Probationary Period after 5 years successive fixed-term contracts

[royfonder]

Hi All and thanks in advance for any and all advice!!! What a wonderful forum.

I worked for my employer on successive fixed-term contracts for 5 years with no break in-between the contracts. I was made permanent as a result of the duration of fixed-term contracts. I argued successfully that I was automatically a permanent employee after passing 4 years of FTC. Part of my new permanent contract, however, indicated that I have an 18 month probationary period. This does not seem correct to me. I have already been in exactly the same job for 5 years!

My question is: Could I argue that I don't have a probationary period of 18 months since I am already in my 6th year of employment?

Thanks again!!

RF

[ULA]

I think you have a very strong argument in regard to the probationary period. Even if you were a new employee, not even having been on a FTC, given a permanent contract the longest probationary period I have come across in my experience is 6 months. They have already given you successive FTC contracts and now a permanent contract they must know you can do the job and therefore a probationay period of any length would be questionable but 18 months most certainly not.

[royfonder]

Thanks very much ULA!!