Probation (workplace)

This article is about the status given to new employees of a business. For the punishment given to criminals, see Probation.

In a workplace setting, probation is a status given to new employees of a company or business. This status allows a supervisor or other company manager to closely evaluate the progress and skills of the newly hired worker, determine appropriate assignments and monitor other aspects of the employee – such as how he/she interacts with co-workers, supervisors and/or customers.

A probationary period varies widely depending on the business, but usually lasts anywhere from 30 to 90 days. If the new employee shows promise and/or does well during the probationary time, he/she is usually removed from probationary status, and may be given a raise and/or promotion as well (in addition to other privileges, as defined by the business). Probation is usually defined in a company's employee handbook, which is given to workers when they first begin a job.

The probationary period also allows an employer to terminate (i.e., fire) an employee who is determined not to be doing well at his/her job or otherwise deemed not suitable for a particular position. Some companies have an at will policy, which allows a company manager to terminate an employee at any point during the probationary period.

Some companies may place employees on probationary status, particularly if their performance is below a set standard or for disciplinary reasons. In this instance, the employee is usually given a period of time to either improve his/her performance or modify his/her behavior before more severe measures are used. Similarly, students with unsatisfactory grades may also be placed on academic probation by their institution.