The qualifying service required to claim unfair dismissal reduces from two years to six months for dismissals on or after 1 January 2027. This makes it more important for employers to identify a fair reason for dismissal on expiry of a fixed-term contract.
From 1 January 2027, employees will have the right to claim unfair dismissal if their contract is terminated after six months, even where they are on a fixed-term contract that comes to an end.