When did it become normal to have a probation period at work?

[HauntedBungalow]

I didn't come across it until some time in the 2000s. Seems a bit overkill given you can fire at will during the first two years anyway.

I had a probation period in my first job back in 1987. And in every job since, come to think of it.

Yeah I’m not sure what the point is given that we have no employment rights until 2 years service.

Gosh, my first full time job had a probation period back in 1985.

Does a probation period actually mean anything? As you say, it's easy enough to get rid of new staff for any reason or none. The employer saying you're on probation is doing nothing more than alerting the employee to that fact. And even if they don't you are still "on probation".

@AuntyBumBum you've obviously never worked in the public sector. It's notoriously difficult to get rid of a member of staff without jumping through 101 hoops first 😳

My first job in 1983 had a 3 month probation period. I still got sacked after 10 months I was truly shite at that job 😂

I think the probation period works both ways. Usually the notice period is shorter during probation. So if you take a job and find its really not for you , you can get out earlier.

I joined civil service in 1988, 2 years probation!!

I started work way back in the 80s and there were probation periods then. Notice on both sides was short from what I remember, it was a long time ago!

I had a probation period of a year when I joined a Civil Service department.

When I completed it I send a celebratory email round the office and someone came over being very supportive about the fact I had completed probation: he thought it was for some crime rather than my contractual period! 😂

I have had a colleague reach the end of her 3 month probation period and let the company know she would be leaving. We had a pretty toxic boss in that team to be fair, she recognised the role for what it was and would be and left with only a weeks notice (would have been three months after the probation was done). Honestly it should be a trying out period for both of you to test the fit, its a good thing.

HR here. Probation period passed = longer notice period. Two years passed = full employment rights (for now). Parliament will
be debating to abolish the two year rule
on 24 October 24. If that happens (seems likely) probation periods will become more
important.

As long as I've been working since 1999

Every job I’ve ever had has had one.

@plantymcplantface are they planning to scrap the 2 year rule altogether? So employees would have full employment rights from day 1? If so, I predict all jobs will suddenly have a two year probation period.

@TheLocust yes - Labours plan is to scrap the 2 year rule. As you say if this gets through parliament it will have a big impact on employers and employees. It may well act as a deterrent for small employers to employ at all.

www.myhrdept.co.uk/latest_news/labour-to-scrap-2-year-unfair-dismissal-rule/

Parliament will ensure companies cannot do this.

Their contracts with agencies won't allow this to happen either.

Probation has been used in the past as a qualifying period for benefits such as healthcare, gym membership, pension enrolment. Pensions is now a day 1 right eg auto enrolment so that aspect is outdated.

I don’t think there will be true day 1 rights. Even the most hardened unionist who’s never worked in a private job would have to understand that sometimes people are no good at the job.

I can see the allowance of probation but for say 6 months only, or allowing small businesses to opt out. Personally (as a small business owner!) I don’t want small businesses opting out as I don’t want good people disincentivised to work for us. But I do want a “no reason” ability to move people on within the first 6 months.

If we don’t even get that I guess we would just do everything we could to avoid hiring anyone, look at short term contracts or look at whether we could outsource admin functions overseas.

Agree - we also use probation for sickness benefit. They have to be there for 6 months to get more than SSP.