Removal of two-year qualifying period for unfair dismissal

Implementation date: Expected 2027

The Employment Rights Bill removes the two-year qualifying period for claiming unfair dismissal. 

There will be separate regulations setting out rules to apply where an employee is dismissed during an "initial period of employment". In its Next Steps to Make Work Pay policy paper, the Government refers to the initial period as a "statutory probation period". It will consult on the length of this period, but the policy paper says the Government's preference is nine months. The paper states that, during this period, there will be "a lighter-touch process for employers to follow to dismiss an employee who is not right for the job". 

The Government has confirmed, in Implementing the Employment Rights Bill: Our roadmap for delivering change, that these measures will take effect in 2027.