The Merit Systems protection Board in its most recent Issues
of Merit newsletter highlighted the Department of Health
and Human Services Center for Medicare and Medicaid
Services’ process for handling the probationary period
for new employees, saying the agency provides noteworthy
guidance to supervisors.
The CMS HR office notifies a supervisor of a new probationary
or trial period employee, then instructs the supervisor to:
“Provide the employee with an explanation of the mission
and the employee’s role in that mission; Provide the
employee with both a copy of the position description and
a detailed explanation of the duties; Provide the employee
with a performance plan that includes critical performance
standards and the measures against which performance is
appraised; Explain the organization’s work rules in
detail; Observe the employee’s conduct and work
performance to determine if there are developing problems;
Regularly communicate with the employee on how he or she
is doing in relation to established expectations; Give
assistance where needed; and Conduct regular employee
counseling sessions.”
MSPB said this is excellent advice, and that research has
shown that employees will be more engaged and make a
greater effort if managers explain clearly why a job is
important in the scheme of the agency mission, communicate
the organizational vision and strategy, give insight into
the work unit, and explain performance objectives and
job responsibilities.
