Contradictory evaluations? That's going to be a problem.

• Position: Legal Briefs

Beware changing supervisors during an employee's probationary period. That may lead to evaluations that contradict one another, which could trigger a lawsuit.

Recent case: Ashley, who is Hispanic, graduated from the Pennsylvania State Police Academy with high praise. She had to undergo a year of on-the-job training before becoming a state trooper.

At first, Ashley's probationary evaluations were excellent. But then she got a new supervisor, who criticized some of the very things her first supervisor had praised. Her probationary period was extended, and a third...