...to think that probationary periods for new employees are just a great way for employers to take the p@@@

[WotchOotErAPolis]

I have to be off work for a week for surgery but have been told I'm not entitled to sick pay as I'm still in my probationary period. [It's six months, but I'm only 4 months through it].

I have put this on the AIBU thread as it's a whinge really - it's in their Ts & Cs that I don't get sick pay, but maybe I should have put off my surgery until after I've passed my probation then?! No wait - you do need surgery right now, not in another two months time, so lets dock your wages while we're at it just to help you feel better.

Seems like employers are taking us for a ride as they can pretty much do what they like while there are so many people chasing jobs. They say 'jump' we all say 'how high?'.

[todayisnottheday]

Our place has variable probation from 3 to 12 months depending on many things. They pay full pay for up to 1 month after probation (nothing during) but you are subject to performance reviews etc if you have more than 3 days

Sick pay is a minefield, as is the first two years in a job (even if you don't have probation) UK employment law can be pretty ropey really but things are improving.

Op I do sympathise with your situation but the company have to have rules and they have to apply equally sadly. You are basically paying the price for all the people who take the P.

[Powaqa]

I've never had a job that came with a probationary period, or maybe I did and I just didn't realise it. I have also never had a job where you didn't get full pay when you were sick

I am 4 months into a new job and was ill the second week I was there, I still got paid.

I work in the private sector and in this and my last job (similar roles) the employer paid an insurance premium for each employee that paid out if you were on long term sick. This appears to be becoming more popular

[WatchingSeaMonkeys]

YABU I'm afraid - giving someone a job & them then being off sick for the next x amount of time is a nightmare for employers.

Hopefully there are no complications with your surgery, but if there were it could be a disaster for the employer if they didn't have a probationary period.

[tass1960]

I had a 3 months probationary period but no sick pay for a year. Because I was sick for 3 days 6 months in I will actually be there 18 months before I get paid if I am sick :) I work for a largish firm of solicitors - luckily I am usually pretty healthy (worked in my last job for 12 years and had less than 2 weeks sickness in all that time - paid) ) also it's not the end of the world for me if I lose a few days pay - I do feel for the people I work with who really can't afford to lose the money !

[WotchOotErAPolis]

I do get SSP. Just a bit of a shock having been out of the 'proper job' market for nearly 15 years, having babies to bolster my pension(haha)!

Also coincides with hubby having been out of work since April (having been oow already for 18 months in last 3 years, so me & my p-t minimum wage job is our only income. Last thing we needed was for me to now be off sick with no pay through no fault of my own.

Like you say 'that's the way the cookie crumbles'. I do understand from employers pov too, having been an employer whilst running my own (failed!) business.

[scottishmummy]

I think probationary period is good idea.mutually for employee and employee

[newfavouritething]

How long has this probationary period thing been around? Is it an American thing? I've never heard of it (though in my defence I graduated in 96, and only worked for 3 years in a professional job before becoming self-employed). Do companies really expect you to uproot and move to a new area for a possible permanent job at the end of 3/6 months? That seems a completely crazy concept. Why would anyone agree to it? Or is it just for lower level jobs local to you?

[Solo]

My last job was 12 months probation and could be extended to 24 and that was from nearly 20 years ago when I started!

Hope you are better soon OP. BTW, isn't it illegal to take leave whilst you are sick? ie you can't take leave when you are sick to cover your wages. Your employer shouldn't be doing that.

[WotchOotErAPolis]

I'm taking sick leave for a week on advice from surgeon. I have a week holiday leave after that but tbh I'll probably be fit enough to go back to work & since we can't go away anywhere cos we have no ££ anyway, I might as well go back.

[WotchOotErAPolis]

DHs last job had a 12 month probation but he was then 'let go' after 13 months so certainly no protection for the employee as it didn't benefit him!

[WoodliceCollection]

OP YANBU, shocked people think you are. If there were permanent jobs for most people then fine, give employers an easy chance at the start I suppose, but at the moment most jobs are on contracts, often temp, often part-time, often people having to move every couple of years- in those circumstances it's ridiculous to make the first 6 months of any job completely vulnerable to employers' whims- that's 1/4 of a 2 year contract ffs with no rights! I have similar to you lost out on parental leave, supposedly available to all parents, because I have had to move jobs every 3 years at most, then by the time I'm entitled to it (after 1 year employment for a specific company), of course your child is too old (unless you get a job and go off on maternity immediately, which seems like an odd thing for employers to want to encourage especially since they won't invest in permanent employees). It is completely absurd and part of the massive skew towards employers away from workers that is part of UK culture at the minute.

"How long has this probationary period thing been around? Is it an American thing? I've never heard of it (though in my defence I graduated in 96, and only worked for 3 years in a professional job before becoming self-employed). Do companies really expect you to uproot and move to a new area for a possible permanent job at the end of 3/6 months? That seems a completely crazy concept. Why would anyone agree to it? Or is it just for lower level jobs local to you?"

It's been around since I finished uni in early 00s. It isn't American specifically, it's neoliberal post-Thatcher 'business friendly' wank. Yes, companies do really expect you to do that if you're under 40 now. "Anyone" would agree to it because the alternative is being on the dole, which is not really a long term option even if someone wanted it to be now. It is not just for lower level jobs, I have a PhD and all jobs I have done have the same system. People have no options as unions don't stand up for younger (and yes, it's pretty stupid, but under 35/40 counts as younger for the purposes of this paradigm shift in employment conditions), less securely employed people, and nor do any mainstream political parties. HTH.