Probation Extended: Can Employees Still Get a Yearly Raise? Seeking Advice!

Dear All, please advise, can any employee be eligible for a yearly increment while their probation period is extended for another three months?

It depends on the rules of probation of your establishment or the terms of the contract of employment as the case may be.

Probation and Increment in Government Services

If I remember correctly, in Central and State Government Services where the period of probation is normally a maximum of two years within a continuous period of three years, the probationer is allowed to draw their first annual increment. However, the second and subsequent increments can be sanctioned only after the successful completion of the probation period.

My personal opinion is that a probationer, particularly one who is under extension, may be granted their annual increment with retrospective effect only when they get confirmed.

Dear Sir, In our organization, the increment cut-off date is 30th September. Joiners from 1st April to 30th September are eligible for an increment effective from 1st April. However, this time a lump-sum increment was granted with effect from 1st August. Some employees joined during January-February 2021. In those cases, they completed six months, but their probation period was extended due to the office being closed for COVID-19. Proper orientation and work were not done during this period, hence their probation period was extended.

In those cases, they have completed six months, but their probation was extended.

Kindly advise on what to do in this situation to maintain organizational norms and employee satisfaction.

Regards, Rakesh Dubey

In my opinion, increments should be given to the concerned employees as the probation period is extended due to the COVID situation, which is not within the control or performance of the concerned employees.

Moreover, the organization has declared a lump sum increment; therefore, the probationers should not be deprived.

Thanks & Regards,

S K Bandyopadhyay
CEO - USD HR Solutions
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy-Reasons]
http://www.usdhrs.in