Can I be dismissed during probation without warning?
Without warning, no. Here lies a common misconception: during probation the employer has greater freedom not to state a reason, but no right to act verbally and instantly. The notice must be in writing and given three days in advance. The employee may do the same. Probation exists only if it is written into the contract — if the contract says nothing about it, you are employed without a probation period. The ordinary maximum is three months. A trade-union collective agreement may extend it, but no further than six months. For fixed-term contracts the limits are lower: up to six months means one month of probation, and up to a year means two.
📋 The rules
- Probation exists only if it is in the contract
- The ordinary maximum: three months
- With a collective agreement — no more than six months
- Notice: in writing, three days ahead
- The employer normally need not state a reason
🔓 Exceptions
- Probation may not be imposed on a person under 18
- Sick leave and other justified absences are not counted in the probation period
- On extending a fixed-term contract, no new probation may be imposed
⚠️ Penalties & fines
A general Labour Law breach costs €35–350 for a natural person and €70–1,100 for a legal entity, while discriminatory treatment carries a separate €140–350 and €350–700. But here is what costs the most: if you believe the probation dismissal was discriminatory, you have only one month from receiving the notice to go to court. Missing that deadline is more damaging than the absence of a reason in the letter — because the employer usually has no duty to give one anyway, whereas missing the deadline destroys the claim itself. And note: if the probation period ends and you carry on working, you are treated as having passed it.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
Can they dismiss me verbally, on the spot?
No. During probation the employer has greater freedom not to state a reason, but the notice must still be in writing and given three days in advance. A verbal, immediate dismissal is not lawful.
How long can probation last?
Normally no more than three months. A collective agreement concluded with a trade union may extend it, but not beyond six months. For fixed-term contracts the limits are lower — one or two months.
What if the contract says nothing about probation?
Then there is no probation period. It exists only where it is expressly written into the employment contract — meaning you were hired without one, with all the ordinary protections that follow.
Must a reason be given in the notice?
Usually not. That is precisely what makes probation attractive to employers. But discrimination remains unlawful, and that is what can be challenged where the absence of a reason conceals a prohibited motive.
How long do I have to go to court?
If you consider the dismissal discriminatory, only one month from receiving the notice. Missing that deadline is more damaging than the missing reason — after it, you cannot litigate at all.
🔎 Common searches
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