Removal of the two-year qualifying period for unfair dismissal
Implementation date: To be confirmed
The proposed Employment Rights Bill will remove the two-year qualifying period for claiming unfair dismissal. In the King's Speech on 17 July 2024, the Government confirmed that protection from unfair dismissal will be available from day one for all workers but stated that employers will continue to be able to operate probationary periods to assess new hires.
The detail of these measures, and when they will be brought into effect, is not yet known.
See Labour Government's employment law proposals for more information on the Employment Rights Bill and other proposed legislation.
