Probation

If your written job offer has been made subject to the satisfactory completion of a probationary period, this is because we wish to establish your suitability for the job you have been offered. During your probationary period, you will be provided with every encouragement and assistance, including reasonable training to enable you to meet the requirements of the job and to assess your performance for continued employment. 

Ordinarily, all employees will have an objective setting meeting soon after joining the Company. If there are concerns regarding your performance during this period, they will be raised with you during this meeting, and you will be given the opportunity to improve your performance.  If deemed necessary, we reserve the right to extend your probationary period for a reasonable length of time.  Any such extension will be confirmed to you in writing at the time. 

If following your review meeting your performance has been found satisfactory, your appointment will be confirmed, however, you will not have passed your probation unless you have received confirmation in writing.  

In the unlikely event that at any stage of your probationary period you are considered to be unsuitable for the job you have been offered, we may terminate your employment by the giving of notice in writing or salary in lieu of notice.  

During the probationary period you will not be entitled to access the Company’s full Disciplinary, Capability (ill health, job performance) and Grievance Procedures.  In cases where you are underperforming during the probationary period, we would hope to follow these and provide development opportunities, however, this is not always possible and there may be occasions where your employment is terminated without having followed the full disciplinary or capability procedure.  There is no entitlement to payment due to sickness or injury, apart from Statutory Sickness Payment (SSP) during the probation period. As a general rule, leave entitlement will not be allowed in the first 3 months of your employment, although it will be accrued.  This will be at the directors discretion.

In the unlikely event that you wish to terminate your employment you may do so by giving written notice to the director(s). The period of notice required is as noted in your offer letter and contract of employment. Should you give notice during your probationary period, we reserve the right to require you to take any unused holiday during your notice.