Probation salary?

[ThePawnsGambit]

Recently received a software engineering offer at a major tech firm. The salary is great. The only problem is that I’ll be on probation at 70% of the “normal” salary for a year. AIBU to think this isn’t normal? I’ve never seen anything like this.

I guess its just a different way of saying "starting salary is X, rising to Y after 12 months satisfactory service"

Yes, this is a thing

I don’t understand what the issue is.

Oh. Was not aware. It’s my first job after a 10 year break and DH thinks it’s an “unusual and probably unethical offer” (his words). Think he might be wrong then!

I've never known this anywhere I've worked but it may be a thing in certain industries. As has been said it's only the same as saying you'll get an increase of X after a year.

Again, it may just be where I've worked but 12 months probation seems a long time. It's quite an uncertain period and you have very limited rights so I wouldn't want anything longer than 6 months tbh. Maybe you can negotiate the period of probation rather than the salary?

Is the 70% an acceptable salary for the role? If so, I'd see it as odd but ok. If it's not market rate in itself, I'd tell them so and find something else.

The 70% is on the lower end of the “norm”. My only other offer is about 15% less than the post-probation offer but it’s a guaranteed position not a probation. Money aside, I much prefer this firm. Just not too sure about this offer per se.

No, it really isn't a thing in software engineering especially in a large tech company.

I work in a software and services company and no, we don't do this and over my 30+ years working, it's never happened.

We start people at full salary and a 6 month probation period, where we can terminate them with a week's notice. If they have been with the company less than 12 months when pay rise time comes, they aren't eligible for it.