extended probationary period

[thingummyjig]

can somebody please advise me? My daughter has been employed by a company since November, her contract says she was on a 3 month probationary period, which was up on February 5th, she had an appraisal in which her boss clarified her job role and specific duties. Then 10 days after her probationary period was over, she received a letter from the MD saying that her probationary period was to be extended for another 3 months. The letter was dated the same date as she received it, so it hadnt been held up in the post. Are her employers allowed to do this? At what point is it too late for them to just decide to put somebody back on probationary?

[meglet]

My MD in my old job hired a General Manager with 3 months probationary period. The week that 3 months was up the MD went on holiday and forgot to tell the General Manager that he was officially extending his probation until he returned to do the probationary interview. By this point the two on them where not on good terms at all. When the MD came back he tried to extend the probation and so the GM took advice from Human Resources dept who told him the MD couldn't do this - the probationary period was passed and that was that - and that he should put in a grievance if he was unhappy. He did. It was a stupid and avoidable mistake that the MD dearly paid for as the General Manager is still there now.

Does your daughter's company have a Human Resources Manager? If so, get her to talk to them asap.

[thingummyjig]

I suspected (and hoped ) this was so! thanks for your quick response!

[Buenchico]

Sorry, but it's wrong to assume that a probationary period can't be extended. It depends upon the terms of the contract.

Extending a probationary period is often in an employee's favour. If it wasn't possible, an employer could be forced to decide between keeping an employee who hadn't yet met the required standard or sacking them (despite the possibility that they might soon 'come up to standard'). Faced with just those two options, any sensible employer would probably decide to terminate the employee's contract.

Extending a probationary period allows an employer to 'take the middle ground' by giving the employee a second chance. Within certain professions (e.g. teaching) it's quite common to extend a probationary period before full professional status can be achieved.

If your daughter's contract states that her probationary period is assessed purely on a 'pass or fail' basis, and she's not actually been failed, then the probationary period can't be extended. (That would seem to be the type of contract that Meglet's colleague had). However, if her contract states that she'll only pass her probationary period after a satisfactory 3 month appraisal, and offers the possibility of an extended period of probation (rather than dismissal) if she fails to meet the required standard, then everything is in order.

Chris

[thingummyjig]

ok chris; thanks; I see your point, and we'll have to check the contract.