Probation extended. Am I screwed?

[Magicmario]

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.

Hi op if they wanted rid of you they would have ended your employment. They are not yet confident that things are right so have extended the probationary period. Given what you've said it sounds positive to me just make sure that the next 4 weeks are like the last 4. Sounds like they know training was lacking too x

I have known many people have their probation period be extended then go on to long service. I have also known extended probation backfire on the company when the probationer decided that the job wasnt for them and left only having to give a week's notice.

Yep mine was extended and I was effectively put on a performance plan at a temp job. I then got a new job (hated the one I was in) and gave them my notice to say I wanted to leave at the end of my temp contract, to which I was told they'd just made me permanent and I was too late
I worked my longer notice and left and have been in the new job for eight years now, I love it.

Oh and th e new job was just a maternity cover. That's how much I hated the last one

I’m a manager who extended someone’s probation because we weren’t totally sure they had the skills we’d thought - but we did keep them on full-time after that. So it does happen!

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?

You need to make sure you google UK-only employment law otherwise your search results could be a melting pot of US, UK +++

If you are keen to secure your employment I would document a timeline of things that have happened to date that you believe you weren't supported on. "Throwing you in at the deep end" should not substitute support and training. Use your account during the probation meeting to discuss things you found difficult. Highlight that you aren't using excuses, rather you need to ensure they are aware of areas you had challenges with as a new starter.

Remember that by extending your probation they are potentially withholding on full benefits such as a longer notice period (you'd stay on 1 weeks notice either way, which isn't ideal) plus any benefits you may earn such as health cover etc. Might be worth checking the implications just so you know what this means.

Also it would be worth asking for a plan of things you can focus on so you have specific objective targets to aim for, to pass probation.

Extended probation means the opposite. They like you and want to keep you on but you haven't ticked enough of the boxes yet to say you have passed probation. If they wanted you gone they could have just said failed and that would be that.

Please don't worry.

My probation period was extended in my current job. There was one particular person I worked with who really didn't like me and used to complain about any slight mistake I made - which of course made me very anxious and more likely to make mistakes...... And mistakes, in this person's eyes, meant anything that wasn't done exactly in the way they wanted it done rather than actual errors - if you know what I mean. However I did get through my extended probationary period and have now been in the job for 8 years - doing very well thank you!

In my experience it says more about them than it does about you.

When it happened to me it was about a company that was apparently all about 'always-on performance culture' flexing its muscles and trying to be seen to push people to work harder. They genuinely seemed to think that I would find it motivating.

Of course, it sometimes backfires because some people respond well to that kind of stick treatment and some don't.

I'm a manager and have extended several people's probation periods. Usually it was because 3 months just wasn't enough time to tell whether they were capable of the job - often it takes a few weeks to get started so you're only judging on 3 or 4 weeks' effective work. Only once have I then not continued employment (and that person readily admitted they were not up to the role); in every other case they've gone on to permanent employment with us.

Hi my daughter started an apprenticeship on April with the local government authority.
She was put on probation and this was extended further.
There have been issues as she suffers from social anxiety and has medication.
The big boss isn't very nice by what I'm hearing
Sge is only 17.
She didn't attend school in the last 2 years through bullying so gas found work environment different
One minute thry tell her she doing well (the union rep) thrn the next say they aren't happy with her.
There is another apprentice there who can't do no wrong. She had a meeting with ger apprenticeship tutor and the mentor from work yesterday abd her course work is ahead.
The mentor then said to her if you were not with this council you would be out of a job
They did send her to occ health to get councelling but didn't need it for the job but are aware of the medication
Her meeting is the 15th of this month abd she's terrified age gonna lose her job.
I think she doing really well and have seen a huge change in her since working there
The union rep is going in with her as he did last time.
She gets in bother if she moves away from her desk or going to the toilet even.
I'm just wondering if an apprentice can get the sack if thry are saying course work is going well.
She don't know whether she coming or going
Thrn another apprentice told her that the big boss wants her out as he don't like her

Had same - met all the probation targets, excellent feedback from colleagues -poor manager - he does this to everyone to keep them on their toes. Reality is I’m not spending another 3 months on 1 weeks notice so I’ll look for another job. What usually happens at this company is ppl leave b4 he then passes them. High staff turnover and that’s why. U.K. is littered with poor managers just now sadly. Look for a better job with a better company with a better induction

Zombie thread.

@Mw270977 it'd be better to start your own thread, otherwise people will reply to the OP which won't be so useful for you.

If they had made up their minds, they would have let go of you already.
Extending probation is definitely to see whether you can sustain the improvement.

Hi everyone,
I wondered if someone can help me out, I started a degree apprenticeship in November and the actual university part of things start in April.
There were 3 of us recruited and put in different teams to have rotations for 3 years to learn as much as possible, the team I started in didn’t know they will be getting an apprentice until 2 days before I started and the line manager I was assigned unfortunately got a cancer diagnosis which meant my first 2months I received barely any training.
I was then passed on to a more senior manager and received more experience and training in the 3rd month and started working on projects, keeping in mind I have never had a corporate office role beforehand.
i had my probation review meeting today which none of the other apprentices have had yet and my probation was extended 3 more months. This makes me feel really demotivated and I feel a bit penalised for the rocky start. Should I be worried? :(

Hi @Meme161 it might be best to start a new thread for this. Hooe everything works out!