The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English like many others, defines ‘probation’ as a period of time, during which someone who has just started a job is tested to see whether they are suitable for what they are doing. By this definition, probation should be for a specified period of time. The question on the lips of some staff of United Bank for Africa (UBA) is, what meaning do the powers that be give to this word?

An ugly trend started in the bank that prides itself as Africa’s Global Bank last year when a set of freshers that were recruited in April 2011, having worked for the probationary period of 6 months, despite their confirmation were still said to be on probation. During the 6 months of probation, these set of staff were referred to as Executive Trainee on Probation (EToP) and months after their confirmation, they still remain EToP. This is fast becoming a norm in the bank as the subsequent batches of fresh employees are all victims of this obnoxious act.

Inquest reveals that on the confirmation letter issued to each of the staff, it was stated that “Following your satisfactory performance during the probationary period, Management is pleased to inform you that your appointment with the bank has been confirmed”. One begins to wonder the motive behind this if after confirmation, a staff is still said to be on probation.

Even though the management had tried to justify this decision as saying that EToP is a grade level in the bank, If Executive Trainee on Probation (EToP) is a grade level in the bank, how come staff are still on probation even after confirmation?

Information has it that the Legal Department of the bank waded in, condemning the decision and advised the Human Resources Directorate to correct the anomaly but months after, nothing has been done on it.

In a bank like UBA where promotion is rare to come by, the fate of these helpless staff hang in the balance. The management of UBA should not because of the overpopulated labour market allow this injustice to stand for too long. A motivated staff is a dedicated staff.