The probation period in the UAE is mandatory for all employees, regardless of the industry where they work. From employees in the construction sector to those who work in executive roles, everyone has to comply with probation.
In this article, you are going to learn more about the probation period UAE. Moreover, you will see the rights and responsibilities as well as the duration and extension rules of the probation period in Dubai.
Rights and Responsibilities during probation period
Regardless if the employee is working under a limited or unlimited contract, an employer can place them on probation. This is in accordance with the UAE Labor Law. And, this period starts once the employee begins to work for the company.
During this probation period, the employer will assess the employee’s performance to determine if he or she is a good fit for the role. As such, the employee has to undergo through the following:
- Evaluation and performance screening.
- Regular feedback.
- Clarifications about the role.
It is important to point out that the employee will still receive their payment during probation. And, once the MOHRE probation period finishes, the employer will decide if the employee is suitable for a permanent position at the company or not.
In terms of rights and responsibilities, the following are according to the law:
- Both parties can agree on a non-compensation clause in case of termination during probation period.
- The employee can leave work for another employee as long as they follow the proper procedure.
- Both parties have to comply with the notice period in case of termination.
- During the probation period, there is no sick leave for employees and also there is no gratuity.
- According to the law, an extengsion to the probation period is not allowed. Similarly, the same employee cannot be on probation for a second time.
- Both parties have to agree on the duration of the period.
- Employees have the right to work in an environment that is considered safe.
Regular Feedback and Evaluation
The probation period is highly important for both parties. For employers, it serves as a way to identify a potential permanent employee. For the employee, it is the perfect time to show their capabilities and skills to land a permanent position.
Therefore, employees should know that during this period, they are under constant evaluation. For this reason, employers may request meetings with them to provide feedback. Thus, the employer must ensure to foster an environment focused on growth.
Considering that there are several factors that affect manpower availability, it is important for an employer to provide constant feedback but with a good tone.
Similarly, employees have to give their best so they can highlight their strengths and show they are achieving a seamless integration into the company.
During these feedback and evaluation sessions, the employer may point out the following:
- Acknowledge the progress and improvements the employee have made.
- Provide positive reinforcement about the strengths of the employee.
- Provide insights about what needs improvement.
- Encourage employees to become better at their roles.
Thus, if the employee wants to succeed during the probation period UAE, they need to do the following:
- Start giving a great impression on your first day at work.
- Understand your employer’s expectations and ensure you meet them.
- Work on having good communication skills.
- Show you are a person willing to learn and adaptative.
- Build solid relationships with your manager and coworkers.
- Make sure to learn about the company’s rules and culture.
- Be responsive to feedback.
- Learn about work ethics in the UAE and apply them.
- As a new employee, you have to always be on time. Thus, by this, you are showing you are reliable.
Job Description Clarification
Even though the skills and qualifications needed for a role may be explicitly stated in the job post or during the interview, it is common for new hires to not have a complete understanding of their requirements.
For this reason, the probation period is a time when new employees can get to know more about the company and the position. During this period, the employee can ask relevant questions about the tasks, work, paperwork, and many other areas of the role.
Thus, as an employer, it is important to instruct managers or supervisors on how to do a great onboarding for new employees. During the first week, the employee has to learn about the following:
- Company’s vision and mission
- Culture
- Work environment
- Tasks and duties
- Responsibilities
- Work area
- Managers and coworkers
In this regard, an introductory meeting can be a great option. As an employee, you need to learn as much as you can about the job and the company. If you succeed during your probation period, you will continue in the role.
Therefore, you need to ask all the questions and solve all of your doubts. This way, in the future, you will work more confidently in your new job.
Receive Benefits and Compensation
During probation period in Dubai, the employee can enjoy almost the same benefits as permanent employees.
For instance, the employee will receive the salary that was agreed on during the interview. However, in some cases, some employers decide to give a raise to the employee once the period finishes and becomes a permanent employee.
Thus, the employee has the right to receive compensation for their work. Moreover, he can enjoy the following benefits:
- Working hours.
- Overtime.
- Weekly rest days.
- Breaks.
- Public Holidays.
Nonetheless, the employee cannot request paid sick leaves and if the period ends and they are not hired, then they are not entitled to end-of-service benefits either.
Regardless, if the employee is facing an emergency and needs to take time off, he or she should discuss it with the employer. In this regard, according to the internal practices of the company, the employees can take unpaid time off while they are sick and come back to work once they are better.
Thus, taking time off due to sickness is not prohibited, as it will not be correct. However, the employee has to know this time will be unpaid, and they have to do their best to recover fast as this may have an impact on their performance if they take too long.
Duration and Extension probation period rules in the UAE
The working hours in the UAE are already established in the law, as well as a maximum probation period. As such, if you are a foreign employer or an expatriate candidate, you need to get to know the local law.
This way, you can ensure total compliance as an employer, and know your rights as an employee.
According to the MOHRE probation period, it cannot exceed six (6) months, although both parties may agree on a shorter period. For instance, many companies in the UAE tend to agree on a probation period of 2-3 months.
Nevertheless, it is up to the company and the employee to decide on which duration may be best. It can be as little as 1 month and up to 6 months.
It is also worth considering that it cannot exceed the maximum duration established by the law. Also, it is essential to learn about the following considerations:
- The probation period cannot be extended, as it is deemed illegal in the law.
- During probation, the employee can be moved to a new role, but he or she cannot be placed under a second probationary period.
- If the company decides to extend the period beyond 6 months, despite it being considered unlawful, it will face legal consequences. For instance, the company may have to compensate the employee and will be held accountable.
Demonstrate Commitment and Initiative
Whether you work in the Oil and Gas industry, or any other sector as an employee, you need to show commitment and initiative.
As we have mentioned before, this period is for you to show that you are a great addition to the workforce. For this reason, you have to show that you really appreciate this opportunity and you want to continue working.
Although it may seem simple, the truth is that it is not as easy to show you are committed to the job. Consider the following tips to show your initiative:
- Be proactive: During work, consider tasks or areas that you can improve or do and start right before someone asks you to. Submit ideas quickly or provide insight about your role without being asked.
- Be decisive: In case you face a challenge, you need to know how to work on a solution. For instance, if you work in customer support, you need to show you know how to act when an issue arises.
- Attend meetings and be prepared: By participating and meetings you show you have taken time to think about the meeting and do your research.
Keep in mind that if your performance is poor, and you do not get good feedback, the employer may opt for termination during probation period. Thus, if you do not succeed, you will end up jobless.
Notify Absences or Delays
As we have mentioned previously, if you want to succeed during your probation period, you need to always show up to work on time. Nonetheless, it is understandable that in some cases you may face unexpected events.
For instance, you may be getting late due to traffic or any other unforeseen circumstance. But in any case, you need to notify that you are going to be late. Never get late to work without notifying first. This shows your commitment and that you are worried about your job.
Similarly, if you are going to be absent, it is best to notify in advance. For instance, if you are not feeling well, you can notify your manager so they will understand that you will take time off.
Lastly, if you see that you cannot continue working in the company, then you also have to notify it. In case an employee wants to leave the job during the probationary period, then a notice period is necessary.
Attend Required Training
Another important aspect of the probation period is that during this time, you can get to know more about the role you are filling. For instance, if the position requires a highly skilled individual, you may have to work on your knowledge.
In this case, the company may request you to attend training, either about your role or perhaps about safety precautions, or any other topic. Therefore, you always have to participate when training is required.
Keep in mind that your employer is constantly evaluating and assessing your performance. So, if you are good at training and learning about what they are teaching, this will make you earn great feedback.
Some of the training you can receive when on probation is the following:
- Training about all the job functions.
- Duties you have to perform.
- Specific training about a program or software, if it is crucial for your position.
- Safety training to learn about the precautions and practices to follow at work.
- Soft skill training.
- Customer service training (if applicable)
As you can see, as an employee, you can take this time to grow professionally and personally too. So, do not waste the opportunity you have been given and attend training when requested.
Probation Period Best Practices: Tips for Employers and Employees
Once you know everything you need to know about the probationary period, it is always good to learn also about the best practices. Thus, you will be able to take the most out of this time.
If you are an employer, consider the following tips:
- Instruct your managers to have regular meetings with new employees, at least once every two weeks or once a month.
- Do not avoid confronting issues. Instead, provide the proper feedback to see improvement.
- Set clear goals to measure the performance of each new candidate.
- Treat all new employees the same, and work on building good work relationships.
- Consider implementing KPIs to measure the performance of the employee.
If you are an employee, keep in mind that even if you give your best performance, an employer may still decide not to hire you. Nevertheless, you always have to try your best by considering the following tips:
- Always be professional. Remember you are in a work environment and you need to behave according to the circumstances.
- Even though you have not received feedback, evaluate yourself and consider in which aspects you can improve.
- Show you know how to work a team by not relying only on your expertise but looking for advice.
To sum up, finding the right workforce can be a challenge, particularly when you have to deal with matters such as understanding labour contracts in the UAE, and dealing with the probation period. For this reason, you need to count on experts that can provide the perfect support.
Contact us now to let us help you build a seamless workforce by ensuring you get the right candidates.
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