2023 Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations › Chapter 230 - State employment relations. › 230.28 - Probationary period.

230.28
Probationary period.
(1)
(a)
All original and all promotional appointments to permanent, sessional and seasonal positions, with the exception of those positions designated as supervisor or management under s. 111.81, in the classified service shall be for a probationary period of one year, but the director at the request of the appointing authority may extend any such period for a maximum of 12 additional months. Dismissal may be made at any time during such periods. Upon such dismissal, the appointing authority shall report to the director and to the employee removed, the dismissal and the reason therefor. The director may remove an employee during the employee's probationary period if the director finds, after giving notice and an opportunity to be heard, that such employee was appointed as a result of fraud or error.
(am)
All probationary periods for employees in supervisory or management positions are one year, but the director at the request of the appointing authority may extend any such period for a maximum of 12 additional months. However, persons who transfer or are reinstated to supervisory or management positions consistent with conditions under sub. (4) and who had previously obtained permanent status in class in a supervisory or management position prior to the transfer or reinstatement shall serve a probationary period in accordance with sub. (4).
(b)
The director may authorize a longer probationary period not to exceed 2 years for any administrative, technical or professional position, in order to provide the appointing authority assurance that the employee has had adequate exposure to the various responsibilities which are a part of the position or classification.
(bm)
At the request of an appointing authority and an employee, the director may authorize, at any time before the completion of the probationary period, an extended probationary period of up to one additional year for an individual with a disability, as defined in s. 111.32 (8), who is the employee to allow the employee to do any of the following:
1.
Complete any necessary comprehensive or vocational rehabilitation program.
2.
Obtain or adapt to special modifications made to the employee's workplace to accommodate the employee's disability.
3.
Achieve the knowledge, skills and abilities to competently perform the required tasks for the position for which the employee is appointed.
(bn)
The appointing authority shall waive any remaining portion of the extended probationary period if the reasons for extending the probationary period are met.
(c)
Upon request by the appointing authority, the director may waive any portion of a lengthened probationary period but in no case before a one-year probationary period has been served.
(d)
A promotion or other change in job status within an agency shall not affect the permanent status in class and rights, previously acquired by an employee within such agency. An employee demoted under s. 230.34 (1) shall not retain the permanent status in class previously acquired in the classification from which demoted.
(2)
A probationary employee's supervisor shall complete a performance evaluation under s. 230.37 of the employee's work. The evaluation shall be in writing and shall indicate whether or not the employee's services have been satisfactory and whether or not the employee will be retained in his or her position. A copy of the evaluation shall be given to the employee at a reasonable time before the completion of the employee's probation. An employee shall gain permanent status unless terminated by the appointing authority prior to the completion of his or her probationary period.
(3)
If an employee is removed from a position during the probationary period, and the director determines that the person is suitable for appointment to another position, the person's name may be restored to the list from which it was certified.
(4)
A person reinstated in an employing unit other than one in which the person previously served in permanent status in the class in which the person is being reinstated, an employee who transfers from one employing unit to another, an employee who moves to a different employing unit in conjunction with a voluntary demotion, and a person who had not obtained permanent status in class in a supervisory or management position prior to appointment to another supervisory or management position, may be required by the appointing authority to serve a probationary period. Provisions for the duration of such probationary period shall be provided in the rules of the director.
(5)
An employee whose position is classified as “trainee" shall be on a probationary period for the duration of the training program and may be separated during that period without the right of appeal, at the discretion of the appointing authority. Upon qualifying for the objective classification, the employee shall serve a probationary period as specified in sub. (1).
History:  1971 c. 270, 336; 1977 c. 196 ss. 52, 117, 130 (4), (5), 131; 1977 c. 273; Stats. 1977 s. 230.28; 1979 c. 221; 1983 a. 402; 1989 a. 144; 1997 a. 112; 1999 a. 9; 2013 a. 123; 2015 a. 55, 150.
The discharge of a probationary employee is not appealable as part of the “hiring process" under s. 230.44 (1) (d). Board of Regents v. Wisconsin Personnel Commission, 103 Wis. 2d 545, 309 N.W.2d 366 (1981).
An employee who has acquired permanent status in class who is promoted within the same agency, does not lose permanent status in the prior position while in probationary status in the new position. If termination from the new position occurs, the employee must be reinstated in the former position. The required due process to be afforded in a disciplinary action to an employee with a protected property interest in a position is discussed. Arneson v. Jezwinski, 225 Wis. 2d 371, 592 N.W.2d 606 (1999), 95-1592.
An employee serving a promotional probationary period can be removed from that position without the right to appeal. Statutory rights extended to an employee with permanent status protect the employee by requiring that the employee be returned to the pre-promotion position, rather than completely terminated from state service. Any discipline affecting permanent status in class in the pre-promotion position can be maintained only for just cause. Kriska v. WERC, 2008 WI App 13, 307 Wis. 2d 312, 745 N.W.2d 688, 07-0813.