Considering Promotion for Senior Workmen: Can We Include a Probation Period and What If They Underperform?

Dear Seniors, We want to promote some workmen into the Staff category as they are senior workmen.

Question 1: Can we add a probation period clause (6 months) for their new post (Staff Category) in their promotion letter?

Question 2: If yes, in case of poor performance, what action can we take during their probation period?

Regards, Vinay

You can very well add a clause for probation in your promotion policy. In case of poor performance, you can have the following options:

1. Provide for an extension of probation by another three months.
2. Reversion of the employee to his original post/grade/scale.

However, incorporate it into the promotion policy. Circulate the promotion policy among the employees. Refer to the promotion policy in the application to be filled in by the employee for promotion, if any. If you have unions, better enter into a settlement of the promotion policy to avoid any future hassles or take them into confidence, etc.

Regards,
B. Saikumar
Mumbai

Dear Sir,

After promotion, will they remain governed by Certified Standing Orders? If not, how can we communicate to them the employment terms and conditions applicable to staff, and that they will receive a salary in the range of Rs 10,800 to Rs 15,000 per month?

Vinay

It is very difficult to provide a considered reply to the query posed by you since it requires a look into various factors like their present position, future promotion prospects, and the nature of their duties, and so forth. It all depends on the nature of the duties assigned to them upon promotion.

Best regards,
B. Saikumar
Mumbai

One of the workers' current positions is that of Senior Electrician, and he will be promoted to Electrical Supervisor. His job responsibilities will include supervising the electricians, guiding them in case of technical difficulties, and reporting to the Assistant Manager of Maintenance.

Regards,
Vinay

Since his designation is Supervisor, and if he is drawing more than Rs. 10,000/- per month as salary and is genuinely performing supervisory functions, then he is not a workman.

Regards,
B. Saikumar
Mumbai

I have some questions:

1) What is your organization's current gradation?

2) What are the current benefits for workmen?

3) If we take on staff as workmen, what are the added advantages?

4) What is the basic purpose of this change?

5) Are workmen eligible for overtime?

1. Trainee Electrician/Asst Electrician/Electrician/Senior Electrician/Supervisor/Asst Manager/Manager/Maintenance Head
2. All Statutory Benefits/Yearly increment/DA Revision/Canteen/Uniform.
3. Increase in pay, good yearly increment, and all other statutory benefits.
4. The development of good resources within the organization and providing opportunities to deserving workmen.
5. No

My suggestion is to include them in the supervisor grade. Their designation will be Foreman/Group Leader. This change is for future betterment.

Do not place them in the probation grade. Instead, issue a promotion letter to them, including all terms and conditions. Ensure to take their acceptance sign.

Additionally, conduct a meeting to deliver a clear message to them regarding expectations, benefits, purposes, do's and don'ts, etc.

It is suggested that before promoting them, a requisition letter from each individual should be obtained, expressing their willingness to be considered for promotion. The letter should state that promotion is not automatic and should not be considered as a precedent, but rather as a way to gain experience.

Benefits of Internal Promotion

The benefits of internal promotion for employees include higher monetary compensation and the opportunity to take on greater responsibilities and stature within the working hierarchy. In cases where there is doubt about a person's performance post-promotion, they should be asked to undertake the higher responsibilities for a trial period, such as six months. During this trial period, the individual should receive an additional allowance (a proportion of the increase) until they are deemed fit for regular promotion. Although the individual will not change categories during the trial period, they will receive an allowance.

Upon promotion, the candidates should be excluded from the standing orders that were applicable to them earlier.

Dear Vinay, As far as promotion from the Workmen category to the Supervisory Category is concerned, there is no need to include a Probation Clause for six months since he would have completed probation when you recruited him in the workmen category. Based on his seniority and performance, he is now being promoted to the Supervisory category. You can assess his performance in the supervisory cadre periodically or as needed.

He will receive the benefits applicable to the supervisory cadre, and his service conditions will remain unchanged. A circular should be issued regarding this matter, specifying the conditions.

Regards, U S Rauthan