Negotiating down a 6 month probationary period?

[Wonderbug81]

I'm reviewing a contract for a new job. I'll be in a reasonably senior role (but not leading the overall team) and they've added a 6 month probationary period.

Has anyone negotiated this down to 3 months and/or have any advice?

Doesn’t really matter as if it’s less than 2 years they can terminate your employment without reason so ……..

6 months is standard. I wouldn't agree to shorten it. And I would be a bit about you asking tbh. If you're planning on performing in the role, what difference does it actually make?

This. 6 months is standard. You are not in a position to negotiate before you’ve started and proved yourself.

I’ve had probation shortened but that’s because I performed so well they were happy to pass it early.

This. Plus, in a senior role, it's very possible that there will be important part of your job that won't be done that regularly, so 3 months won't give a full picture.

Agreed with others about the 2 years being the real probationary period.

The only thing I would chrck is that pension / bonus / salary uplifts / etc ignore the probationary periods or are backdated once the probationary period is passed.

And what your exit package would be like if you leave or are let go

Why do you want it shortened? Is it to apply for a mortgage or something?

You could ask for a 3 month review (you should have ongoing reviews anyway) but if they have doubts at 3 months, you kind of want another 3 months to put those doubts to rest, not make them make up their minds after 3 months

It would make me slightly suspicious if someone wanted to shorten a standard probationary period.

What is the reason?

Ask!
If you don’t ask you don’t get!
I asked mine to be reduced because my pay was to go up. They did.

Thank you all. Partly due to a mortgage but I could hold off if I have to. There's a couple of minor benefits I won't get access to either but that's fine.

I'll have a think about it.

I would find it extremely odd for a person in a senior position to quibble about a 6 month probationary period. What would you have to gain by it being 3 months? They can still dismiss you at month 6, therefore nothing in reality and as a senior person you should know that and act accordingly.

I would think really? Why is she so very lacking in confidence that we are going to think she’s awesome? I’d think it a bad sign, and say no.

This would ring real alarm bells for me

Are you sure the mortgage will be different based on probationary period? As other pp have said, at the moment legally an employer doesn't have to give a reason to terminate employment if you have less than 2 years service.

Perhaps you could negotiate that the missing benefits start earlier instead?

3 months isn’t long enough to be able to see if you are performing the role well enough or put corrective action in if not.

I would ask for a review at 3 months. If all is good then, they may make you permanent then.

The probationary period is for your benefit too if you find that this company is not your cup of tea.

I have never had anyone negotiate down a probationary period. It would be odd coming from a senior hire, whose work should speak for itself.

Probation is a year where I work ... But as PPs have said, there's no protection for two years anyway. For a mortgage, they may take into account the number of years worked for an employer, but do they really ask re probation these days?