Negotiating down a 6 month probationary period?

EnPointe

prowla said:

EnPointe said:

prowla said:

EnPointe said:

what is the benefit to the business  of   offering you a customised probationary period ?  

Probationary periods mean very little  other than reduced  notice periods both way, they have no impact on  Employment protections /rights  ( as those are either day 1 or  after 2 years currently until  the  Employment Rights bill  currently being discussed  passes through parliament )  

and the historical stuff   re pensions etc  no longer appplies due to auto enrolment  rules 

Actually, they do often have an impact on some rights, such as joining employee benefit schemes.

Act and Section please  if you are suggesting there is a legal basis  for this, rather than these being  discretionary and none contractual benefits ? 

It's a decision that the Employer / Group makes 

there's a well know mulitnational, whose Uk operations are a mxture of company owned sites and franchised sites, the organisation has a health insurance scheme in the UK and Europe  , which is not open to those with less than 3 ( three) years service , the nature of the front line workforce is such that  many people don't make 3 years service, however the  First line Managers and Branch Assistant / General managers  often have many  years service 

I don't understand "Act and Section" - are you asking for a legal basis?

If so, that's not what I was referring to.

It's common for companies to have a benefits package which you have a right to join on completion of probation.

it could be a healthcare plan, perks, share options, or whatever.

Therefore shortening the probation would give sooner access to those.

you implied there was a Legal basis  for this 

Probationary periods have little or no meaning in UK law 

prowla

EnPointe said:

prowla said:

EnPointe said:

prowla said:

EnPointe said:

what is the benefit to the business  of   offering you a customised probationary period ?  

Probationary periods mean very little  other than reduced  notice periods both way, they have no impact on  Employment protections /rights  ( as those are either day 1 or  after 2 years currently until  the  Employment Rights bill  currently being discussed  passes through parliament )  

and the historical stuff   re pensions etc  no longer appplies due to auto enrolment  rules 

Actually, they do often have an impact on some rights, such as joining employee benefit schemes.

Act and Section please  if you are suggesting there is a legal basis  for this, rather than these being  discretionary and none contractual benefits ? 

It's a decision that the Employer / Group makes 

there's a well know mulitnational, whose Uk operations are a mxture of company owned sites and franchised sites, the organisation has a health insurance scheme in the UK and Europe  , which is not open to those with less than 3 ( three) years service , the nature of the front line workforce is such that  many people don't make 3 years service, however the  First line Managers and Branch Assistant / General managers  often have many  years service 

I don't understand "Act and Section" - are you asking for a legal basis?

If so, that's not what I was referring to.

It's common for companies to have a benefits package which you have a right to join on completion of probation.

it could be a healthcare plan, perks, share options, or whatever.

Therefore shortening the probation would give sooner access to those.

you implied there was a Legal basis  for this 

Probationary periods have little or no meaning in UK law 

I didn't imply that; you may have inferred it, though.

(Your 2nd para mentioned reduced notice periods and employment protections; I said and rights to join benefits schemes.)

Nothanks

I can only see downsides in trying to negotiate this. The gains are minimal and short term, but it looks terrible. And if you’re a senior exec it looks even worse. 

I haven’t gone through your other threads but I agree it’s worth reflecting on if this environment is something you actually want to do. 

DullGreyGuy

Kai_63 said:

I'm reviewing a contract for a new job. I'll be in a reasonably senior role in a big company (but not leading the overall team) and they've added a 6 month probationary period.

Has anyone negotiated this down to 3 months and/or have any advice?

What is actually dependent on the probationary period? Does your notice period change? Do you get extra benefits? What are you actually wanting to get earlier? 

How does the probation period actually work? Is it a simple fixed length? Does it have to be explicitly "passed"? Can you pass earlier than the 6 months?

Anything is potentially up for negotiation but it really depends on what "reasonably senior" means? Sure if you were interviewed by the CEO then you may have more leverage than what a low level manager would have. If it's a question of when benefits kick in rather than change to notice period then you are more likely to have it agreed that they start earlier than the probationary period shortened. 

EnPointe said:

prowla said:

EnPointe said:

what is the benefit to the business  of   offering you a customised probationary period ?  

Probationary periods mean very little  other than reduced  notice periods both way, they have no impact on  Employment protections /rights  ( as those are either day 1 or  after 2 years currently until  the  Employment Rights bill  currently being discussed  passes through parliament )  

and the historical stuff   re pensions etc  no longer appplies due to auto enrolment  rules 

Actually, they do often have an impact on some rights, such as joining employee benefit schemes.

Act and Section please  if you are suggesting there is a legal basis  for this, rather than these being  discretionary and none contractual benefits ? 

Your contract, not an act of parliament, can read it for you if you need but most people can manage it themselves. 

For example my last perm role had a flexible benefits scheme but you only go the "right" to join it after passing your probation. Similar notice period changed once the probation was passed, going from 1 month to 3 months (mirrored)