Rights & Remedies
Probationary Period
A trial period at the start of an employment relationship to assess compatibility, subject to specific duration limits.
Definition
A probationary period is an initial phase of an employment contract during which both the employer and the employee can assess the suitability of the employment relationship. Directive (EU) 2019/1152 limits the maximum duration of such periods to six months, with limited exceptions allowing for up to twelve months in specific, justified circumstances, aiming to prevent prolonged insecurity for workers.