Probationary period extended without warning

[qpwoeiruty]

I started a new job at the beginning of January. The probationary period was three months. I asked more than once for a review at the end of the probationary period, which never happened. I had positive feedback from colleagues (but no KPIs to measure myself against, despite requests for that) and so I assumed everything was going well.

Fast forward to last Friday, when I found out that because that three month review meeting never happened, I am still on probation. That isn't allowed is it? Isn't it assumed that you've passed probation if you've been in the job for almost double the probationary period? With no warning (written or verbal) that it's been extended?

Thank you in advance!

That isn't allowed is it?

There are no loads around probation. It’s generally a red herring anyway, because passing probation doesn’t usually give you any additional protections anyway. It might increase the amount of notice they would have to give you if they wanted to let you go.

Thanks, I wasn't sure if there were any legal requirements when it comes to probation.

Yeah it means that the notice I/they have to give is only 1 week, not 4 weeks as I expected. But when I read my contract today, it says that they must give notice in writing before the three months is up if they want to extend probation. Not just keep quiet about it!

There are legal requirements when it comes to probation but they are mostly dependent on what it says in your contract. They have to expressly state if they want to extend your probation unless your contract says otherwise. Therefore you are not on probation anymore and they need to give you four weeks notice.

They have to expressly state if they want to extend your probation unless your contract says otherwise.

That's wrong. A probationary period is entirely contractual, it has no basis in statute. Hence, any provisions depend entirely on what the contract says, not the other way round.