Assessment of Two-Year Probationary Period Usage Within the Defense Civilian Workforce: A Report Prepared for the U.S. Department of Defense in Compliance with Section 1102 of the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act in Bloomington, MN

Poor employee performance and employee misconduct are important workforce management issues for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), given both their prevalence and potential impact on productivity. As such, the probationary period is a critical time to address both concerns. This report summarizes the results of a congressionally mandated independent review of DoD’s use of the two-year probationary period for new civil service appointments.