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 ?

Sorry OP. I wouldn’t be keeping you on. Unreliable. All your listed issues you need to find a way to work round or through.

We are all doing our best, many with much bigger challenges but the new workers bill don’t think is going to give day one unfair dismissal rights after all, even if it did capability is a fair reason for dismissal as too is not meeting acceptable minimum standards via a contractual probation period.

Hope for the best, you might get lucky but either way being on time and not taking time off for common cold be a start.

You absolutely have not had the flu 3 times during your probation period. And you don’t need to be off work with a cold 3 times in such a short period, and while on probation. You go to work.

I am a single parent. I managed my childcare. To be late 4 times for the same reason? No. I’d get rid of you.

Not doing your job while you’re there is another big problem. Why do you need reminding to deal with emails you’ve received?

You don’t have much chance to pass this. Any chance this is your first job in a while? Sounds like you’re only going to work coz you’ve been made to if your kids have aged out of you getting UC without working.

Like others have said the sick days by themselves not necessarily a problem. It happens and we’d maybe extend probation.

But the lateness and poor work definitely an issue. Possibly fixable but I’d want to know how you were planning to improve this and would be considering your general attitude to the job.

Sickness....I'd give the benefit of the doubt especially given the time of year.
Lateness....once could be forgiven but 4 times no.

In 5 years I was late to work once due to childcare and that was because the road from my estate to the town was closed 8.30 to 3.30 with no prior warning so I had to drive to a different town and then come back on myself to reach the nursery from the other direction. . It would usually take me 10 minutes to drive to the nursery I would leave at 8.40 getting back home to start work at 9. We had core hours of 10-4 but as it took me over an hour each way I didn't get to work until 11. The nursery was 3 miles away so not possible to walk. The next day I left the house at 7.45 to make sure that I could get out and back before the road closed.

The being reminded about emails unless only in the first week or so would be the thing that kills off every thing.

Probations are there for you to prove you can do the job, demonstrate your skills and determine if you are a good fit for the company and the role. To do that they need to see you doing the role and if you have high levels of sickness they won't necessarily have had chance to see that. They want someone who they can count on to be there and do the job. If you are repeatedly late they won't see this and if they are having to micromanaging you and remind you to do your job well you have failed to meet the first criteria for what probation is there for.

I wouldn't be thinking right now about passing/failing probation. From what you have described you would be lucky to pass. I would be working on discussing an extension to the probation. I think you need to be open and honest about the situation and how it is not good enough. You can't changed what has been done but you can turn things around if they are willing. You would be looking at doing the rest of the probation and any extensions with a flawless record for time keeping and doing to job to an excellent standard.

Some really harsh views on this post. I am surprised. With a bit of flexibility this could be managed well. In the last 10 weeks ive had 2 migraines (including vomiting and nausea), the worst cold ive had in my life (the fluid was running from my nose - i could not have been in an office for any length of time) and 2 nasty bouts of tonsillitis. None of it my fault. By the comments on here I am unreliable and I ought to look elsewhere for a new job. As for childcare - no childcare is solid and sometimes the unexpected happens. I think people are really unfair on this post.

Per my previous post OP, you can remedy a lot of this, show willing and indicate happy to extend probation if it will help you to prove yourself. These 4 months dont have to unduly mark your cards.

Leaving the sickness aside, what flexibility do you think should be offered to someone who is regularly late to work and who doesn't bother to do the most basic things (replying to e-mails), when they do get there?

It's not harsh to say that OP should expect to be dismissed - that's just reality. If you don't show up on time, don't do the work and regularly call in sick (whether genuine or not) you can't expect to pass your probation.

How can you forget to respond to emails? I would strongly suggest in this job, or your next if you don’t pass probation, to get yourself a notebook and a write a bullet pointed To Do list for every day. Refer to this book several times a day, at some point the tasks will become second nature but keep it with you all the time. Add to it as you need.

In absolutely no way is my employer less forgiving- they just aren't gullible! - this OP has had 3 sickness periods for "colds", been late 4 times and has to be told to check emails. Most people would at least manage the last one in their probationary period! That's basic under performing even if you forgive the persistent lateness. If this went unchecked everywhere how is that ever fair on those who have to cover constantly for someone like this?

This is very different from having the colds @Greenraintoday describes and, of course employers will be sympathetic. With those complaints, you could not be expected to carry on but, unless it is genuine flu, covid or a truly stinking cold that nobody else wants to be near, you carry on as normally as possible.

I’m afraid I agree and op I don’t think even I beleive you had to be off three times in such a short period due to having the cold. Being late isn’t ok, and 4 times issues with childcare says you’ve not got something reliable in place, or are not organised, but having to be reminded to do the basics of your job like respond to emails is unforgivable.

All together And i would let you go. I’d say you’re only there for the money, are not that interested, don’t really want to do the job, and do it half arsed. They’d be foolish to keep you on. And I think you know that.

Also would I be right in thinking that those conditions- the migraine, tonsillitis, were potentially documented after self cert period by a GP? If so it is absolutely different.

You sound a pretty shit employee to be fair. If these are your standards during probation, when you’re supposed to be trying to make a good impression, what the hell will you be like afterwards?

sounds like you deserve to be dismissed

Quite. I'd say they are being kind, as in they haven't booted her out on her arse by now.

No you don’t, and they’ll be well advised to get rid of you before you do.

we all have lots going on in our personal lives and loads of us have kids. I’ve been in my job 11 months and never been late or off. Of course occasional things happen and most employers understand that and aren’t ogres but assuming 3 months into a 6 month probation you’re swinging the lead

This

Ps the one thing I learnt when I was managing a team of 30 is that every single one of them had shit going on in their lives eg divorce, SEN child, parents with health problems etc every single one.

Yep - everyone has shit going on in their lives.

I agree I can't blame an employee for being sick. It's not their fault

Yeah, sorry, it's a lot. I guess you can hope they prolong probation, and you try to do better.

No one blames an employee for getting sick, but being off sick with the cold three times in short succession, 4 lates and I assume it’s more than 10 mins, and having to be reminded multiple times to do emails, looks like an employee who cannot be arsed and just is there for the money.

It may not be their fault but it’s not the employers fault either and if they can’t provide reliable service then they can expect their poor attendance to have an impact on their employment. Not including matters such as pregnancy or disability absence of course.

Most of us work for the money. That's why we manage to be on time and deal with our tasks. Because that's what we get paid to do.

Fair point.

lol, exactly.