Meeting before end of probation period, likely probation extension?

[bambame]

I have been invited to a meeting about my end of probation period at a new job.

It’s a 5 month probation and I was told at the 2 month mark that they had some concerns about me and would consider extending my probation if they thought necessary.

I’ve tried really hard and the feedback I have got outside of HR has been good. Senior people on my team said they thought I was good.

My contract says the company will let me know before the end of my probation period if they will extend it. This meeting is a week before the end of that period. 😩

Were clear targets set at your first probation review meeting? Have you had any check ins since? What does the meeting invitation say?

I’m a manager and it may be a case of coincidental timing. My end of probations never run on time.

So where is the negative feedback from from?

Negative feedback was one woman took a dislike to me

I asked for targets/goals but was given rather vague things like “Work more Efficiently”.

I asked for examples or guidance so I could know how to do this / something I can benchmark against, but was told it always depends so they can’t.

That was the last check in I had but that was only because I asked for it.

The one person presumably is your line manager?

Nope

Probation feedback is collected from anyone in the team of 100+ people who decide they want to give

Yeah that’s the type of environment

It sounds a bit of a crap environment. If they couldn't even give you appropriate targets then that doesn't reflect well on them.

None of us can know if they're going to extend or if they're just efficient/calendars meant it was easier to schedule a week ahead.

You can prepare your response if they do extend though. And if you don't need it in the end then great.

Are you sure that’s a company you want to work for? They sound toxic and unsupportive.

That doesn’t sound very fair to me

If they genuinely try to extend your probation at this point, i would ask them why they haven't raised any issues with you for the last three months and helped you with them and why they've left it so late.

Ultimately, probation periods mean nothing because they can pass your probation and still fire you

Join the Union. Join before your probation is extended as you’ll not be covered by their legal team if you join after the event.

You should have been given clear guidance and quantifiable targets during your probation regarding the standard required to pass. There will a probation policy. If you were not achieving the standard then you should have been given the opportunity with training and KPIs to improve during the ordinary probation time rather than extending the period.

Have the Union in your back pocket if you must, membership is confidential, but join, seek counsel with a rep and read the probation policy which should be available to you digitally.

Good luck.

I asked for quantifiable targets but they said they can’t provide these and I am the one who needs to make sure I meet the level required.

Doesn’t sound good OP.

We are more likely to schedule a meeting where we’re letting someone know that it’s not working out or to extend probation.

Sadly whether they extend your probation or not they can get rid of you at any time within your probation period. I'd look for another job

Why do you think that particular colleague took a dislike to you?

From the sound of it, it isn't somewhere I'd want to work. I had some feedback once and when I asked for an example, my manager could not provide any, so I just said "OK, we can disregard that feedback if an example can't be given then".

I agree that I'd be looking for something else. The irony is, if you find something and leave, they'll probably be surprised.