Make Your Document In 3 Easy Steps:
Answer a few questions to customise your document in minutes
Start now and save your progress, finish on any device
Securely sign online and invite others to sign
This document has been customised over 9.5K times
Documents and communicates
Complies with relevant laws
Ask a lawyer questions about your document
Sign this document online for free with RocketSign®
PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL: FOR THE ADDRESSEE ONLY
Dear ,
As you are aware, your employment with was subject to a probationary period of 6 months.
Yours sincerely,
This Probation Letter template covers:
the employee’s details
the employer’s details
a confirmation that the employee’s probation period has ended or has been extended
the outcome of the probation period (ie whether it has been passed, extended or failed)
A new employee’s performance should be reviewed and assessed after a probation period. The employee should be informed in writing of the outcome of their probation period (eg whether or not they have passed their probation). Issuing a Probation Letter ensures you keep employees informed about the outcome of their work probation and shows that you deal carefully with their integration within the business.
Probationary periods generally last 3 months, although they can be shorter or longer and may even be extended if necessary. The requirement for an employee to undergo such a period is normally included as a clause in the main Employment contract. For more information, read Probation periods.
The Probation Letter can inform the employee that they:
have passed their probationary period successfully
will have their probationary period extended (ie so they can continue being evaluated), or
have not passed their probationary period successfully
The Probation Letter should, at the latest, be sent on the last day of the probation period.
Making a Probation Letter online is simple. Just answer a few questions and Rocket Lawyer will build your document for you. When you have all of the details prepared in advance, making your document is a quick and easy process.
To make your Probation Letter you will need the following information:
Party details
The employer’s details (ie legal structure, name and address).
If the employer is a company, partnership or LLP, who will sign the Probation Letter on its behalf?
What are the employee’s details?
Probation period
For how long was the employee on probation?
With regards to the probationary period:
Has the employee passed their probationary period successfully? If so, what is the date of the employee's employment contract?
Does the employee’s probationary period need to be extended? If so, for how long will the probation period be extended? Who is the employee’s line manager?
Has the employee not passed their probationary period successfully? If so, on what date will the employee's employment end?
Date
On what date will the Probation Letter be sent?
Probation Letters are used to inform employees of the outcome of their probation period. To do this, this Probation Letter template covers:
Sender and recipient details
The start of the Probation Letter provides details of the employee and employer, to ensure that is delivered to the right person.
Private and confidential: for the addressee only
The body of the Probation Letter provides details of the outcome of the employee’s probation period.
If the employee passed their probation period, the Letter explains that the probation period has been passed successfully. It also sets out that the terms of the employment contract will continue to apply, apart from any terms relating to probation periods.
If the probation period is being extended, the Letter will set out by how many months it is being extended. It explains that this is due to the employee’s performance (which should have been previously discussed with their manager) and highlights that further steps (eg dismissal) may be taken if the employee’s performance doesn’t improve.
If the probation period has not been passed, the Letter sets this out and provides an employment end date.
If you want your Probation Letter to include further or more detailed provisions, you can edit your document. However, if you do this, you may want a lawyer to review or change the Probation Letter for you, to make sure it complies with all relevant laws and meets your specific needs. Ask a lawyer for assistance.
Make sure you can extend the probation period
A probation period can typically only be extended if the employment contract allows for it. Before seeking to extend an employee’s probation period you should check their employment contract to see if you can do this.
Consider whether extending a probation period is advantageous
Extending an employee’s probation period allows the employee more time to improve their performance. This can help them demonstrate competence in the full range of duties and required behaviours. As an employer, extending someone’s probation period may be advantageous as you do not need to invest more time and money in finding a replacement.
Remember to handle dismissals after a probation period fairly
Employees on their probationary period can be exempt from the full protection of your dismissal procedure. However, probation period dismissals should still be handled fairly and reasonably, and it is advisable to follow your standard Disciplinary procedure. Doing this helps protect your business from claims such as automatic unfair dismissal claims. For more information, read Probation periods and consider following our Dismissal checklist when dismissing staff.
Understand when to seek advice from a lawyer
if this document doesn’t meet your need
for employees based outside England, Wales and Scotland
