Probation Periods - preparing for six-month unfair dismissal protection

Thursday 12 March 2026
14:00 to 15:00

The government’s plans to reduce the unfair dismissal qualifying period from two years to six months will make probation periods even more important.

Employers will have a much narrower window to assess performance, address conduct issues and make informed decisions before unfair dismissal protection applies. Miss that window and any later dismissal could carry significantly greater legal and financial risk.

While the change will not take effect until 1 January 2027, employees joining from July 2026 will reach six months’ service under the new rules. In practical terms, that means the countdown starts much sooner than many employers realise.

Now is the time to get your house in order. Reviewing contracts, processes and manager capability takes time – and delay could be costly.

In this free 60-minute webinar, Senior Employment Law Advisor and Solicitor Julie Jones and HR Consultant Emma Jackson will explain what’s changing, why it matters, and the practical steps you can take now to strengthen your probation processes and protect your business before the law changes.

What’s on the agenda?

Unfair dismissal rules – what’s changing and when
What the six-month qualifying period means for early-stage dismissals
Why recruitment matters more than ever, and how to get it right
Probation periods – what they are, what they’re not, and what they should look like
Making sure probation periods are properly reflected in your contracts
Handling dismissals confidently during the probation period
What managers will need to do differently once the law changes

Why should you attend?

Understand why you need to act now – changes take time to embed
Learn how to manage employees from July 2026
Avoid costly mistakes and potential Tribunal awards
Discover why probation periods won’t offer the protection many employers assume

This is arguably the most significant change in the Employment Rights Act and one that will affect almost every employer.

Book tickets

Location	Online
Cost	Free

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