Comments on: Expert says this common practice is more trouble than it’s worth

By: R. B.

R. B. — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:58:36 +0000

We have a 90-day introductory period during which a new employee can be terminated without going through the progressive disciplinary process. It’s considered an evaluation period, giving us time to determine if they employee can perform the job they have been hired to do in a satisfactory manner. The down side I see to this arrangement is that the employee is normally on their “best” behavior during that 90 day time period, so sometimes, you don’t get a true picture of them as a whole.

By: Susanna

Susanna — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:30:45 +0000

Tom and Randi, do you work in California?

I do and everything you’re saying is true! It’s unbelievable what people are getting away with. When we appeal the decision and all parties go before the judge, the employee is still found “not at fault”. It’s very disheartening.

By: Randi G

Randi G — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 22:07:20 +0000

Being an “at will” state is fairly meaningless — terminated employees can still sue for unlawful termination and they frequently win. And unemployment insurance is awarded to everyone these days, even if they’ve been fired for cause — we lost appeals for employees who were fired for sleeping on the job or coming to work drunk. The only appeal I’ve won is when the employee admitted to having stolen cash from the company.

By: Tom C

Tom C — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:31:18 +0000

“You can call an apple a banana” but you still have to go through the progressive steps to prove why you fire someone. Depending on your state’s unemployment commmission, it’s been my experience they side with the former employee when granting unemployment benefits.

By: Leon

Leon — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:57:45 +0000

We still have the 90-day period in which an employee may be fired without prior written disciplinary action. We call these employees “introductory”. I think the employees and the public in general recognize the “probationary period” as a formal period in which discharge without progressive discipline is acceptable and in having a probationary period a company may avoid lawsuits.

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:38:12 +0000

Why use “probationary” anymore? I completely agree. New employees should not be subject to the negative connotation of this word as their employment status right out of the gates. I have always preferred “introductory” as an alternative or would really prefer to not label this first 90 (or whatever) days at all.