Newly appointed classified employees at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHSC-H) will be subject to a 120-day probationary period with an optional 60-day extension at the supervisor's discretion. In addition, all employees, on promotion, transfer, lateral movement, or downgrade to a classified position in another department, are subject to a 120-day probationary period with an optional 60-day extension at the supervisor's discretion. If an employee is subjected to an involuntary position change after successful completion of a full probationary period, the employee does not have to complete a new 120-day probationary period. If an employee is subjected to an involuntary position change during a 120-day probationary period with an optional 60-day extension, the employee must complete that probationary period in the new position and does not have to begin a new probationary period. The probationary period provides an opportunity for the employee to assess the institution/situation and adjust to the new job and for the supervisor to evaluate the employee's job performance and determine if the employment relationship is mutually satisfactory.
Note: For this policy, a department is defined using the department codes in PeopleSoft. A change in any of the first six digits of this eight-digit number indicates a department change.
All regular (employees appointed for a minimum of 20 hours per week for at least four and one-half months in a fiscal year) classified employees are on probation for the first 120-days of employment. The 120-day probationary period commences with the date of employment and ends with the one hundred and twentieth consecutive calendar day thereafter. The 120-day probationary period may be extended an additional 60 days for a total of 180-days at the supervisor's discretion.
The supervisor will conduct a departmental orientation for the new employee, discussing the purpose of the probationary period and reviewing the length of the probationary period. The supervisor will provide the new employee with a clear description of the job to be performed, communicate the standards for the job, observe work performance, and provide feedback to the employee.
Each employee must have written performance reviews twice during the 120-day probationary period, preferably at 60 and just before 120 days. If the probationary period is extended 60 more days for a total of 180 days, then the employee must have a performance review before the 180th day. The probationary evaluation forms are on the Human Resources website at http://hr.uth.tmc.edu/forms_hr.html. Supervisors must complete these forms before the employee finishes the probationary period. These forms must be kept with other personnel documents in a departmental personnel file.
All classified employees are eligible to change jobs during a probationary period; however, a new 120-day probationary period with an optional 60-day extension begins with each departmental change in position. If a probationary employee changes position within the same department, the employee completes his/her original probationary period and does not have to begin a new probationary period.
Employees may be recommended for dismissal at any time during the probationary period. A current UTHSC-H employee who has successfully completed a full probationary period and accepts a new position in a different department will be required to serve a 120-day probationary period with an optional 60-day extension, but must be provided 30 calendar days notice if dismissal is recommended. If dismissal is recommended, the supervisor should contact a Human Resources advisor prior to any discussion with the employee.
Updated 08/05