39-2-910. Probationary period. (1) If an employer does not establish a specific probationary period or provide that there is no probationary period prior to or at the time the employee begins work, there is a probationary period of 12 months commencing on the date the employee begins work.

(2) An employer may extend a probationary period prior to the expiration of a probationary period, but the original probationary period together with any periods of extension may not exceed 18 months.

(3) If an employee has one or more leaves of absence during the original probationary period or any extension of the probationary period, the time of each leave of absence may not be a part of the probationary period unless the employer affirmatively elects to include each leave of absence as part of the probationary period.