unclear contract and probation period

foxy_j

hey everyone,

I left a permanent job as the role was changing so I applied for only other permanent roles as I didn't want the instability of contract work.

So I had an interview for a permanent role and was offered the job. While discussing salary contract etc before accepting they said it would be a 6 month probation period and then a permanent 1 or 2 year contract that would always be renewed. Even the guy hiring me said he's on a 2 year contract.

I wasn't happy about this as always had permanent roles and was concerned about job security. So he said he'd go back and discuss it and let me know. So I get an email stating that they've agreed ta 3 month probationary contract after which I would be offered a permanent contract.

He then went on to say that he only had a 2 year contract and it's just a new policy they're introduced. However they also agreed a 5% increase in salary after yr 1.

So I took this to mean a 3 month probationary contract and then a permanent role.

So start of this week my probation period was up and today I had a meeting to discuss how I was getting on. Most of it was clarification on the role etc as It was a new job sharing role that was unclear/unstructured what exactly I was doing at the start but has settled down and I thought I was doing well.

So today he said they want to extend the probationary period to see if the job sharing role works out and then i'll be offered a 1 or 2 year permanent contract. They are going that way as of past employee was there for 40 yrs and hard to dismiss and that it keeps employees on their toes. Also if there was a downturn in the business ( basically i took from that- we can get rid of you more easily then!!!)

1. Can they just extend my probationary period? There's no mention of it in my contract

2. Did I misunderstand as I thought a permanent contract means no defined end date but it's in fact a fixed term contract that is say 1 or 2 years. There isn't such thing as a permanent contract that's for eg 1 year?

My contract states probationary period of 3 months and then offered a permanent contract.

Any help would be great.

Thanks

Stheno

foxy_j wrote: »

hey everyone,

I left a permanent job as the role was changing so I applied for only other permanent roles as I didn't want the instability of contract work.

So I had an interview for a permanent role and was offered the job. While discussing salary contract etc before accepting they said it would be a 6 month probation period and then a permanent 1 or 2 year contract that would always be renewed. Even the guy hiring me said he's on a 2 year contract.

I wasn't happy about this as always had permanent roles and was concerned about job security. So he said he'd go back and discuss it and let me know. So I get an email stating that they've agreed ta 3 month probationary contract after which I would be offered a permanent contract.

He then went on to say that he only had a 2 year contract and it's just a new policy they're introduced. However they also agreed a 5% increase in salary after yr 1.

So I took this to mean a 3 month probationary contract and then a permanent role.

So start of this week my probation period was up and today I had a meeting to discuss how I was getting on. Most of it was clarification on the role etc as It was a new job sharing role that was unclear/unstructured what exactly I was doing at the start but has settled down and I thought I was doing well.

So today he said they want to extend the probationary period to see if the job sharing role works out and then i'll be offered a 1 or 2 year permanent contract. They are going that way as of past employee was there for 40 yrs and hard to dismiss and that it keeps employees on their toes. Also if there was a downturn in the business ( basically i took from that- we can get rid of you more easily then!!!)

1. Can they just extend my probationary period? There's no mention of it in my contract

2. Did I misunderstand as I thought a permanent contract means no defined end date but it's in fact a fixed term contract that is say 1 or 2 years. There isn't such thing as a permanent contract that's for eg 1 year?

My contract states probationary period of 3 months and then offered a permanent contract.

Any help would be great.

Thanks

Yes they can extend your probation.

Did they say why they were doing so? As regards the permanent contract, having your probation extended is a bad sign and while you may want to clarify if you will be on a fixed term contract or a contract of permanent duration, it may do you no favours.

I've no idea what they are doing but on fixed term contracts, after four years you have to be given a contract that is permanent

foxy_j

ya they said they were extending to see if the job sharing of the role would work. The person i'm sharing the job with was full time and wanted to go part time.

So its new territory and had teething problems as I also do work one of the days for another person in the office. She doesn't like the idea of having two people in the role and she has influence esp if she sees it as making her life easier or harder.

Think its not my work but the situation .... I want job security now and not be led on for another 3 months to be let go

Stheno

foxy_j wrote: »

ya they said they were extending to see if the job sharing of the role would work. The person i'm sharing the job with was full time and wanted to go part time.

So its new territory and had teething problems as I also do work one of the days for another person in the office. She doesn't like the idea of having two people in the role and she has influence esp if she sees it as making her life easier or harder.

Think its not my work but the situation .... I want job security now and not be led on for another 3 months to be let go

Your best bet would probably be to look for another job tbh

foxy_j

Stheno wrote: »

Your best bet would probably be to look for another job tbh

hmmm.... ya my role was messy and office politics etc were happening from day one. It took nearly all of my probation for that to settle down.

Was a lot of new stuff to learn so bit annoyed I invested my time and its a specialised area that isn't as transferrable skills wise.

I'm annoyed as its good money, part time, close to home and good pension contribution. However if they are mucking me about now what does that hold for the future.

Also person i'm job sharing with is on a 6 month contract which shes happy with (long story short) she came in as a temp to help with accounts as last person left them in the lurch and a huge mess to clean up. She ended up staying but constantly says in a jokey way that its not worth it.

Think they may be extending my probation to coincide with her contract ending and if she decides to leave they may dismiss me and get 1 full time person.

As they only created the two part time roles to accommodate her so she'd stay

foxy_j

Also I forgot to mention they'd arranged for me to meet the pension guy this week to put on the company pension scheme so i thought thats a good sign so the probation period being extended wasn't expected

Stheno

foxy_j wrote: »

Also I forgot to mention they'd arranged for me to meet the pension guy this week to put on the company pension scheme so i thought thats a good sign so the probation period being extended wasn't expected

That's irrelevant until you are with a company two years you can get a full refund of your contributions