U.S. Office of Personnel Management - Ensuring the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce

Performance & Compensation

Probation

An individual's initial career appointment becomes final only after the executive has successfully completed a 1-year probationary period. This period begins on the effective date of the appointment and ends one calendar year later (e.g., if an individual was appointed to the SES on June 1st, the probationary period ends on May 31st of the following year). During the probationary period, supervisors should initiate action to remove the executive from the SES if it becomes apparent, after full and fair consideration, that the executive's performance is not suitable for satisfactory work.