New Job and probationary periods

samshe

Hi All


I am deliberating whether or not to accept a new job. It will be very well paid (circa £50k) which is substantially more than I am on now.


However, I expect their to be a probationary period (I am waiting for the contract now), which obviously presents a financial risk to me and my family should I be unsuccessful in this period.


I wanted to ask what my rights were in this period. I assume that the notice period will be defined within the contract.


I would like to ask someone the following questions;


1) If they fail my probation, will they have to pay me any Probationary Notice Period defined in the contract (where the notice period is stated and is different to the general notice period)?


2) After the probationary period, but before the 2 year time at which I can claim unfair dismissal, am I right in thinking they can sack me for any reason other than for a protected characteristic (ie could they just fire me because they don't like my name or some other silly, but not illegal, reason?)


3) If they do fire me, are they required to pay me for my notice period?


4) Are there any insurance packages that I can take out that pay out in the event of me failing my probation that would cover living costs?




Any other information around this would be helpful!




Kind regards

elsien

They can sack you any time durating the probationary period and up to the two years for any reason (protected characteristics aside.) The probation period doesn't give you any protection in that respect.
It's the gamble you take whenever you change jobs.
The notice period will be whatever it says in the contract, probation or not.
Insurance usually covers you for redundancy or illness. Not being let go.

Masomnia

Notice would be owed as above, except for gross misconduct. They can sack you for any reason that's not illegal as you say. The list of reasons that are illegal is quite long, but they hardly ever apply.

Don't know about insurance, I suppose it depends on the terms.

Elsien is right though it's the risk you take when you change jobs.

Good luck with the new role though, I'm sure you'll be fine

tacpot12

elsien wrote: »

The notice period will be whatever it says in the contract, probation or not.

I think Elsien is not quite correct on this. Once you have been there one month, the employer must give you one week's notice. So it depend on the duration of the Probationary Period:

• if it is one month, then they can let you go with no notice, unless the contract says different.
• if it is three months, then they have to give you at least one week's notice, or what the contract says if this is more than one week.

None of the above applies in the case of Gross Misconduct, so don't lie, steal or put anyone in danger or fear and you will be ok.

I doubt you will have a problem; they will not appoint someone to a £50k+ role without being pretty certain that you can do the job, so you just need to avoid causing any problems in your probationary period and you will be fine and coining it in! :T

samshe

Thanks for your help guys.


I think I am going to accept it, I am confident I can do it, but still very nervous.

[Deleted User]

Good luck, sure you’ll be fine.

It could be a mountain worse, I know someone who's new job comes only as a 4 week trial before they are spoken to about the possibility of being permanent and are set to receive their second medical diagnosis on the first day of said job. It really couldn’t get better.

Doshwaster

I really wouldn't worry about it too much. In most jobs the "probation period" is a mere formality and you have to be really bad to get thrown out. To be afforded a £50k job in the first place must mean that they think you can do the job. Firing you and then having to start the recruitment process again is going to cost them a lot of time and money.

Think of it as a process which allows an employer to review your progress after a few months and for you to decide whether the job is right for you. It's far better to have an employer who is engaged with you through your first few months than being thrown in at the deep end and then forgotten about.

Just make sure that you understand from your contract and staff handbook what the probation period involves and what happens at the end of it. At my place we have a probation period of 6 months with a formal review meeting after 1, 3 and 6 months. The only thing which changes after passing probation is that your notice period increases from 2 weeks to a month and reviews become annual.

nalimcc

samshe wrote: »

Thanks for your help guys.


I think I am going to accept it, I am confident I can do it, but still very nervous.

Good luck! I highly doubt they'd offer you a 50k job if they didn't believe you could do it.

I'm sure the probationary period will just be their standard procedure.

TELLIT01

Irrespective of how often reviews should be done I would hope that any issues are brought to an employee's notice immediately. I was one of 9 team leaders for a national support team and couldn't believe it when one of the other team leaders said he would only bring any issues/problems up at the monthly staff 1-2-1 because "That's what they are for". I couldn't believe that anybody would leave a problem for a month, or possibly more, as 1-2-1s didn't always happen when they should.

MovingForwards

Save whatever is over your current wage as a just in case fund.

Good luck with your new role.

Savvy_Sue

MovingForwards wrote: »

Save whatever is over your current wage as a just in case fund.

This: people and companies make mistakes, and offering to pay someone a lot of money doesn't mean they are suited to the job, or that the job is suited to them.