Hello and welcome to Episode 274 of the People Powered Business Podcast!

Today we are talking about probationary periods. What they are, why so many businesses get it so wrong in using them effectively and how to leverage them better.

Legally, the concept of probation isn’t defined in the Fair Work Act. What matters instead is the “minimum employment period”, which is 12 months for businesses with fewer than 15 employees or 6 months for businesses with 15 or more employees.

During this period, employees can’t make an unfair dismissal claim — which is why it’s often confused with “probation.”

BUT — if you don’t manage this properly — you can still face general protections claims, adverse action issues, and more. The employment contract wording is critical to protect you here.

An Invitation

Would you like to connect with other like-minded business owners, leaders and managers experiencing similar situations with their team? Join the discussion inside our free Facebook Group – The People Powered Business Community. Click here to join us.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Fair Work and Modern Awards Compliance Essentials Webinar

It's that time of year again. Award rates are going up. The Fair Work Act is changing (again). And if you're not across the updates, your business could be at risk - without you even realising it. That’s why I’m hosting a live webinar this June: Fair Work and Modern Awards Compliance Essentials. We’ll cover what’s changing, what it means for you, the simple steps to stay on the right side of Fair Work and the common mistakes that can land you in hot water - and how to avoid them. It will be practical and jargon free. Get your place by clicking here: https://www.peoplepoweredbusiness.com.au/fairwork