Thu, 04 Dec 2025

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 Six-month unfair dismissal right to begin from 2027

Labour ministers will commit to the start date next week after previously watering down the new protection.

* From January 2027, workers will be able to claim unfair dismissal after six months' service instead of two years.
* This is a revised plan from Labour's original proposal to scrap the qualifying period completely and introduce a new nine-month legal probation period.
* The government has committed to implementing this change from January 2027, although this is not a legally binding promise.
* The qualifying period will still be shorter than the current two years, but longer than the original proposal of scrapping it altogether.
* The new rule will apply to workers hired after July 2026 and will introduce "real change for workers".
* The government also plans to abolish the limits on compensation for financial loss in ordinary unfair dismissal cases from April 2026.
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