I've been asked to accompany someone at a probation review hearing

[Invalidusername88]

Just wondering what kind of things I can expect. It sounded a bit serious but I don't think this is a disciplinary? Just wondering if this is serious or casual for want of a better word. The person in question has only been there for 6 weeks and has ruffled a few feathers so it could well end in a warning or it could just be a general review. I read for a performance review that employers are only obliged to let their employee bring a colleague or trade union rep if there is a possibility that the meeting might end in a warning or dismissal but that is a performance review not probation review - or are they the same thing? Help!

Tricky to say but if you've been invited to attend then it's safe to say the probation isn't going well. They may be dismissing them and want a third party as a witness (reasonably simple to do during a probation period as long as it's not discriminatory) or they may be warning them, or telling them that they're at risk of not passing their probation/need to extend the probation period.

Who is it that has asked you to attend? The person being reviewed or one of the managers?

Thanks for your response - the person being reviewed asked me to attend. It was on their letter that they are allowed to bring a colleague or trade union representative with them if they so wished (optional)

That to me sounds like either they'll be given a warning, or they'll be dismissed. I work in HR and realistically we'd only send someone a letter like that giving them the right to be accompanied at a probation review meeting if we were letting them go, but different places have slightly different procedures.

Generally when accompanying you don't have much of a role. You can't speak for the person, you are there predominantly as:

• emotional support
• a second pair of ears
• to take notes.

I've accompanied a few people in redundancy and disciplinary type meetings, what I like to do is have a conversation with them beforehand to get down a list of the important questions they want to make sure they ask, and the important points they want to cover. I then keep track of those and if any are missed I make the person aware so they can ask them.

A probation review is basically a performance review during your probation, and yes it is very possible for employment to be ended during one or a 'if this doesn't improve your employment will be terminated' warning, or an extension of the probation period, or a 'well done you are doing a great job (unlikely if they've been given the right to be accompanied and called to a formal meeting)

To be 6 weeks in and already be described as having 'ruffled a few feathers' is pretty shit to be honest, so it sounds like this particular employee is not a good fit for the organisation, has had complaints, or their behaviour is bad, so it doesn't sound positive

I received the following letter below inviting to a probation period after 3 months Which is when my probation ends what does this letter below mean?

Hi Veronica,

I hope you are well and having a great start to you’re week,

I am writing to invite you to attend a formal probationary meeting on Friday 19th July 12.30pm via teams. I will conduct the meeting and I will have someone there to take notes.

During this meeting I would like to discuss the following points,

-Performance specifically % to target/ Kip’s

-Time keeping

-Store and customer feedback.

I must inform you this meeting may be terminated of your contract.

You are entitled if you wish to have either a colleague or a trade union representative.

Please confirm your attendance and if you wish to bring a representative 24 hours prior to the meeting

What does this mean I know that my probation period was 3 month's

Sorry but that doesn't sound good

@beautygirl38 I work in HR and unfortunately, that letter looks very much like they will be dismissing you for not meeting the performance standards required for an employee on probation. Definitely ask for someone to be there with you, take notes at the meeting and ask for things to be followed up in writing.

Unfortunately if you're in your probation period and they have evidence of their performance concerns (i.e. they're not discriminating against you due to a protected characteristic like race or disability) then they can dismiss you reasonanly easily. If that is the way it goes, then see if you can be paid in lieu of your notice so you don't need to work your notice period and try to agree a neutral reference.

Sorry this is happening.

My manager sent me this in the workplace chat so does it mean that my probation may go well?I worked last Sunday so and Last Friday it's only last Saturday I was off sick I will be in Friday Saturday and Sunday next week as normal
Best wishes
Veronica dep
Jul 9 at 2:55 PM
Glad to hear your doing better,
will do your return to work on Friday as I’m in annual leave till next Thursday from tomorrow.

I will also send an invite for Probation Review on my return ahead of our visit on the 24th July which I’m very excited for. Have a great rest of the week. Take care

Its a formal review, the outcome would be to pass, extend or fail the probation., but like pp have said that letter would be an indication of not meeting expectations, I would be concerned if this is completely out of the blue. Never known a company to use them if probation was a flying success but some companies could be that formal i expect

I work in quite a formal industry. I have usually had my manager ask if we could have a chat for five minutes, popped into a side room, and been told I'd passed my probation/ thank you for all the hard work/ here is a letter confirming you've passed it etc. These sound very much like extension of probation meetings or end of employment meetings with the reps being there.

The letter isn't out of the blue the 19th July is the end of my 3 month probation
Her store visit is the following week so what does this mean

My probation period has come to an end

Should I look for another job