Extending probation

blueconker

Hi, 

I am looking for some advice please. My husband and son both work for a local company. They both recently had their initial 3 month probation period extended. My husband wasn't told this until a month post the expiry of his 3 month probation and my son on the day his probation expired. Neither of them were given any indication that this was likely, no problems had been raised with either of them. My husbands father died in January so he thought perhaps he hadn't been performing as well as he thought following that and so just took the extension on the chin. However, when my sons was also extended we became concerned for their future job security. Neither of them received anything saying specifically why their probation was extended (just a reference to concern at performance) and no targets or suggestions on how they could improve. Since my son was told, they have quietly investigated and found that 9 others have had their probation extended (the company took on new contracts so took on a lot of new starters at the same time).

This all seems very suspicious. It looks like they might be using extension of probation to keep workers without having to provide benefits. Surerly it is a red flag extending 9 workers probation,  particularly as no specific reason has been given and no targets for improvement.

Do you think they should cut their losses and look for another job? 

Any advice would be appreciated 😊

Bradden

Probation is pretty meaniningless from a legal perspective. Employers can dismiss regardless under 2 years service without penalty exlcuding discrimination. I agree it's a concern about the viability of the company but it doesn;t really make any difference,

blueconker

Hi, thanks for replying. 

I know there is nothing we can actually do from a legal perspective as you mentioned (2 year rule). 

I wanted to see if our concerns were valid and if we should invest another 3 months in the company.

You seem to have agreed that this behaviour raises a red flag but is it enough for us to take action (get another job). Does this sort of thing happen a lot (multiple intake/extended probation)? What might you do in our situation?

Thanks 😊

[Deleted User]

No warning before the extension would be a red flag. Do they have reviews on Glassdoor? I would start looking for other jobs.

blueconker

[Deleted User] said:

No warning before the extension would be a red flag. Do they have reviews on Glassdoor? I would start looking for other jobs.

Thanks, I'll have a look 😊

Marcon

blueconker said:

This all seems very suspicious. It looks like they might be using extension of probation to keep workers without having to provide benefits. 

If they are, they could be breaking the law. For example, have your husband and son (assuming he is at least 22 years of age and earning at least £10K pa) been auto-enrolled into a pension scheme? An employer must do so within 3 months of an employee starting work for them.

blueconker

Marcon said:

blueconker said:

This all seems very suspicious. It looks like they might be using extension of probation to keep workers without having to provide benefits. 

If they are, they could be breaking the law. For example, have your husband and son (assuming he is at least 22 years of age and earning at least £10K pa) been auto-enrolled into a pension scheme? An employer must do so within 3 months of an employee starting work for them.

Yes, they were auto enrolled for pension but they are not entitled to sick pay or death in service benefit whilst on probation. Sorry for the confusion 

elsien

So are there any changes when they pass probation - increased pay or anything else - or dies it not affect t&c at all?
If not, it doesn’t make any odds either way and they like the job then they need to decide whether to jump ship just on the basis of job security. Which may be no better, depending on where they move to. 

Have they asked a direct question about why probation is extended? Because if it’s performance related there should be an improvement plan. Is there one? 

TELLIT01

They may not have any entitlement to company sick pay but would be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay assuming they earned enough to qualify.

What reasons were given for extending the probation?

blueconker

elsien said:

So are there any changes when they pass probation - increased pay or anything else - or dies it not affect t&c at all?
If not, it doesn’t make any odds either way and they like the job then they need to decide whether to jump ship just on the basis of job security. Which may be no better, depending on where they move to. 

Thanks for your reply 

No.

Yeah, thats a decision we'll have to make. I think I just wondered whether we were over thinking and it's normal. You make a very valid point about it not being better elsewhere too. 

blueconker

TELLIT01 said:

They may not have any entitlement to company sick pay but would be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay assuming they earned enough to qualify.

What reasons were given for extending the probation?

Thanks for your reply.

Yes they are. 

A vague reference to concern about performance for my husband and for my son, they said all his work in the last two weeks had been scrapped but all his work is signed off by a supervisor and no one told him about anything being scrapped, asked him to re do it or showed him where he went wrong.