Probation extended but exceeded every objective

[daimbar]

Line manager has decided to extend my 6 month probation for 3 months.

His reasoning is 'I was given an impossible task' as every other team member left within weeks of me starting and I was 'fire fighting' to cover off their work.

Despite this I have exceeded every objective I was given.

Should I challenge this with HR? Or just keep my head down and focus on impressing him in the next 3 months.

It's been a big blow to my confidence as I thought I was doing really well.

Meeting HR at 3 this afternoon. Got all my evidence printed off!

Good luck! I've been periodically checking in on your post too.

Delurking to say I hope your meeting goes well.

Hope meeting goes well.

Well done OP. Waiting is never a good strategy! Let us know how it goes.

Ok so the meeting wasn't great.

HR lady said ultimately it's the manager's decision whether to pass probation or not and he doesn't need to justify it to anyone else.

On the plus side, she is going to speak to my boss to find out what the problem is from his perspective and see if he can give me measurable targets to achieve.

I asked if there was a possibility of staying at the company but not reporting to him, and she said yes... if I was willing to relocate to a different city (which isn't possible).

That sounds disappointing. Can you involve the CEO? Is there any reason they might want to keep this manager, does he have any good points, or might they welcome a reason to deal with him if he's a bit odd? It doesn't sound like he's very good for the business.

HR sound very wishy washy. Surely the company should have established criteria that everyone has to meet. They can't just leave it to individual managers.

That's absolutely terrible. OP I'm so sorry.

Can you scour their policies on probation / performance? I've never worked somewhere where there isn't a standard managers have to demonstrate re performance plans.

That company doesn't deserve you, daimbar.

It is all very disappointing. It's a FTSE 250 company and I thought I might get more support.

Anyway, I still have a job for the moment and an interview tomorrow so trying to keep my chin up.

How did the interview go?

He could be unexpected but he knew I was starting this role after maternity leave and I spoke about having a child in my interview so its not like it's new information.

Does he know of your plans to have a baby next year? Then PP might be on to something. He needed to hire you/someone(you did say people were leaving left right and centre) that could do the job and do it well. You got through the hardest period,without getting all the full benefits,and when time has come he's probably thinking he'll keep you on while he can as you do a good job,but find someone else to replace you that he won't have to give maternity pay to. And because you would still be in probably he could easily fire you once he found someone else. No hassle no stress

RebelRogue it's a good theory. Apparently the people he's been interviewing have been male. He hides in a meeting room where I can't see him but I have spies!

Anyway, my interview this morning went really well. They want to see me for 2nd stage next Wednesday and the woman who would be my boss seemed lovely.

GreAt, good luck for the second stage interview 🍀

Congratulations about the interview, daimbar.

Hope the interview went well :-)

Something interesting happened at work yesterday. My boss got called into the CEO's office with the HR director.

I could see the CEO gesticulating as if he was annoyed and HR woman had her arms folded looking very stern. Boss had his back to me so couldn't see his face.

Anyway he came out after about an hour and stormed straight out the office.

I have no idea if it was anything to do with me or not

We were due a catch up which he turned up very late for. I was expecting him to give me measurable objectives (as discussed with HR) but he didn't, so I just gave him an update with YOY performance stats and he meekly thanked me and that was it. Curious.

Interesting indeed!

Aha! The plot thickens. Hopefully it was about you, but even if it wasn't, he's had it coming

Very interesting! I really hope it bodes well for you.

Very interesting! Sounds like he got a deserved hard time.

Has anything happened OP? How is your other job going?

Update: 2nd interview went really well this morning, they want to see me for a 3rd and final stage next week

Don't want to get too excited but I'm the only person they have progressed this far.

Eeeek!

Ooh exciting! Fingers crossed for you!