Can My Civil Service Probation Be Extended Without Warning?
Civil Service Probation Extensions Without Notice or Written Reasons
Hello,
I have been in my Civil Service role for nearly a year. My original manager told me that I had passed probation and that they were only waiting for the final paperwork to be signed off.
That manager has now left. When I asked my new manager why I still had not received confirmation, I was told that the records show my probation was extended by several months. This is the first time anyone has told me that.
I have not received a letter, an extension plan or any explanation of what I supposedly needed to improve. I assumed the delay was administrative because no one had raised a serious performance or conduct concern with me.
Can probation be extended without telling me, and what should I do if the extension period has already started or may even have ended?
I am a union member and have asked my manager to confirm the position in writing.
Quick Answer
A probation extension should not be treated as invisible paperwork. Departmental rules vary, but you should normally be told that probation has been extended, why it has been extended, how long it will last and what standards you must meet during the extension.
Read our Civil Service probation help guide for the relevant process, checks and practical guidance.
Need help with your own situation? Visit Get Tailored Advice or browse more questions in Advice.
What I Would Do After Discovering My Probation Had Already Been Extended
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Continue reading to see which records I would request, how I would challenge the lack of notice and what I would do to protect the final probation decision.
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