Trial period

The probationary period in employment relationships is, simply put, a period during which the employer and the employee can determine whether cooperation between them will work.

The employer may use the probationary period to assess the qualifications and work performance of the new employee. On the other hand, the employee can use the probationary period to get more familiar with the job and the working environment and to decide whether the job is suitable for him or her. At the same time, there should also be a mutual alignment of values and expectations for both parties.

How long is the trial period?

A probationary period is not legally obligatory, but must always be agreed if the employer chooses to do so. The actual length of the probationary period may vary depending on the agreement between the employer and the employee, but according to Act No. 262/2006 Coll., Labour Code, it may not exceed three months. Only in the case of managerial employees, the probationary period may be negotiated for up to 6 months.

At the end of this period, the employer and employee must decide whether to continue working together or to terminate the employment relationship. Unless otherwise determined during the probationary period, the employment contract shall continue in force.

What else to look out for in the probation period?

The probationary period must be agreed in writing no later than the day the employee starts work, i.e. the day the employee is appointed to the new position. If the probationary period is not agreed in writing, it is not valid. A probationary period cannot be agreed if the employment relationship between the employer and the employee has already been established.

It is also important to note that the probationary period may be terminated at any time during its term without cause by either party.

Keep everything under control in your HR system

For employment contracts and the associated probationary periods, the key is to keep documents and data in order. With the Sloneek HR system, you’ll have everything under your thumb. You simply upload contracts to the app that you can sign electronically and set up notifications for the end of the trial period. So you can’t miss a deadline or miss something. For all employees, you will also keep a clear record of all records in their user folders.