What is probation? ⚓︎
Probation is a period of time at the beginning of the employment relationship during which the employer assesses whether the employee is suitable for permanent employment.
It’s common to refer to this as the new employee’s “probationary period”.
How long do probationary periods typically last? ⚓︎
There are no mandatory probationary period limits as such (although a probationary period should never be longer than one year, and in practice it’s wise to cap at 11 months – for more on this, see below).
In practice, 3-6 months is the norm.
Am I obliged to impose a probationary period in the first place? ⚓︎
No – although your ability to terminate the employment safely during the initial
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