Probation extended despite good improvement, should I stay if I pass?

[epe]

I had a mixed mid probation meeting. Some serious concerns but some very good feedback. Had end of probation meeting and was told all my feedback after mid point was good and I am showing excellent improvement. But because the probation is looked at on the whole, they have to extend by 3 months.

I am furious. Going to look at other options. But if I do pass the probation, is it bad to stay?

fuck em

Depends on so many things-

do you like the role
do you like the people
does it pay well
whats the job market like in your field

I would be highly offended and want to tell them to go fuck themselves but I also like to pay my bills so….

The role yes. The people no. It’s a good market for my job (well we’ll see). Pay is excellent but there’s more to life than that

Nope! Leave. Your manager will still keep special tabs on you even after you pass probation and you won’t feel comfortable

In this job market? I’d stay but job hunt and then leave.

In the current job market I’d be looking around for other jobs now but would stay until I found one. I definitely wouldn’t be planning to stay in the long term, though.

Don't leave until you've found something else.

It depends. Do you agree with their concerns? Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean they were wrong.

Jesus they’ve have some concerns so it perfectly reasonable to extend the probation

OP hasn’t said these concerns are unwarranted and mixed feedback so acknowledges some areas for improvement
too difficult to get rid of people now do they have to be 100% certain

Why are you furious? It sounds like the probation review was fair, do you not agree with them? I’d job hunt and leave regardless, unless you are likely to get similar feedback in the next job

@ToKittyornottoKitty Probation is not normally a totting up process. If someone has improved, you normally take the results of the last meeting because that’s the current and most valid information and judgement of performance. It obviously should not be coloured by performance 6 months ago.

OP: do you have a company handbook? A HR department? I would want to see the probation period policy in terms of how they look at improvement and make judgements. I’d say this isn’t fair and not used where I have worked. Many teachers would have extended probation if schools took initial performance into account for NQTs! Improvement and capability at the end point is what counts.

Well no, they said they look at probation as a whole. It doesn’t say 6 months anywhere. Probation was going badly due to serious concerns, things have now improved after a mid probation review but extending probation is not unusual or unreasonable.

"but extending probation is not unusual or unreasonable."

It's not unusual? I've never seen it happen and I'd be wary that some organisations do this because they like being able to sack people easily. In any case, it means they're not impressed with OP so she's right to think about looking for a job somewhere else.

Some of my best people are ones whose probation I extended. You won’t be judged for it down the line. Why would they put the extra effort into extend the probation if they didn’t see value in you

After a while, nobody will remember if your probation was extended or not, assuming you go on to do a good job in your role afterwards.

Probation has basically no legal standing. They can sack her easily for the first two years irrespective of whether she's passed probation or not.

Stay - it maybe just be a rocky start or a dodgy manager. Jobs get better with time, managers change. But I would not leave without something else to move onto to right now.

I have, loads of times!

Exactly.

If there were "serious concerns" for a period during probation I can see why they would want to extend to ensure that they are resolved and you have had all the support you need.

Is there any way of having a 121 with your superior/manager to discuss performance and your concerns? Because as pp say, maybe the extended probation period is for a good reason and now it’s been resolved maybe a chat needs to be held at least from your side so you can see how the land lies.

If they really wanted rid of OP she’d just fail her probation.

Are they training you properly? If they're not happy with your performance you could turn it back on them and blame their incompetent induction or probation period. Some companies expect you to pick up a job and run with it - that may be easy enough if you're an accountant because accounts/finance is basically the same wherever you go. But if it's a niche thing - their practices need to be explained to you.

Well, I probably wouldn't call them incompetent if I wanted to continue working there.

Can you share what the serious concerns were? Is your role or business cycle focussed - eg is there a new project close or start date, or sales cycle ending in the coming months? I’ve seen probations extended to cover a certain project or period as it’s better to have someone in post than no one at all. They have then not been kept on. I’ve also seen probations extended to cover all legal bases if there has been some improvement but the initial concerns aren’t forgotten. Again they were let go.
Could also be, as you stated, a standard process for early probation concerns. Either way I wouldn’t hang around. You don’t sound particularly happy there anyway. Good luck with it all.

I am fairly sure probation is a made up thing from employment law perspective. Either you have worked there less than 2 years in which case I believe they can fire you at whim, or you’ve been there more than 2 years.

I think extending probation actually sounds like a sensible outcome for both parties. You had a rocky start but have done well over the past three months. They want to ensure the improvement is long lasting and hence have extended probation. Not sure why you’ve thrown your toys out of the pram about it.

By all means leave if you can find another job.