Extension to probationary period

[Ohmydarlin]

I started in my role on 6th May. On 4th August (whilst I was on annual leave) my boss sent me a text to say that we needed to do my probationary period review the next day - he said he wanted my views, how I had found things, what I thought about the role etc. The meeting never happened.
On Tuesday this week my boss called me into his office and basically said that he thought I wasn't on top of things (he raced through some examples) and that I now had two options:
a. extend my probationary period by another 3 months to 9 months (I wasn't officially informed that it had been extended to 6!)
b. terminate my employment at the end of November.

In addition, in my offer letter it said that my salary would increase by £1k after 6 months. However, he now wants to reduce my salary by £2k with effect from the 1st November.

I feel a bit shell shocked. In the 6 months I have been there I have had no feedback from my boss and was under the impression that my work was more than satisfactory.

I feel like my boss wants me out. I've looked online to see what other roles there are out there and I've come across a role which sounds suspiciously like my role but paying £5k less. Obviously I can't prove this.

I would just like some feedback please on how to approach this? My boss wants an answer by Monday. I really don't want to be out of a job just before Christmas so feel like my decision has to be to stay and accept the pay cut, but the way he has gone about this seems very unfair.

[Itscurtainsforyou]

I'm afraid it does sound like the boss wants you out. It may be nothing personal, could be a reduction in work or budget cuts, but obviously it's still no good for you.

Good practice, if they have concerns about your performance, is to put together a plan of how you can improve over a set period of time. If you really want to stay there for the time being, I would suggest this.

That would hopefully buy you a few months - and also give you time to look for a new job.

The money issue - a cut instead of a raise - is worth asking for clarification on (ie to find out if it is tied to performance) - to me, the money issue confirms their treatment of you might be related to their budget issues). If you can afford to take the cut and stay put while looking for another job, I'd do that.

Sorry you're going through this.

[Ohmydarlin]

Thanks for the reply curtains. I've just spoken to ACAS who confirmed what I suspected. There is very little i can do as i've worked there for less than 2 years. I agree that the best thing I can do is accept their offer and look for another job in the meantime. I just feel like telling my boss that what they are doing is morally wrong but I know that won't achieve anything.

[flowery]

Well if he wanted you out he could easily just dismiss you.

You have a contractual entitlement to the increased salary, and cutting your salary rather than increasing it is technically a breach of contract. However he could easily give you notice to terminate your contract anyway if you say no. This means if he wants to vary your contract he should give the appropriate amount of notice.

What notice period are you on currently?

[Ohmydarlin]

I'm on a months notice.

[EBearhug]

What would you have said if you'd had the review back in August? How do you think your performance has been? Are there areas you need more support in? Do you agree with his examples that he gave to show you're not on top of things? You say you had been under the impression that your work was more than satisfactory - and the fact you're shell-shocked suggests you had been getting on okay, not a "don't get on with new boss" situation.

None of this will make any difference as others have pointed out - you've got very few rights, having been there under 2 years - but thinking about it may help for your next position. (And after this, would you want to work there any more?)