Understand why the probationary period is important.

The probationary period is the final stage of the hiring process for employees in the competitive service. In most cases, agencies can swiftly terminate probationers who have not demonstrated their fitness for continued employment. It is in the Government’s interest to assess probationers before they receive finalized appointments as Federal employees.

Know your new hire’s rights.

Most people serve a probationary period, with limited appeal rights upon termination, when they are first hired into the civil service. The process to terminate a probationer usually does not require giving them advanced notice or a right to respond, and their appeal rights afterward are limited, but you do need to follow the rules for how to separate a particular probationer.  There are exceptions that may require you to take additional steps. For example, an individual with prior service may have full statutory procedural rights. Be sure to consult with your human resources advisors before taking action.

Make full use of the probationary period for employees.

An appointment is not final until the probationary period is over. Probationers have yet to demonstrate their fitness for the job. Performance and conduct problems often first show up during the initial period of Government employment. This period is designed to provide an opportunity for managers and supervisors to address such problems in an expedient manner. Furthermore, removing probationary employees based on conduct and performance issues is less cumbersome as they are not entitled to most of the procedures and appeal rights granted to employees who have completed probationary periods.

Communicate expectations for performance and conduct.

If your employees don’t understand what is expected, it will be very hard, if not impossible, for them to meet those expectations. Providing clear expectations doesn’t necessarily require you to lay out precisely written, detailed instructions on conduct or every performance component. Generally, the question you should ask yourself is: “Would a reasonable person understand what was expected?”

Provide regular and frequent feedback.

Feedback, both positive and corrective, whether given in regularly scheduled meetings or in unscheduled discussions, is crucial to ensuring that expectations are understood. Probationers should receive closer supervision and instruction, as needed during the first year of their employment. Managers and supervisors are advised to view this provided time period as an opportunity to potentially course correct with capable employees. These measures aid in preserving the investment the agency has made in the probationer. They also give probationers a fair opportunity to demonstrate why it is in the public interest to finalize an appointment to the Federal service.

Set reminders to assess the probationer regularly.

For some jobs, it may work best to have the reminders appear on your calendar every few months to remind you of your responsibility to assess a probationer’s performance and conduct. For other jobs, you may want to set reminders after training courses or the completion of projects. The important thing is that the assessments are continual and that you do not lose sight of the probationary period’s end date.

Act promptly.

If you conclude that the person is not a good fit for the job, end the probationary period by ending the employment. A probationer will automatically acquire full statutory procedural and appeal rights as defined in law (5 U.S.C. § 7511, 5 U.S.C. § 4303) if you have not separated the probationer within the probationary period.  The probationary period ends when the probationer completes their tour of duty on the day before the anniversary date of the probationer’s appointment.  

Know about the excepted service and the trial period.

Just as new hires in the competitive service are placed in a probationary period, new hires in the excepted service are placed in a trial period with similar limitations on their procedural and appeal rights. The length of a trial period can vary, so it is important to check with your human resources advisors to know the situation for your particular hire.

Remember that there are other types of probationary periods, too.

An employee is required to serve a probationary period upon initial appointment to a supervisory and/or managerial position in the competitive service. Likewise, there is a probationary period when a person first enters the Senior Executive Service (SES). The length of these periods can vary, and the consequences for failing these probationary periods are different than the new hire, competitive service probationary period. For this reason, it is important to check with your human resources advisors to know the conditions for your particular situation.

Regularly consult your human resources advisors.

If you have questions about whether you have any probationers, how you should assess them, or the separation process, please reach out to your human resources advisors. They are your partners to make sure that you and your staff are successful.