§ 2-387. Probationary period.

Each newly hired full-time and regularly scheduled part-time employee of the city shall be required to successfully complete a six (6) month probationary period. Newly hired full-time and part-time police officers and firefighters shall be required to successfully complete a probationary period of twelve (12) months. Probationary employees shall be evaluated both at the midpoint of their probationary period and immediately prior to its completion. NOTE: The existence of the probationary period does not guarantee employment for the entire probationary period. As at-will employees, an employee may be discharged at any time either during or after completion of the probationary period.

Department heads and other appropriate city officials shall use the probationary period to closely observe and evaluate the employee's work habits, abilities, attitude, promptness, and other pertinent characteristics and to encourage adjustment to city service. Department heads shall recommend retention of only those employees who meet required standards during the probationary period.

A probationary employee may be removed at any time during the probationary period when, in the judgment of the department head, the employee's quality of work does not merit continuation in the job. An employee terminated during the probationary period shall not have access to the hearing, grievance or appeal process. The department head shall complete the appropriate personnel action form, when a decision to terminate has been made, and such termination will be official when the City Administrator signs such forms.

All newly promoted employees, excluding police officers and firefighters, shall also be subjected to a promotional probationary period of six (6) months. There shall be no increase in pay following the successful completion of the probationary period.

A newly promoted employee may be returned to his/her former job classification or similar position with the rate of pay which he/she would have been entitled had he/she continued to serve in such lower position without promotion at any time during the promotional probationary period when, in the judgment of the department head or the promoted employee's supervisor, the employee's quality of work does not merit continuation in the higher level position. Such action shall not be considered disciplinary, nor shall it eliminate the employee from consideration for later advancement. If that position is filled, the city will make every effort to place that employee into a vacant position within the same department. If no vacancy exists, the employee will be terminated from employment.

For purposes of this policy a "probationary period" shall be considered a learning or trial period. Successful completion of a probationary period shall not be construed in any way to change the "at will" employment status of any employee. It should not be inferred that the employment will continue beyond or through the probationary period.

If a newly hired employee was a part-time employee for the city, the probationary period may be waived at the discretion of the city administrator and the position's supervisor.

Employees on a probation period will receive compensation as described within section 2-393 of this Personnel Policy Manual.

(Ord. No. 82-2016, § I(Exh. A), 9-20-2016)

Editor's note

Ord. No. 82-2016, § I(Exh. A), adopted Sep. 20, 2016, repealed the former § 2-387 and enacted a new section as set out herein. The former § 2-387 pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Ord. No. 72-2011, § I(Exh. A), adopted Dec. 20, 2011; and Ord. No. 01-2013, § I, adopted Jan. 15, 2013.