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Original poster

Probation extended. Am I screwed?

41 replies

Magicmario · 12/09/2019 23:21

My probation has been extended by 3 months at work. I’m shitting myself. Has anyone had this and been kept on? I have a meeting next week to expand on reasons. I have have had a great last 4 weeks at the job so expected to pass but the 4 weeks before that were admittedly shaky as I didn’t feel I had the correct training. I am gutted and embarrassed. My husband has a decent job but we will struggle massively if I am sacked. I’m wondering if I should just resign as being fired would look awful.

OP posts:
FairfaxAikman · 13/09/2019 01:00

I had my probation in my current job extended by three months because of weakness in one area.

I've now been there eight years.

Paddington68 · 13/09/2019 00:58

Start looking around.

Likethebattle · 13/09/2019 00:49

Mine was extended as my work used Bradford scoring for absence and I was 1 number above the sign off!

PawPawNoodle · 13/09/2019 00:41

I had my probation extended in the civil service by 3 months due to too many periods of sick leave. I stayed on and was quickly promoted.

Don't resign yet, ask how you can improve and work closely with managers. Ask for regular one to ones to check progress until Probation is up. Good luck!

alilstressed · 13/09/2019 00:37

Things to check. Are they following their probation policy? Have they informed you in writing of the areas which need improvement?

Foslady · 13/09/2019 00:30

I have this happen.

After talking with HR it was classed as an inexperienced manager poorly training and workplace bullying.

Off my own bat I wrote SOP’s for the job and got her to check and sign them off. Wouldn’t work for everyone but it showed that I did know the job, she knew I knew the job, we agreed on how it should be done and I’d shown initiative in doing them

57Varieties · 13/09/2019 00:30

Don’t resign now, that would be completely ridiculous. Unfortunately (there are exceptions though) probation or not employers can dismiss staff within their first two years without a reason.

bridgetreilly · 13/09/2019 00:26

If you were screwed, you wouldn't still have the job. Extending the probation means they think you're worth the chance. If things have improved in the last few weeks, you'll be fine. I would make sure to speak to your line manager and ask whether there is anything in particular that you need to work on to ensure that your performance is satisfactory.

lastqueenofscotland · 12/09/2019 23:42

I had my probation extended in a job it was because I literally had no training and had been doing other tasks (and doing them well) due to other departments crazy workloads
Got my training and was fine.

Original poster
Magicmario · 12/09/2019 23:42

I feel so upset about it. I gave up a secure well paid job to go there. I don’t think the director has taken to me but have a nice relationship with my line manager. Googled being put on extended probation and a lot of cases seem to be about getting rid of people easily. However, surely they could have sacked me today if they really wanted to?

OP posts:
happyasasandboy · 12/09/2019 23:40

If things have been much more successful over the last 4 weeks they probably just want to see that you can sustain that level of performance.

I have extended probation periods for employees before and it all work out fine. Though one of them I did use the extension period to find him a role in another part of the business, where his performance has been much better!

Howlovely · 12/09/2019 23:35

I'm certainly no expert in my own field let alone others but I would imagine you have a very strong case if you can show your drastic improvement over the past four weeks? The lack of training wasn't your fault so really shouldn't count against you and if you have something physical to show (data or something?) that you are now doing really well and now have had the relevant training to enable you to continue doing so then I don't see how they can argue that you haven't fulfilled the requirements?

WarshipWarrior · 12/09/2019 23:32

You're overthinking. I work in a large company and I would say 80% of those on probation get it extended and 99.9% of those then go on to be signed off fully and and work for the company for many years. Those 0.01% are basically either very strange and dont suit the job even with extra support/been constantly off sick for no good reason/mutually choose to leave.

Original poster
Magicmario · 12/09/2019 23:30

No, they did not acknowledge my lack of training in the email. They told me verbally about 5 weeks in that they had thrown me in at the deep end without enough training and support though.

OP posts:
YesQueen · 12/09/2019 23:24

Mine was extended due to sickness and I passed fine Smile

Zigzag13 · 12/09/2019 23:23

Depends, did they highlight lack of training in the reasons? ...

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