Probation Periods | preparing for six-month unfair dismissal protection
Probation periods are often misunderstood — and that’s where many employers get caught out.
Used properly, probation isn’t a tick-box exercise. It’s your defined window to test performance, address concerns early, and make confident decisions before full employment rights take effect.
This window is about to shrink. With the qualifying period reducing to six months, the margin for error will be far smaller – and the risk of getting it wrong much greater.
Join us for this free 60-minute webinar to make sure your probation processes are strong, compliant, and ready before the law changes.
12 March 2.00 pm - 3.00 pm
The government’s plans to reduce the 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.
Got a question for our experts?
We know these changes raise important practical concerns, so we’ll round off the session with a live Q&A. Submit your question when registering – we’ll aim to cover as many as possible during the webinar.
Can't make the live session?
No problem – register anyway and we’ll send you the on-demand recording along with a selection of helpful resources.
Register for free session
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We’ll act as an extension of your team, giving you:
- Unlimited legally compliant advice
- Legally compliant contracts and handbooks
- Tribunal support should you need it
- Fixed, transparent pricing
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