MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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What's the norm for a new job contract these days regarding probation, length of probation, qualifying for company benefits (pension, health insurance), sick pay during probation etc?
I realise this will differ buy any real world recent experience - it's for experienced IT support / on call engineers if that matters.
In my experience any 'benefits' are normally only given after a probation period. Most probations are between 3-6months. Unless you're doing something that's paid weekly where probation would be shorter.
Holiday, pro rata for days worked usually 1.5 per calendar month
Sick pay unlikely probably SSP after 2 weeks but back dated to 3 days in.
Pension payable after probation, usually backdated to start date
Probation 6 months, they would be mad to do less.
Performance management review every 6 months ?
Where I am (big corporate), we offer benefits from day one. Standard probation period is 3 months, but given you don't actually have full employment rights for 2 years that's pretty meaningless.
Most companies provide benefits after probation. pensions however pensions can be requested from day one in writing (I had an employee request this recently)
I wouldn't worry about 6 months probation given that the law provides virtually no protection for 2y anyway, but would be very disappointed by any attempt to downgrade conditions more broadly.
Just started a new job, similar roll, 6 months probation although pension starts after 3 for some reason. Check the notice periods. My contract said I had to give them 3 months notice, they only had to give me 1 week(!) per year of employment....wasn't signing that! Wanted a bit more commitment from them which they agreed too so now 1 month either way
All good stuff many thanks. Interested in what sick pay is early on also.
although pension starts after 3 for some reason
The rules changed when auto-enrolment came in - if the employer has been through their staging date (and I think some smaller employers may not have done yet although I might be wrong about that) I believe three months is the longest deferral allowed.