Probation extended 1 month, how bad is it?
Posted by False-Acanthaceae-76@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 50 comments
I’m in my late 20’s, work at a corporate job in London.
I moved here 6 months ago and have had a really hard time with my housing situations, have had bad luck twice and the second time (where I’m living now) becoming untenable (aggression, noise and hostility from housemates).
I received overwhelmingly positive feedback at my job 3 months in. They said my work was exceptional and I was getting on really well with the team. 4 weeks ago, I got a bonus and small pay rise, even though I’m on probation, they’ve asked me to keep it quiet as they don’t give that to people on probation.
I got really good feedback from my boss consistently.
3 weeks ago my housemates were especially hostile and loud at night, I had trouble sleeping and therefore coming into the office consistently (hybrid 3x weekly). The first week it happened my boss was so understanding, said I should do what I have to do, to keep communicating, if his boss notices he’ll explain the reason.
The second week it happened (I came in 1x instead of 3x), he said it’s raised eyebrows and that he thought it was just going to happen for a week, I explained I’m doing everything I can to move quickly to another flat within my budget etc. He was very concerned and I asked if my probation is okay, he said just make it in 3x a week, and to be on my phone less (I’d been texting agents arranging viewings etc), try to look less tired/down. I course corrected completely since that conversation and have come in 3x a week, though it’s been 2 weeks.
I had my probation meeting today and it’s been extended a month. Do they not like me and want to fire me, or is this a good reason to extend probation? I am just worried because obviously for 5 months I’d come in and had exceptional performance and he kept saying how good my work is.
I’m really worried and feel like everything is just falling apart even though I’m doing everything I can
**** for context it’s a 6 month probation period
GanacheImportant8186@reddit
To be blunt, if you're meant to be in the office then having trouble sleeping is not a good reason not to be in the office.
Maybe if you have been there a long time and have great relationships, it would fly very occasionally. But if you're new it just comes across as not serious. Taking the Mick. Don't mean to be harsh and sorry you're having a hard time, but that's just how I and I would guess many others of your seniors generations would see it.
Working from home used to frankly not be a thing, and I'd be in the office after 1-2 hours sleep, ill, whatever. You not managing your life just isnt a reason not to do what's expected of you.
The good news is that if this is about attendance then at least that's a very simple thing to fix, as it sounds like your actual work is good.
Fuzzy_Dragonfruit_20@reddit
Bro was the guy that came into the office ill and made everyone sick.
GanacheImportant8186@reddit
No choice. Different era.
Fuzzy_Dragonfruit_20@reddit
Shit companies* I’m around the same age and haven’t experienced this. But yes thankfully it’s becoming less common place.
stathletsyoushitonme@reddit
If it was due to a medical issue such as insomnia or a side effect of medication you have to adjust to then I think there are cases this could be frowned upon less, but having noisy flatmates is frankly not an excuse for an adult to not attend their job in person when they are meant to.
bromabb@reddit
Chances are if you sucked majorly you’d just fail the probation and they’d get rid of you, the fact it’s been extended says that they see your potential but need to really see you use it, get your head down and keep cracking, you got this
False-Acanthaceae-76@reddit (OP)
They keep saying my work is so good and can’t say anything bad about my work, the attendance thing to me seems a bit silly or maybe harsh so just have no idea if I didn’t pass their vibe check and they’re taking some small reason
Bgtobgfu@reddit
Attending your job is not silly
False-Acanthaceae-76@reddit (OP)
Silly in the context of, only for 2 weeks out of 5 months
Bgtobgfu@reddit
No, still not silly. You’re on probation and you still can’t manage to come to work? You’re being unreliable, making excuses and refusing to acknowledge the issue.
False-Acanthaceae-76@reddit (OP)
Okay, fair, I thought it might be fine because of a bad external circumstance I had no control over, I’m not trying to take the piss just poor sleep because of terrible housemates is hard when my job is demanding!
Cannot emphasize enough I’d never take the piss like that, just was genuinely struggling on those weeks
Colleen987@reddit
I did and do night shift with a baby sometimes I sleep less than 3 hours a night. I never once not turned up to work.
Samuraisheep@reddit
I was gonna say the same! Parents do it daily for years on end!
Bgtobgfu@reddit
Then just make sure you show up this next month and show them that you are reliable and that those 2 weeks were a one-off. They’ve made it clear that is important to them.
purplemackem@reddit
2 weeks out of 5 months is a lot though. That would roughly equate to a full month of work in a year
Connell95@reddit
You didn’t meet one of the absolute minimum expectations of your job for two weeks in a row during probation, and you seriously think that’s a silly reason for your employer not to be happy?
TavernTurn@reddit
Good attendance is the number one most important thing at work. You can be mediocre at your job - but if you turn up on time and you’re well presented, that’s the first thing that your boss will notice.
Don’t fuck it up. Buy earplugs and an eye mask if your surroundings are messing up your ability to sleep. No excuses.
Connell95@reddit
If you think the attendance thing seems a bit ’silly’, then honestly you need to check yourself.
They set clear expectations about minimum attendance – you failed to meet them. That’s a problem, and you need to fix and show it’s not going to continue to be an issue in the future.
purplemackem@reddit
It doesn’t seem silly to me to be honest. Your manager was clearly happy to be flexible at his discretion when he thought you were going through a short term problem. Going into two weeks raises the eyebrows it’s going to be ongoing which honestly they’re probably thinking they can do without.
In your probation period it’s always better to be where they can see you working well and mixing well with the team etc anyway to be honest
bromabb@reddit
Best thing to do would be deal with whatever they throw at you, it ain’t fun and you might not think it’s fair (most of the time it’s not) just to get through your probation, in doing that you’ll build good habits that they like to see from employees and hopefully you stay there for as long as you like
marbmusiclove@reddit
Agree! Been in and had friends in similar situations before, keep pushing with work and your housing situation will naturally improve
Colleen987@reddit
You’re gonna need to explain this to me, you slept poorly so just didn’t turn up? Or are you saying you went into the office but with a lack of sleep.
YuccaYucca@reddit
You’ve blown the great start you had by being lazy.
Bgtobgfu@reddit
You’ve completely explained in your post why they’ve extended your probation and I don’t know why you’d jump to ‘do they not like me?’.
You’re meant to be in the office 3x per week, you’ve been not showing up. They want to keep you on probation to see if it was just a blip or if you’re really unreliable and were hiding until now.
Advice from an older lady- if your job requires you to be in the office 3x per week, be in the office 3x per week.
Superspark76@reddit
It sounds like it has been extended to monitor you. You need to be better than best. Come in early, work late, do more than you need to. Don't give any excuse.
Your boss is likely trying to help you, take the opportunity
Sea-Still5427@reddit
What reason did they give? They also need to give a clear, measurable improvement they want to see and confirm it to you by email so there's a trail. Otherwise it could be seem as unfair.
Seems like nitpicking to me and inconsistent with giving you a raise and a promotion. I wouldn't do that to someone I valued. Also, many corporates these days don't do a probation period at all these days as they believe that they're disempowering and not necessary if they hire the right people in the first place.
Connell95@reddit
They don’t to give any reason to extend probation – they could just have sacked OP immediately if they had wanted. But it’s pretty obvious from the post what the issues are in any case, so they know what they need to solve.
Prologic87@reddit
I understand going into the office with little to no sleep is hard but it sounds like you really have to just get in and soldier through to make sure you pass your probation. You can catch up on sleep after you move.
In the mean time you might want to try decent earplugs and a sleep mask. I could sleep through a hurricane with mine.
Upstairs_Yogurt_5208@reddit
I also use earplugs and a sleep mask because my wife’s snoring is like a hurricane.
Connell95@reddit
Noisy flatmates is a pain, but it’s not a legitimate reason for not coming into the office three days a week when that’s a clearly set expectation. Everyone used to have to come into the office five days a week. I’ve had to come into the office a few times on zero sleep – it’s not fun, but it’s just a case of having to power through. If you couldn’t make it one day, you should have come in additional days the rest of the week (and the next if need be) to make it up.
Texting agents in work time is a pretty obvious no no (especially when on probation). Do it in your lunch hour, breaks, or while you’re at the loo.
For now, buy ear plugs, noise cancelling headphones and whatever else you need to deal with your problems and not make it your work’s problem.
Conscious_Analysis98@reddit
Others have given you good advice but I must add your excuse for being on your phone (texting estate agents) is really poor and not believable at all. I wouldn't use that one again.
Shitsinhandandclaps@reddit
If they wanted you gone you’d be gone. They can fire you for almost any reason in the first six months. In fact that’s pretty much the case for up to two years except the notice period change. Until 1/1/27 when the law changes.
Anyway, they’ve mostly likely extended it to scare you into doing what they want.
If it were me in this situation I’d move in an Inn or something for a month.
False-Acanthaceae-76@reddit (OP)
That’s really reassuring thank you, I want to believe what they’re saying is face value, I don’t think I’m super well liked basically, I am really introverted in the office (but extroverted at interviews and around people I know and like)
Derries_bluestack@reddit
How did the noisy flatmates affect your ability to go to the office 3 days per week? I thought it it was the other way around. That you went to the office 5 days per week instead of 3 to get away from flatmates. If you slept in a couple of times, couldn't you have gone in the other days that week?
Having people attend the office seems to be important to them. Presumably it's even more important when you are learning and fitting in. They're concerned that you found a reason not to attend 3 days. So if you do that now, what will you do when you're more comfortable.
If you attend without an issue for the next month and appear fresh and enthusiastic, I'm sure you can pass probation. Based on getting a raise and bonus previously.
bix_box@reddit
They are noisy at night. He can't sleep. Going to the office during the day doesn't help that.
purplemackem@reddit
If they didn’t like you they’d have just ended it in the probation period. It seems almost certain they’re wanting to make sure the issue you were having really was just a one off and not something that is going to be a repeated occurrence. It seems they were happy it would be when it was just the one week but two weeks clearly had them side eyeing you about it.
Just keep your head down, do the days in the office you are asked to and keep off your phone. They clearly like you as a worker but are wanting to check your professionalism
Wishmaster891@reddit
Sorry to say it but while on probation if your company want you in 3x a week you do that. You can power through a day or 2 on less sleep i’ve done it many a time.
What is your job?
Careless-Giraffe-623@reddit
They've extended your probation as your attendance has not been consistent.
It's as simple as that.
Careless-Giraffe-623@reddit
Also be careful with 'over sharing' information.
"sorry I can't come in today as my housemates kept me up all night" is not a good look.
Strangely__Brown@reddit
Extended probation = Sort your shit out.
If they didn't like you then you would be gone by now.
elevenerit@reddit
The situation at home sounds awful - do what you can there, get earplugs, white noise, whatever it takes. However you clearly need to get yourself into work - they’re telling you explicitly they need you there 3x a week and you’re not meeting that.
I’m honestly a bit surprised that one night (?) of them being loud caused you to not come in more than once that week. Honestly people go through a lot at home - nocturnal newborns, partners on shifts, caring responsibilities, etc - and still manage to get in. Before covid you went in (most corporate jobs) 5x a week.
Texting agents - do it on your lunch. You can do it, coffee coffee coffee!
K1ng_Canary@reddit
This may sound harsh but they are extending because they want to see if you're going to be a headache to them longer term.
Your living situation sounds difficult but, with the best will in the world, it isn't your works problem. They've been understanding for a week but longer term than that may start to seem like you're taking the piss a bit. I'm assuming their concern is you just don't want to actually come into the office the agreed amount and will end up finding excuses not to if they keep you permanently.
Wonderful-Cow-9664@reddit
Have you recently taken two weeks sick leave?
Is this in any way linked to the post the other day?
As others are saying, probation being extended does not have good connotations, ( but it’s also not completely negative) it is your chance to prove yourself though. I can fully see why they’ve extended it from what you’ve said, but if they ere REALLY unhappy with you, they’d have just written you off at the end of your original probation, they’ve essentially given you a fighting chance to do better
Glad_Driver2378@reddit
9/10 if you’re probation is extended, I’d start looking for another job
EfeAmbroseEFOTY@reddit
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/s/XgExKzSE4L
You already posted this.
False-Acanthaceae-76@reddit (OP)
It was removed as I mentioned I’m on a skilled worker visa so had to repost
Aberry9036@reddit
This all sounds very stressful. If your company wanted to get rid of you, they wouldn’t extend your probation, they would get rid of you. It sounds like you need to keep doing what you’re doing, find a stable living situation and then press on with proving yourself so you can pass probation.
Etheria_system@reddit
It looks like they’re giving you a chance to course correct. If they wanted to get rid of you, they could have done that as they can fire you for any reason (aside from equality act protected characteristics) under 2 years.
Classic_Mammoth_9379@reddit
Based on what you say, it sounds like they are giving you the opportunity to “re-run” the last month where your attendance was below expected standards. You need to speak to your manager and agree some simple, measurable success criteria for exiting probation in a month and get them written down and agreed.
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