Dismiss an employee during or at the end of a probationary period
Key points
If a probationary employee is not performing satisfactorily, the employer should aim to give them time to achieve the required improvement, with adequate support and training.
This will usually mean waiting until the end of the probationary period before making a decision to terminate the employment. However, in some circumstances, early termination may be appropriate.
The employer should be aware of the circumstances in which a probationary employee will be eligible to claim unfair dismissal, or bring another claim relating to their dismissal.
The materials and information included in the XpertHR service are provided for reference purposes only. They are not intended either as a substitute for professional advice or judgment or to provide legal or other advice with respect to particular circumstances. Use of the service is subject to our terms and conditions.