Federal Agencies Get Tough on Probationary Employees

The Office of Personnel Management has taken a firm stance on probationary employees. They've told federal agencies to let go of these employees after they stopped taking new offers for their "deferred resignation" program. This move comes after a meeting where agencies were given guidance on how to handle these employees, with some exceptions. The decision is up to each agency, but the message is clear: probationary periods are not a guarantee of permanent employment. Probationary periods in the federal government usually last a year, but some positions, like law enforcement, can have longer periods. This is a time for both the employee and the agency to see if they're a good fit. The latest data shows that there are around 216, 000 federal employees with less than a year of service. This is a bit higher than the average over the past five years. The Office of Personnel Management asked agencies to list their probationary employees and explain why they should stay. They even fired their own probationary employees in a meeting. About 70 employees were in this meeting, and they were given very little notice. The meeting was led by the acting OPM Director, and probationary employees were told they would be terminated at 3 p. m. that day. The meeting was unusual because a union representative was not present, and employees were not allowed to ask questions.The Office of Personnel Management sent an email to federal employees saying that their deferred resignation program has closed. Any resignations received after 7:20 p. m. on Feb. 12 will not be accepted. This is a big change, and it's important for federal employees to understand what this means for their jobs. The federal government is trying to streamline and restructure, and this is one of the ways they're doing it. The probationary period is a crucial time for both the employee and the agency. It's a chance to see if the employee is a good fit for the job and the agency's culture. But it's also a time for the agency to evaluate the employee's performance. This recent move by the Office of Personnel Management shows that they're taking this evaluation seriously. The federal government is trying to serve the American people better, and this is one of the ways they're doing it. But it's important to remember that these changes can have a big impact on the lives of federal employees. It's a reminder that probationary periods are not a guarantee of permanent employment, and that agencies have the final say in who stays and who goes.