Quitting during the probation period

It’s not workinggggg!

Did I just hear a scream? 

I know, I know, not every job you join is supposed to be your dream job. Sometimes you realize that you made a mistake right after joining the organization. 

I bet you just realized that this isn’t what you were promised, probably you are not happy with the job, work environment, or employment terms, or you just received a better offer and you want to quit now. 

If you quit now, you might be able to tell the employer that it was a bad idea to accept the offer in the first place. But if you are thinking of quitting after completing the probationary period, things might not remain the same. 

You know what, just quit already. But wait, is it right to quit a job during the probation period?

What happens if you put down your papers without completing your three-month probationary period? How does the probation period work? 

I get a lot of questions like these, I’m sure you have a few questions in your mind too.

If you’d ask me from a recruiter’s perspective, the hiring process takes time, it’s tedious and very costly. employers often spend hundreds of hours and money vetting for profiles and identifying the right prospects.

Employers work hard to reduce the number of dropouts, improve the work culture and achieve a lower attrition rate. An employer would never appreciate someone abandoning them during the probation period after spending so much money and effort.

You can’t just get up, say bye and be on your way. Normally when you resign you are supposed to serve a notice period.

A notice period helps the employer find a suitable replacement and complete the handover process. 

Your employer expects you to provide them with a heads up, lets them assess the situation, come up with a workaround, make up for the losses and find a suitable candidate who can fill in your shoes. 

Notice period terms are clearly specified in employment contracts, although they do not discuss employment termination during the probation period.

A lot of individuals believe it is safe to presume that you do not need to provide notice – but I’d say it’s a bad assumption. Let’s figure out how long your notice period should be so you may leave not just on good terms, but also on fair ones.

What is a probation period and how does it work?

A probation period can be defined as a trial period for recruits to help them understand the work, deliverables and adjust to the work environment. A probation period can last anywhere between 3 to 6 months. 

Usually, recruits enjoy some concession with lesser benefits during the probationary period. During a probation period, recruits are allowed to serve a notice between 1 week to 1 month. 

The probation period helps the employer to provide necessary trainings, assess performance, and take corrective measures. 

At the end of the probationary period, if the employee and employer both find themselves compatible, the employer issues an employment confirmation letter to convert the job offer into permanent employment.  

Is it OK to quit during the probation period?

Yes, it’s perfectly ok to quit during the probation period. As described above, a probation period is basically a trial run for both parties. You would be allowed to leave with a shorter notice period. For more information, you might want to check your employment contract. 

Can I quit without notice during the probation period?

No. it doesn’t matter if you are in a probation period or not. You can not quit a job without providing notice unless the company specifically allows you to do so. 

Check your employment contract

Every new recruit is made to sign an employment contract. It’s always better to read the agreement carefully to determine your rights and obligations concerning employment benefits, termination, probation terms, and notice period.

What if you want to resign without giving notice period?

If the circumstances are not allowing you to go with the stipulated notice period, you must seek help from the HR manager. Employers often allow employees to leave without serving the required notice period given they forgo their one-month pay or buy out their notice period.