One aspect of the VA bill–which now goes to the Senate to face an uncertain future since even the House did not pass it by enough to override a veto–that employee organizations say is notable by its absence from the veto threat is a provision to extend the probationary period for newly hired employees.
That has led to a belief among those organizations that the administration might be open to allowing that change, perhaps as part of a separate bill.
Under HR-1994, the standard probationary period at the VA would become 18 months rather than the current 12, and the period could be extended even longer at management’s discretion. Similar language is pending for the DoD workforce under the Senate-passed version of its 2016 budget bill. Enacting such a change for even one of those large agencies could create momentum to apply it government-wide.
The probationary period has been a point of focus in Congress for several years, and especially since a GAO report earlier this year said that agencies are not making the best use of that period–in which employees can be fired more easily–to weed out those unable or unwilling to do their jobs.
