Duration and Extension of Probationary Employment — A Re-examination

This article is based on a wider study on "Probationary Employment-Objectives and Effectiveness"—recently completed by the author.

Report of State Comptroller, No. 10 of 1958/59, Jerusalem, 1960, pp. 28-53.

Management in Israel retains this privilege only during the official probationary period, and once it is over a worker cannot be dismissed except under extraordinary circumstances.

As to the objectives and methods of induction, see: W.M. Mussman , "Employee Induction" , Studies in Personnel Policy, No. 131 (National Industrial Conference Board, Jan., 1953); Arye Globerson, Personnel Management—A psycho-sociologic approach (Management Institute Press, Tel-Aviv, 1963), pp. 199-212.

This aspect is being dealt with by: H. Eliot Kaplan , The Law of Civil Service (M. Bender & Co., New York , 1958), pp. 181-6; I.L.O., Certain Aspects of Labour-Management Relations within the Undertaking, Labour-Management Series, No. 25, Geneva, 1965, p. 30.

The 126 managers were: 13 general managers; 15 personnel managers (mostly fulfilling additional functions); 35 managers of staff units; 43 managers of operative units; 20 supervisors and foremen.

As very little is known about the optimum length of probationary employment, most publications recall existing practices: (a) Nigro says that many consider three months about the minimum required for the simpler jobs, more time is needed for other types of workers. Felix A. Nigro , Public Personnel Administration (Holt & Co., N.Y., 1959), p. 223.

(b) Calhoon distinguishes between skill potentialities and general habits, personality and character; for testing the first he considers 30 to 60 days to be enough, and much longer for testing personal attributes. Richard Calhoon , Problems in Personnel Administration (Harper, N.Y., 1949), pp. 335-6.

(c) In Casselman's Labour Dictionary it is said that the length of probationary employment (in industry) varies from one to three months. Paul H. Casselman , Labour Dictionary; A Concise Encyclopedia on Labour Information ( Philosophical Library, N.Y., 1949 ). (d)

In an I.L.O. publication we read: "The length of the probationary period usually varies from a week to one, two, three or even six months. It may even be as long as a year for certain executives with special responsibilities." (This is related to industry, as in public administration the length is much longer than that.) I.L.O., loc. cit.

(e) Werne says that "... the length of the probationary period will depend on the nature of the work in the plant ...". B. Werne , The Law of Labour Relations ( The Macmillan Co., N.Y., 1951), p. 290.

However, during periods of manpower shortage there is a tendency, especially in smaller and medium private organizations, to fix the duration of the period by personal arrangement, when it is usually very short (a maximum of one month).

As to European practise, see Bolat et al., Le Contrat de travail dans le droit des Pays Membres de la CECA (CECA Haute Autorités, Luxembourg, 1965).

In Belgium and Germany probationary employment for higher civil servants lasts three years; in Austria there is a trial period of six months and 3 1/2 years "provisional employment".

In the terms of the McCarthy Report of New Zealand, "... the need to ensure that ... probationers have had opportunity to settle to their work before action is taken". Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry ("McCarthy Report"), The State Services in New Zealand (Government Printer, Wellington, 1962), p. 298.

In industry and in private undertakings the extension is generally up to three months. In the civil service of most countries it ranges from six months till three years; in the Israeli civil service the prolongation is generally up to six months.

Three were the sources of information: written evaluations; written evaluations combined with interview of last supervisor; interview with last supervisor.

The data on the two groups were collected in the same manner; all of the probationers have been permanently engaged by their respective organizations (from one till four years).

The McCarthy Report states: "... Probation periods are often extended where there is doubt about a probationer's suitability and that is justifiable. But in most cases it is better if the decision can be promptly made." (Ibid., p. 297.)

In this respect see: Roger Gregoire , The French Civil Service ( International Institute of Administrative Services , Brussels, 1964), pp. 193-4;

Felix Nigro , ibid., pp. 172, 226;

"McCarthy Report", ibid., p. 295;

Report of the Royal Commission on Government Organization ("Glassco Report") (Queen's Printer, Ottawa, 1962), vol. I, p. 265;

U.S.A. Civil Service Commission , Civil Service Journal, vol. 7, No. 4, April-June, 1967.