Am I going to fail probation

[Greenraintoday]

I'm getting worried, half way through probation, have had 3 unavoidable bouts of sickness ( all different cases and not disability related) been late in to work 4 times and have been reminded to answer emails that I forgot several times

In my defense I have had alot going.on in personal life and this has impacted me

AIBU to think I should be given another chance ?

She said she had not responded to several emails, not that she responded to none of them.

There are plenty of people looking for work who are capable of getting to work on time, & can remember to answer e-mails.
I'd sack you.

Is this a usual level of frequency for time off sick for you?
Looking back, did you absolutely need to be off sick each time, or could you have worked and just felt a bit crappy?
Not suggesting you go to work with d&v etc, but individual thresholds for being too sick to work do vary.
Something to think about.

Think about why you were late on each occasion, and is there reasonably anything you could have done (and can do now) to prevent it?

Missing emails - why/how did this happen?
What can you put in place to make sure it doesn't happen again?
Can you plan in time at start, mid, and near end of the day to properly check through yout emails and tick each one when you have read it?

If you are 3 months in, you have another 3 months to demonstrate how great you can be.
What else can you improve on, or do to show them you are a valuable employee?
Kindly, they want people thatvdo more than just turn up on time and getting through each day
How can you show them this is you?

Sorry OP but probation is a time when you really need to be doing your absolute best. You push through sickness unless you really can’t work, you aren’t late and you make sure your work is to a high standard. If you behave like you have during probation, what would you be like when you’re not on probation?

I know everyone has personal problems and work should be understanding of that, but tbh if you’re letting it affect you during probation I would assume you’re someone who always has personal problems and will be therefore be full of drama.

Sickness is unavoidable, though does depend on what it actually was and whether you were genuinely ill or just had a bit of a cold and used that as an excuse to stay off.

Lateness is not ok during probation, even if it’s a workplace that is relaxed about lateness.

Ignoring emails - again, it can happen occasionally but not good during probation.

The issues you’re describing I would expect over a year, not just a couple of months.

Look at this situation from your boss's point of view. Would you really want to continue employing someone who is unreliable - late four times and doesn't answer emails. Also, four bouts of sickness. Were these illnesses really so bad that you couldn't get to work and plough through them like most people? Or were they unavoidable illnesses like food poisoning, which is reasonable? I think you have your answer.

The unanswered emails and lateness are the worse - simply no excuse for those.

If someone is genuinely ill it can’t be helped. The other points are likely to count against you though. If you are let go look at those and see what changes you need to look for in your next job so that you can do better.

Persistent lateness is an issue- why are you late? Is it a difficult location to reach, would you be better with a later start time because of school drop off etc?

Not answering emails seems pretty basic. You could add a flag to remind yourself, or if you get hundreds per day and they drop off the screen you could pin them to the top of your inbox until they’re done. Do you have a to do list? I keep mine in excel with tabs for all sorts of bits of information and calculations I need to hand- you could use notepad, or an actual piece of paper. Maybe you’d be better in a non-computer based role? Where do you feel your skills lie?

Good luck OP

and have been reminded to answer emails that I forgot several times

This is not the job for you, sorry.

I run a small business with DH and our benchmark is always that if someone is off sick more than once during probation, they're let go. It's an indication of reliability, and sadly you don't sound like you are very reliable at all.

What if they have a doctor's note to prove it?

I think the OP may also need reminding to return to the thread she started 👀

I think you need to consider how to ensure you don't repeat what's happened.
For sickness unless absolutely avoidable I'd head in regardless - and be prepared to be sent home ill, as opposed to you deciding you're not well enough.

For lateness I'd be setting my alarm half an hour earlier and leaving home earlier/catching an earlier bus/train etc.

For missing emails/incomplete work, I'd do myself a check list of things that MUST be done and keep it on view - maybe laminate a little sign and stick to top of your screen with bluetac so a) you can remind yourself and b) they can see you're making an effort. I'd also make sure you allocate a couple of minutes at the end of the day to check through that you have done everything you should have, and if not stopping till you have. I always write in my diary a list of actions to be done which I refer to each day - sometimes an action might be for next week or next month but I find a written reminder always works (ok it's now online but in the olden days it was a page a day)

You can also see if there's any opportunity to stay late and take on something extra / get ahead on any work/ help meet a deadline by working late, and offer your time in lieu of having been late in the first few weeks to make up, basically make yourself useful here.

Then at probation you can state you realise you didn't get off to the best start, but you have put all of the above in place and they can see from the second half of your probation it's working - and be prepared to suggest / accept an extended probation.

Good luck, you're going to have to work really hard to claw this back but I'm sure with a bit of determination you can

It doesnt look good, sorry op.

IME sickness during probation has more often than not been a sign of things to come on its own. With the other issues, unfortunately I'd be letting you go. And tbh im quite a relaxed manager but I need to see give before Im easy with any take.

So there's a combination of -

-Repeated lateness
-Numerous bouts of illness,
-Personal problems,
-Not being up to the job by way of having to be told to respond to emails.

Sorry op. I think you've answered your own questions. In my younger days, I failed probation for a lot less. In fact, for any one of those four things. Neither were any of those things my fault, but honestly, they will not care about that, especially if you're only on probation.

If you had, say, ten years' worth of delivering outstanding results, and are having a current blip, then they would make allowances.

I agree with previous posters. It is not looking good at all. Even with a long probation period, so many bouts of sickness is not great at all. For a long term employee with fantastic previous attendance and a history of fantastic performance, 3 bouts of sickness in a short time would be viewed as very unfortunate but likely trigger extra monitoring.

Factor in your lateness and the reminders to answer emails and you are looking like a liability and not up to the job. There is likely a genuine concern you will go off on long term sick or perform so poorly you will need to be managed out.

Unless the lateness is completely out of your control (train strikes/ train delays, problems with public transport) then it really doesn't look good for you. If lateness is due to public transport problems then you need to have photographed or got evidence that you did at least attempt to make it on time. If it's a matter of you got up late or you got stuck in traffic then you need to get up earlier and get on the road earlier and does not look good. If there is a child care element that is impacting your lateness then you need to find alternative childcare provision.

The not answering emails suggests disorganisation and that you are not up to the job without significant oversight. You need to come up with a plan to address this.

At this point in time with this record, at best (with a very understanding employer and if your personal circumstances are taken into account) you will be offered an extension to your probation period. In which case you need to really pull your socks up and show real commitment to your job. More likely is that you will not pass and be let go. Tbh I would be looking for other jobs before you are pushed.

I’m a manager and have someone currently in their probation period.

They have had 3 bouts of sickness - clearly unwell and it’s just what happens sometimes. I’m unconcerned and this will have no bearing on the outcome.

They have been late 2/3 times. I don’t care. It doesn’t matter for the role. If the role was one where it did matter I would have a different view.

For me their ability to do the work is what I care about. Her work is excellent and she will pass her probation without question.

I

Was her sickness evidenced by a doctor's note?

I have childcare issues which is why I am late and sickness is due to colds and flu , have just not been well enough to go in

I am doing my best but don't see that these are deal breakers, don't I have more rights now under the new workers bill anyway?

I hope not. What's your excuse for not responding to several emails?

How are people even questioning this?

It's an absolute certainty that you won't pass.

You don't turn up on time (even if it was a public transport issue, after it happened twice you should have addressed it) and you aren't doing the job you wwre employed to do (several emails, several reminders).

The sick leave, if believable, is not the issue.

No manager is going to pass you as all indications are you aren't reliable and they'll have to put you on a PIP if you stay. Why would they waste their time?

Colds? I don’t think that would stop me being in.

Childcare issues - if this was 4 times in a year, I’d be less fussed but 4 times in a month and it sounds like you just haven’t organised yourself properly.

How are your childcare issues going to disappear if you pass probation?

And how are you more likely to not take time off with a cold if you pass probation?

Ditto remembering to answer emails?

Why would any sane employer keep you on?

You're off sick regularly, can't even make it in on time when you are well, and then on top of that, you don't bother to do your job properly.

The new legislation isnt in effect yet, so they can let you go.

If you have had so many illnesses that have made you so ill you cant work in a short space of time you need to see your GP tbh.

The fact you dont see these as deal breakers is probably why youre unfortunately likely to fail probation.