Probation Period Dilemma: Can HR Terminate for Approved Unpaid Leave?

Hi,

If an employee during the probation period applies for leave without pay for 3-4 days for urgent work within 3 weeks of joining, and subsequently receives approval for leave from the hierarchy, can HR terminate them with the cited reason that it was not allowed during the probation period? Kindly advise.

Regards

HR is only a staff function. How can HR terminate the services of an employee on the grounds of absence when he actually got the leave sanctioned by an authority belonging to the line function? Rules are not God-given but only man-made. Their interpretation always requires situational intelligence, not perversion. Even in the case of leave during probation, at most, probation can be extended proportionately, and no termination on this score alone.

Let us be humane. You are mentioning that he has taken leave for some urgent work after obtaining permission from his HOD; hence, you should treat it as leave without pay instead of absent. These petty things make a lot of difference in employees' minds with respect to HR and its existence.