All full- and part-time Thomas More University staff employees. Faculty employees are exempt from this Policy.
The purpose of this Policy is to provide an opportunity for both new, transferred, and promoted full- and part-time staff employees and their supervisor(s) to assess how well the employment relationship is working.
Introductory Period: the initial period of employment, during which both the employee and supervisor carefully consider whether the employee is willing and/or able to meet the standards and expectations of the job and if the employees should be retained by the University as a regular staff employee.
Regular Full- and Part-time Staff Employee: one who is hired with the expectation of continued at-will employment and who has successfully completed the Introductory Period.
The first 90 days of employment for a full- and regular part-time staff employee is considered an Introductory Period. This period is to acquaint the staff employee with the University and the assigned job and may be extended at the discretion of the University. During the Introductory Period (as well as after the conclusion of such period), the staff employee’s employment may be terminated at the will of either the employee or the University on notice to the other for any reason or for no reason. Completion of this Introductory Period does not alter the staff employee’s “employment at-will” status or create any contract of employment. The University at its discretion may extend the Introductory Period and if it does, it will notify the employee of the extension. Employment at the University remains at-will at all times.
A new Introductory Period commences when a regular staff employee transfers or is promoted to a different position, unless otherwise determined by the Department Head in consultation with Human Resources. Should a regular staff employee not satisfactorily meet job expectations, the department must confer with Human Resources regarding a course of action. This does not apply to a reclassification of an existing position. Former regular staff employees who are rehired at the University after a separation of over 90 days must complete a new Introductory Period.
A staff employee evaluation will be conducted after 90 days of employment.
Employee Classification Policy
The Introductory Period cannot be accomplished during an approved leave of absence (i.e., for medical reasons) and will be extended accordingly by Human Resources.
For full-time staff, holidays and any accrued sick or vacation leave will be paid during the Introductory Period.
Upon the successful completion of the Introductory Period, the staff employee is reclassified as a regular at-will staff employee.
This is a new policy, replacing language in the Staff Manual (May 2014).
There are no appendices to this Policy.
Laura Custer, Director of Human Resources
Dr. Kathleen Jagger, Acting President