Covid Probation & Shielding

831badger

Good evening,
I am seeking advice as to how things lay with my employment? 
Since starting in my line of work I think they want someone back that left and was unhappy in their choice!
I started working for a local government in January of this year and informed them that my child suffered a life threatening respiratory condition. I was given the normal 6 month probationary period and in mid March this year I had to go in to shielding for the welfare of my 6 year old child. I was placed on COVID sick to shield. I expressed my desire to return to work in early June once the government made statements about shielding and was told to remain home until July. I have had further communication inviting me back during Jul which I have indicated I want to do though have also received mail stating I can stay at home until the end of shielding which I do no want to do as I feel there is sufficient care in place to allow me to work!
I have now received a letter telling me that my probationary period must restart despite me being 2 months in learning processes and being allowed to carry out tasks unsupervised (before I had to shield). Now I feel that the manager is restarting the probationary process unfairly in order to allow time to get the person back as earlier described and is using COVID for this! My interpretation of the COVID rules was that anyone should not be disadvantaged or put in an disadvantaged state from when they had to go off for the safety of everyone.
Obviously, working for the local government organisation I want to ensure that I am right in my response and know that during a probationary period I don't have the backing of the Unions/general employment rules.
Could anyone give some help/guidance?
Kindest regards,
GB

Jeremy535897

Probationary periods are governed by the contract of employment and therefore the terms of the contract should be followed. The normal approach would be to extend the probationary period rather than restart it, but it will depend on your contract.

unforeseen

To me, it makes sense to restart probation. You worked for them for 2 months but then will have spent 4 months off by the time you return to work. 
Your manager possibly feels that the knowledge you gained at the start will have been diluted by such a long absence especially being new to the role. Rather than revisit areas that show up as weak when they appear, it is better to have a solid 6 months of probation to go through things again from scratch.

You are not being disadvantaged. You were never fully trained up in the role and it makes more sense to start from scratch with the training. 

mattyprice4004

Sounds fair enough to me, it's been a while and they're probably keen to make sure you're right for the job before awarding you a permanent place. 

Jonesy1977

mattyprice4004 said:

Sounds fair enough to me, it's been a while and they're probably keen to make sure you're right for the job before awarding you a permanent place. 

To be honest it sounds completely fair and reasonable to me.