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Inspiration 36

Are probationary periods outmoded?

t used to be common for businesses to hire employ- while it's legal to delay some benefits, such as retirement
ees on a probationary basis for the first 30, 60 or 90 plans and dental insurance, companies that employ more
days, depending on the complexity and responsi- than 50 people full time must provide them with health
I bilities of their respective jobs. But due to changes in insurance, and many health insurance companies require
the workforce and society overall, many company owners that insurance be offered within the first 30 days of hiring.
dispensed with probationary periods, concluding they're Rules for sick leave also vary state to state and municipality
no longer useful, especially in light upheavals brought to municipality. In many cases sick leave must be available
about by the COVID0-19 pandemic. from day-one.
The pros Anti-discrimination laws also come into play. In the United
One benefit of a probationary or trial period is that it States, these include the ADA and Title VII, which protect
provides the employer and the new employee time in employees from the first day on the job. It's essential to
which to see whether the individual and the position make sure the parameters of your probationary period do
are a good fit. It's possible a person will have all the not conflict with laws such as these.
right qualifications and shine during interviews but
have lackluster performance on the job. It's also possible Another drawback is that when an employee's probationary
the employer's glowing description of a position when period concludes with positive results, an employee may
recruiting won't mesh with day-to-day reality on the job. A construe that to mean they can only be dismissed for
probationary period enables both parties to end a working cause going forward. However, some states have at-will
relationship in a relatively painless way before either has employment, which means an employer can terminate
invested too much into it. an employee at any time without cause, provided the
employer doesn't break any federal or state laws when
Another benefit is that when the objectives of the trial doing so.
period are set forth clearly, preferably in writing, this
provides a specific point in time when the requisite skills As with everything else in business, communication
and knowledge should be acquired and performance is key. If you use a trial period, be clear about what is
goals met. All members of the team involved with the new expected of new hires and by what date. Then be sure you
employees can keep these objectives in mind and do their and your colleagues make the person feel welcome, train
part to see that the training and mentoring provided give them well, and check in regularly to discuss how the new
the individual a strong start. team member is progressing toward full competency on
the job. I think trial periods still have a place. Do you?
The cons

Various federal and state labor and employment laws
affect hiring and firing processes. If you don't follow
applicable guidelines, you could run afoul of the law.
For example, sometimes certain benefits are not offered
until an employee completes a probationary period, and Kate Gillespie, President and CEO

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