All appointments to covered jobs, including promotions, demotions, and transfers, shall be on a probationary basis for a period of one year from the beginning of employment. For those jobs in which the individual is required to meet state minimum standards, the probationary period shall conclude upon fulfillment of the standards or the passage of one year, whichever is later. A leave of absence will stay the probationary period for the length of the leave. During a covered employee’s probationary period, a department head may discharge a probationer under his or her supervision by stating in writing the reasons to the mayor. If the mayor disagrees with the discharge, he or she, within five days of receipt of the written statement, may notify the department head and the probationer of the time and place of a hearing to be conducted in regard to the discharge. Upon failure of the mayor to so notify within five business days, the mayor shall be deemed to have consented to the discharge. In the event that a hearing is scheduled, the department head may suspend the probationer without pay pending the hearing.