Long Beach HR committee adopts uniform 12-month probationary approach and tightens extension oversight

The Long Beach Human Resources Advisory Committee agreed June 8 to simplify the town’s HR handbook by replacing disparate introductory periods with a single 12-month probationary period for all employees and adding oversight for any extensions.

The change, presented by the committee chair, is intended to align procedures across departments and ensure that disciplinary actions for roles like police officers remain governed by applicable state or federal law. The chair told the committee the proposed edit removes the previous "introductory period" language and uses the probationary-period framework instead.

Committee members discussed who should have authority to extend a probationary period. Mark (committee member) said department heads or immediate supervisors are typically the appropriate approvers, but the committee agreed that supervisors must document reasons for extensions in writing and forward that documentation to the town council so the council can review if concerns arise. "The immediate supervisor shall put in writing justification for extending the probationary period" was the operational intent discussed by the group.

Members also reviewed language covering promotions: the handbook will keep a provision allowing the town, at its discretion, to return a promoted employee to their former position if that position remains available and the return is approved by the appropriate department head and town administrator or town council.

The chair said she will circulate the updated handbook to HR committee members and to the council after correcting table-of-contents page numbers. The handbook was placed on the council’s agenda later the same evening for possible action.

Next steps: the committee will send the revised handbook to council for review and potential approval, and will reconvene on July 15 at 9:00 a.m.