Did you ever get probation extended and what did you do?

midlandsmissus

I've had my three month probation period at work extended to six months.

Due to my reliability. I missed 5 days through sickness in the first 3 months. Due to a personal issue which I told them about at my probation review.

Anyway it's been quite vague since, with no-one giving me performance reviews or letting me know if I am doing well or not. They dont seem to be too friendly about it. So I am worrying it will come to that review and they will just let me go. Should I ask what I am being assessed for so I can show I am achieiving it. I know I am working well.

Anyway I'm still sick with worry. Should I be looking for another job? Has anyone had their probation period extended and what happened then. Were you kept on/ let go? So worried.

Laneyh

midlandsmissus wrote: »

I've had my three month probation period at work extended to six months.

Due to my reliability. I missed 5 days through sickness in the first 3 months. Due to a personal issue which I told them about at my probation review.

Anyway it's been quite vague since, with no-one giving me performance reviews or letting me know if I am doing well or not. They dont seem to be too friendly about it. So I am worrying it will come to that review and they will just let me go. Should I ask what I am being assessed for so I can show I am achieiving it. I know I am working well.

Anyway I'm still sick with worry. Should I be looking for another job? Has anyone had their probation period extended and what happened then. Were you kept on/ let go? So worried.

I never had that but I did however get a bad performance review in a previous job. I had changed roles within the company. My summarised view on it is the new role and the company's expectations of me in that role were not clearly defined so in essence I was set up to fail.
After the review I tried my best to improve on all fronts but what I didn't do was email or follow up with my boss in writing requesting clearly defined KPIs ,objectives etc. I regret that.

I think that could be one course of action for you. If that's not an option but you have a good relationship with your manager / someone in HR you could request a meeting just to discuss the extended probation period
Tell them that you would appreciate some feedback or guidelines as to where you could improve

If reliability is their only issue I guess an improved attendance should be enough to turn it around

I know of colleagues who got extended probationary periods or poor reviews and managed to recover


I would certainly update your cv as well and put out some feelers to see what else might be out there.

Eoin

midlandsmissus wrote: »

Should I ask what I am being assessed for so I can show I am achieiving it.

Yep, though it sucks that you have to ask. A halfway decent manager shouldn't have you guessing.

If they're not just checking that you're turning up as scheduled and there are other areas you need to work on, then make sure you have regular meetings with your boss to review the progress.

It sounds like it's up to you to manage the situation, so personally I wouldn't sit back and wait for them to let you know how you're doing.

mikemac1

Laneyh wrote: »

email or follow up with my boss in writing requesting clearly defined KPIs ,objectives etc.

If that's not an option but you have a good relationship with your manager / someone in HR you could request a meeting just to discuss the extended probation period
Tell them that you would appreciate some feedback or guidelines as to where you could improve

Do this OP, request a meeting

Shows you are taking this seriously and are working to improve.

If you get clear goals and you exceed them then you have something to talk about in the next appraisal

However some companies are just useless, they will smile at you and then 5 months later rip you in an appraisal. :rolleyes: Zero communication

If your management are any good at all they will have no problem going to a meeting with you

touts

It's unfortunate but it does happen. Don't let it get to you. Remember they don't really know you and they are basing their appraisal on a very short period of time. Your sick leave could simply have checked a box on a report by someone you never met in HR.

So think of the probation period almost like an extended interview. Be careful how you approach every interaction with the company and your managers. If you go in requesting a formal meeting with documented goals and a list of criteria that if yo meet they MUST make you permanent then you could come across as a bolshevick pain in the butt. Unions will tell you to do everything through a formal documented process with representation in the meeting etc. But remember they are playing a longer game than your isolated issue.

In some cases managers would appreciate an almost casual chat where you impress on them that you really want the job and you want to know what you can do to secure a long term or permanent contract. Play it right and you come across as enthuastic, hard working AND get your goals down on paper. Play it wrong and you'll be (unfairly) labeled a trouble maker.

Channel your energy into getting the job instead of worrying about not getting it and you will do fine.