plan (PIP). Running goals, reviews, and feedback in Calamari's Performance module helps spot shortfalls early and respond to them based on data rather than impressions.
Related terms
Keeper test
A management check in which a manager asks whether they would fight to keep an employee who announced they were leaving for a similar role at another company.
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Performance
Easily configure surveys, collect team feedback, and monitor the entire process in one place.
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