MSU Administrative Professional Association

Probation and Trial Periods: Help is Available

Being a new employee at MSU can be intense and sometimes overwhelming if you have not worked here before. You are learning many new systems as well as trying to navigate several policies and rules. If it is your first time in an APA position, you will be on probation for one year. It is easy to trip up and get yourself in trouble while trying to navigate the processes alone.

Probation starts when someone is initially hired into or or transfers to an APA position for their first time. Our contract states there is a one (1) year probationary period. Being on probation means you have all the rights in our contract with the exception being able to file a grievance for matters of discipline, layoff, or termination. This means you cannot contest the reasons for such matters. During your probationary period, there are two times when you have an evaluation; one at 6-months and the other just before your 1-year anniversary. If you are having trouble, your supervisor should be making you aware of the issues and offering direction on corrective actions. This is not always the case and does not relieve you of the responsibility to get on the right track. Probationary periods can be ended early and successfully but that is not seen very often.

To be clear, if you are on probation, the university can dismiss you at any time without going through the contractual disciplinary steps. In the worst-case scenario, you can be called to a meeting and be let go, without notice. If you are not talking to the APA while on probation, the only time the APA would know about trouble is when the university sends us the notice that your termination has happened. We can do nothing at that time.

If someone has already been in an APA position and has served their 1-year probation then changes to another APA position without a break in service, they will serve a six (6) month trial period. They can also serve a trial period if they are moving jobs from another bargaining unit and returning to an APA position. The trial period can be ended by the University or the employee at any time. If your old position is still open and the department intends to fill it, you can go back. If the position has already been offered to someone else, you would end up on lay-off. A trial period can be extended for up to an additional 6 months. If there is an extension, you receive a notice at least 5 days before the end of your original trial period. Like the probationary period, you cannot file a grievance against the determination of the extension.

There is also a time that someone on probation may change to another APA position, and they can be on probation as well as in a trial period. Those are served concurrently, and the probation does not restart at a full year with the newer position. If, this is your situation, please let us know. We do not hear of all the position changes and knowing helps guide the counsel we provide.

Knowing some of these details and requirements make navigating this landscape very challenging when alone. We often hear from members who did not want to bother us, and the situation was too far along to get them back on track.  If you are on probation or in a trial period, and your supervisor expresses any concern with your work, contact us immediately. There is no embarrassment associated with reaching out for a partner who understands. We can guide you to deal with the concerns and help constructing a path to a longer career at MSU.