Probation period keeps being extended, options?
Discussion
Started a job last October with a 6 month probation period.
Over the six months I had very little feedback either positive or negative. At the end of the 6 months I was told they wanted to extend the period by two months as I hadn't proven myself.
A month into the extension I got a letter confirming this. Two weeks later I was given some objectives to achieve within those two weeks. That was at 5pm on Tuesday. Wednesday, Thursday and Monday I was on holiday.
After two weeks I had a meeting with my boss and his boss (the MD) to discuss my future at the company. By 8pm that night I had an email saying I could take time out to think about things. I didn't take time out as I suspected I'd still have to get the work done.
I did however, write an email to the MD detailing how difficult it was to work with my boss. I asked to have time with her to discuss. She replied saying she'd call me, which she did from Manchester airport 2 minutes before she was told to turn off her phone as the plane was due to depart. In the follow up meeting she told me she'd showed the email to my boss. And they'd decided to give me 4 weeks to prove myself rather than pull the rug from under me when there were a couple of big projects on.
Since then I've found out that my issues with my boss will be managed in one to ones, with my boss. In the first he said, "you clearly can't work with me" so I'm not optimistic. I had a chat with the MD last Friday to tell her I was worried that, a) my boss would be the one signing off my probation and b) even if he did sign it off I'd have to work with him.
The response was that she didn't have time to get involved and that another person who had issues was getting on much better with him (my boss).
I'm contemplating emailing the HR director (based in another office) to share my concerns. But I believe others in the company have gone down a similar route with no success. I suspect the MD can't cope with "personnel stuff" and is hoping something will happen which means she doesn't have to deal with it. (ie me leaving)
I wonder if I have any options other than hand in my notice (which would make it easy for them.)
The nature of the business means I'm working on other projects to what I was told when I joined the company and projects are moved / pushed back for various reasons. So sometimes an objective cannot be achieved due to external changes.
Several times in meetings my boss has taken over presentations I'm supposed to deliver - one of the issues I have with him - which makes it difficult for me to tick certain boxes.
Hope all that makes sense and apologies for the ramble.
Over the six months I had very little feedback either positive or negative. At the end of the 6 months I was told they wanted to extend the period by two months as I hadn't proven myself.
A month into the extension I got a letter confirming this. Two weeks later I was given some objectives to achieve within those two weeks. That was at 5pm on Tuesday. Wednesday, Thursday and Monday I was on holiday.
After two weeks I had a meeting with my boss and his boss (the MD) to discuss my future at the company. By 8pm that night I had an email saying I could take time out to think about things. I didn't take time out as I suspected I'd still have to get the work done.
I did however, write an email to the MD detailing how difficult it was to work with my boss. I asked to have time with her to discuss. She replied saying she'd call me, which she did from Manchester airport 2 minutes before she was told to turn off her phone as the plane was due to depart. In the follow up meeting she told me she'd showed the email to my boss. And they'd decided to give me 4 weeks to prove myself rather than pull the rug from under me when there were a couple of big projects on.
Since then I've found out that my issues with my boss will be managed in one to ones, with my boss. In the first he said, "you clearly can't work with me" so I'm not optimistic. I had a chat with the MD last Friday to tell her I was worried that, a) my boss would be the one signing off my probation and b) even if he did sign it off I'd have to work with him.
The response was that she didn't have time to get involved and that another person who had issues was getting on much better with him (my boss).
I'm contemplating emailing the HR director (based in another office) to share my concerns. But I believe others in the company have gone down a similar route with no success. I suspect the MD can't cope with "personnel stuff" and is hoping something will happen which means she doesn't have to deal with it. (ie me leaving)
I wonder if I have any options other than hand in my notice (which would make it easy for them.)
The nature of the business means I'm working on other projects to what I was told when I joined the company and projects are moved / pushed back for various reasons. So sometimes an objective cannot be achieved due to external changes.
Several times in meetings my boss has taken over presentations I'm supposed to deliver - one of the issues I have with him - which makes it difficult for me to tick certain boxes.
Hope all that makes sense and apologies for the ramble.
Hackney said:
...Two weeks later I was given some objectives to achieve within those two weeks. That was at 5pm on Tuesday. Wednesday, Thursday and Monday I was on holiday.
After two weeks I had a meeting with my boss and his boss (the MD) to discuss my future at the company.
Did you achieve the objectives?After two weeks I had a meeting with my boss and his boss (the MD) to discuss my future at the company.
Forgive me but it sounds like you are having your probation period extended for a reason, sounds as though you are continually failing? Your boss taking over presentations on your behalf? Giving you time to think about things? They want you to leave it seems. Get your CV out there ASAP.
M777CUS said:
Forgive me but it sounds like you are having your probation period extended for a reason, sounds as though you are continually failing? Your boss taking over presentations on your behalf? Giving you time to think about things? They want you to leave it seems. Get your CV out there ASAP.
The nature if the business has meant that objectives have had to move or change eg manage a project delivery by June 1st, then the clients had to completely review internally (which took time) and the budget halved so we have to go back to square 1. I certainly managed the client, progressed the relationship etc, etc but did I achieve the objective? No
Or deliver a demonstration of a product to the client, after 1 minute the client said "I want it, how much and when"
So we potentially made a sale but I didn't deliver my objective which was the full demo.
Incidentally, in the same meeting my boss insisted we couldn't deliver before the end of the year even when the client was gagging for the product. I sat there thinking "shut up!". The MD was in the same meeting and was trying to buy time by saying, "we'll review and perhaps we can deliver a light version in your time frame"
My boss said, "no, we can't do that before end of year either". Practically arguing with the MD in front of the client.
Regarding my boss taking over presentations, I perhaps wasn't clear. I don't mean he has taken over my work for me. It was in a client meeting when I was delivering a review presentation. After slide one in the meeting he bagan talking over me and continuing the presentation. He is renowned for taking over. His response in a feedback session was that I should tell him to shut up. In front if the client!!!
They don't want you.
You need to find another job.
Without being harsh, surely this is obvious? The boss is the boss for a reason - they are likely to regard him and his opinion more highly than someone they have just taken on. Going behind his back to the MD is a disastrous idea, IMO, and would make me want you out too. His competence or difficulty to work with is irrelevant: you just need to get on with him and if you have issues resolve them with him as non-confrontationally as you can.
Too late now though.
Good luck with the new job search, and try and figure out what you could do differently in it which will stop this from happening again.
You need to find another job.
Without being harsh, surely this is obvious? The boss is the boss for a reason - they are likely to regard him and his opinion more highly than someone they have just taken on. Going behind his back to the MD is a disastrous idea, IMO, and would make me want you out too. His competence or difficulty to work with is irrelevant: you just need to get on with him and if you have issues resolve them with him as non-confrontationally as you can.
Too late now though.
Good luck with the new job search, and try and figure out what you could do differently in it which will stop this from happening again.
Edited by N Dentressangle on Tuesday 9th July 07:51
The guy sounds like an a
hole. However, he is in the senior position. Unless senior management have a serious issue with him, his word will stand.
In my experience, HR will do nothing but side with management (after all, they know who pays their salary - and it isn't you).
At this stage, they can dismiss you with very little comeback, so I'm afraid that there is no point in holding out to make them push you - you'll still end up on the street with no job. Start looking for a new job immediately.
hole. However, he is in the senior position. Unless senior management have a serious issue with him, his word will stand.In my experience, HR will do nothing but side with management (after all, they know who pays their salary - and it isn't you).
At this stage, they can dismiss you with very little comeback, so I'm afraid that there is no point in holding out to make them push you - you'll still end up on the street with no job. Start looking for a new job immediately.
But be bloody careful going about it, unless you (OP) decide that the place is no longer for you.
That said, in a few weeks/months from now it's definitely worth a shot in frank, direct but polite terminology before formally resigning to take the new job you've just secured...You'll have the last laugh in that scenario. Timing is key, clearly.
That said, in a few weeks/months from now it's definitely worth a shot in frank, direct but polite terminology before formally resigning to take the new job you've just secured...You'll have the last laugh in that scenario. Timing is key, clearly.
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