Good employee resigned after probation extended

[simplel]

I am a manager in a team. We have a team of 100 staff and about 20 managers. We also have an HR team.

One of our employees joined 7 months ago. They had a bit of a patchy start but once they’d settled in they’ve been excellent. They are well liked in the team and always keen to get stuck in with team events.

At their mid probation, one manager took a dislike to them on a point which has since been disproven. But because this negative feedback was in their review at month 3, HR overruled all the other good feedback from managers and insisted we extend the employee’s probation to 9 months long.

I’m told by HR that the employee was devastated but promised to continue showing they could perform at the level needed.

A month later, employee has handed in their notice and is leaving for a competitor. We need the (wo)manpower in the team and I’m gutted they’ll be going. If you were this person, what could we do to make you stay?

Agreed, I would leave in those circumstances too especially without a good explanation why a 6 month probation extension which seems very harsh. If the extension was really necessary, surely another 3 months would be sufficient.

And why have your learnt?

Nothing.

You’ll do it again and again wasting time energy and funds on people who won’t stay.

Make your company culture more flexible and a good place to work.

I am glad I left and you and your other phonies can do emotional power trips to someone else's nerves, not mine!!!!

Good for them.

I'm so glad they didn't tolerate this crap.

It didn't have to end like this, one mamager who look a dislike to this person and was proven wrong - and the rest of you stood by and let it happen.

They employ is good and will be fine elsewhere. Thankfully they have the confidence to know that.

I’d be off like a shot.
Hope the company gets rid of the nasty, lying member of staff

The company deserves to lose this person and your best action is to leave too as such crap structures are going to make it spiral into self-destruction sooner or later. Find out if there are any opportunities with the competitor that this employee escaped to. Learn the lesson and uphold principles of treating employees well in future.

I’m an employee with a shit clueless manager and I’m leaving as soon as I possibly can.
its broken me and for whatever reason, this manager has so much power above and below and I’m just not strong enough for the fight, short or long term.
i empathise with the person who left and hope I’ll be following their footsteps into something kinder asap

"Too many cocks spoil the breath..."

Not sure that is the standard expression but language evolves I guess.

Maybe your company will learn from this. Piss people off and they leave. I’m pleased they were able to find another job.

False accusation is a crime. Why goes unpunished in companies? This is smearing people's reputations

There is nothing you could say to make me stay.

He, or she's, told you to ram the job, and good for them. It's now incumbent upon management to take the halfwit who caused this to task and haul them over the coals.

Well, in your shoes I would be open with them that I’m sorry to see them go, thought they were a wonderful asset to the team and wish them the very best - and if it doesn’t work out at the new place for any reason they would be welcome back.
It is too late for now since they’ve already secured something but who knows what might happen in the future. If your paths cross again you’ll hope it’s all positive.

Sorry, but nothing.

you can't change how they were unfair treat. They've been offered a fresh start with the competition, I can't see anything you could offer them to beat that.

HR overruled all the other good feedback from managers and insisted we extend the employee’s probation to 9 months long.
The company is letting HR manage the business instead of the managers. The directors need to get a grip and put HR back in their box. HR should give advice not take decisions.
This weakness of directors and managers is the reason so many companies fail or often just plod on rather than thrive and become leaders.

That was my thought too.

It cheered me up to see that they have had a hopefully better offer and are on the way to a happier work life.

No you’re right. I’ve been reading this thinking the same thing. It’s the manager’s decision to extend probation, with the support of HR if needed.

Well perhaps the competitors offered them a guaranteed job. People have bills to pay and lives to lead which certainly doesn’t come cheap. They can’t be hanging about in fear waiting for your company to decide they’re going to keep them on.
How to maybe keep them offer them the job and scrap their probation

There would nothing you could do, I'd run a mile from a workplace like that. It's never a one off, you know this sort of toxic culture will be pervasive

Nothing. Your organisation deserves to lose them. I’m happy they found somewhere else, sounds like a horrid place to work

Nothing. The baseless opinion of one person was relied upon which triggered blindly following a process that put continued employment at risk. Absolutely dodged a bullet by finding a new role and will likely be successful in it. Your company showed that the manager and immediate team are unable to effectively support or influence the new person's career. Why on earth would they stay if they have a choice?

I doubt op will be back after this roasting lol

Not much. You have demonstrated that your company neds to further test this person's ability. Which means that so far their performance has not been totally satisfactory. I thInk tneh were right to resign.

Well said! If HR is this to a direct report of mine, I'd probably resign myself along with the individual!