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1 July 2026 – a milestone date for new unfair dismissal rights
June 29, 2026
Significant reforms under the Employment Rights Act 2025 surrounding unfair dismissal are coming into force on 1 January 2027. However, these changes will have a practical effect from 1 July 2026, meaning a review of your recruitment, probationary and dismissal procedures is vital from today.
Our employment lawyer Heledd explains what the reforms mean, why employers should start preparing now, and steps employers can take to reduce risk ahead of the changes.
Currently, in most cases, employees need 2 years’ continuous service before they can bring a claim for unfair dismissal against their employer. However, from 1 January 2027, this qualifying period will drop down to just 6 months.
Although this change comes into force from January, the practical implication is that any new employee that is recruited on or before 1 July 2026 will obtain the extended protection if they are still employed come 1 January 2027. This means that 1 July 2026 becomes a key milestone in UK employment law.
But 6 months doesn’t actually mean 6 months
Here’s where there’s a common misconception. Whilst we refer to a new 6-month unfair dismissal qualifying period, what we actually mean is that the unfair dismissal qualifying period will be 5 months and 3 weeks. This is because there is a statutory week that bridges over to the new 6-month qualifying period.
It is important now more than ever to get these initial recruitment, onboarding and probation practices right. If you would like help with reviewing your probation policies or any advice when it comes to understanding what steps you need to take as an employer, get in touch with our employment law expert Heledd on hainsworth@darwingray.com or 02920 829 100.
To speak to one of our experts today, please contact us on 02920 829 100 or by using our Contact Us form for a free initial chat to see how we can help.
