Qualifying vs. probationary periods

Workforce Guardian’s Charles Watson examines the difference between qualifying periods and probationary periods.

Probationary periods should be a testing time

There are a number of questions I am asked on a regular basis relating to probationary periods. This is an area where employers often make assumptions or confuse the concept with that of a qualifying period. A probationary period and a qualifying period look quite similar but are two separate animals and should be treated accordingly when on boarding a new worker.

Before we dive into the details, employers need to understand that no matter what psychometric testing or interviewing techniques they apply in the recruitment stage and the current over reliance on them, sometimes things just don’t work out and a parting of ways needs to occur during the ‘no fault’ period. To overcome possible fallout and blame shifting litigation it pays to know how and when to deal with the issue and with which exit strategy to use, just in case.

Qualifying vs. probationary periods

Qualifying period     

To clarify, a ‘qualifying period’ refers to a statutory exclusion from an employee making an unfair dismissal claim against their employer. Under the Fair Work Act 2009, an employee must have served a period of six months of employment, or 12 months if working for a small business (14 or less employees) before they are entitled to make an unfair dismissal claim against their employer.

Conversely, if the employee does make an unfair dismissal claim before reaching the end of the qualifying period, there is a statutorily derived jurisdictional impediment that will not allow their application to progress in the Fair Work Commission.

That being said, a qualifying period will not stop an employee taking some other form of claim, such as an adverse action claim or a bullying claim against the employer. That is one of the reasons why probationary periods should be effectively utilised.

Probationary period

By contrast, a probationary period is purely a fixed period contractual term within the contract of employment that commences from the start of a candidate’s employment. The sun sets on such clauses upon the conclusion of the stated period.

The probationary period allows the employer a timeframe to review their progress to determine the workers suitability for the role specifically, as well as the workplace generally. After all, most of us have at some time worked with a competent colleague who needed toxic spill bunding constructed around them that made for a horrible workplace culture. If you catch toxic spills early they cause little damage and so too with unsuitable workers.

In practice, if the worker does not work out they are notified during a meeting of being “unsuccessful during their probationary period”, the outcome is confirmed in writing, they are paid out accrued statutory entitlements and everybody moves on. This avoids having to go into the minutiae about the employees conduct, poor attitude and behaviour. In some respects, this allows an employer to remain relatively ‘brief’ on issues that may otherwise be responded to with claims of discrimination, bullying or some similar type of claim taken out by an ex-worker.

Conversely, if the worker is successful they should be notified of their ongoing employment. As part of keeping workers engaged, acknowledge their success openly as well as in writing and encourage their momentum for the next six months.

Tips

  • Clearly draft the terms of the probationary period into the contract of employment.
  • We always recommend a six months probationary period.
  • If the probationary period has expired the employer cannot then seek to rely on the term as a basis for terminating a worker’s employment.
  • Probationary periods cannot be extended without mutual agreement and good reason, such as a lengthy absence during the probation.
  • It is possible to implement a probation period when taking on workers in a transfer of business situation. However, this would generally require the ‘new employer’ not to recognise the workers service with the ‘old’ employer and make any offer of employment accordingly.
  • A period of ‘regular and systematic’ employment as a casual will likely count towards the qualifying period if the worker ultimately becomes permanent. This could ultimately make any probationary period within a permanent offer contract ineffectual.

Getting probationary periods right

Making the wrong decision when hiring a new worker happens from time to time. However, once a worker has completed the legislatively derived qualifying period an employer completely enters the peaks and troughs of employment relationships. Therefore, treat the probationary period as a safeguard in the recruitment process. We recommend employers make the most of what they have available to them so as to ensure they have hired the candidate with the right stuff.

www.workforceguardian.com.a

This first appeared in the July/August issue of INCLEAN magazine. To subscribe, click here. 

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