Probationary Period Policy template
Probation duration, review process, extension and termination during probation.
- Employment Rights Act 1996
- ACAS Guidance
What the policy covers
- 1. PURPOSEAll new employees are subject to a probationary period.
- 2. DURATIONThe standard probationary period is … months from the date of commencement of employment.
- 3. REVIEWSInformal check-ins will be held at … and ….
- 5. EXTENSIONWhere performance or conduct is not yet satisfactory but there are reasonable grounds to believe improvement is possible, the probationary period may be extended by up to … months.
- 6. TERMINATION DURING PROBATIONEmployment may be terminated during or at the end of the probationary period where performance or conduct is unsatisfactory.
Who needs it
Any UK employer running rotas, leave and the day-to-day of employing people. These set out the rules once so nobody argues about them twice.
Questions people ask
Is a probationary period policy a legal requirement?
It rests on Employment Rights Act 1996 and ACAS Guidance. Some policies must be written down once a business reaches a certain size or does certain work; others are simply how a tribunal, an inspector or a client's auditor expects to see that you have thought about it. A clear, dated, signed policy is the evidence either way. Guidance, not legal advice.
Can I change it to suit how we work?
Yes. Inside Work-Lynx it is a starting point: put your company name in, adjust the arrangements to what you actually do, set the review date and publish it. Staff read and acknowledge it on their phones, and you can see who has not.
Is it up to date?
Last reviewed April 2025. The pack is updated when the law moves, and every policy carries a review date so it does not quietly go stale.
How do I get it?
It is preloaded in Work-Lynx with the other 48 UK policies. Work-Lynx is £2.50 a month plus £1 per employee, 14 days free, no card, and what you see on the pricing page is the bill.
Who is it for?
Any UK employer running rotas, leave and the day-to-day of employing people. These set out the rules once so nobody argues about them twice.
All 49 UK policies, £2.50 a month
This policy and 48 others are already in Work-Lynx, alongside GPS clock-in, rotas, timesheets, leave and Employ AI for UK employment law. £2.50 base plus £1 per employee a month. 14 days free, no card, no sales call.
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