Qualifying period for unfair dismissal protection is increased

The qualifying period for an employee to bring an unfair dismissal claim increases from one year to two years. This change comes into force on 6 April 2012. 

The increase was originally proposed in the Government's Resolving workplace disputes: public consultation (PDF format, 528K) (on the BIS website), which states that the increase will: "provide more time for employers and employees to resolve difficulties, give employers greater confidence in taking on people and ease the burden on the employment tribunal process". The Government confirmed the increase via an announcement on 3 October 2011 on the News Distribution Service website and in its response to the consultation. 

Also

The XpertHR employment law manual sets out the law relating to unfair dismissal

Podcast: "Radical" employment law reform; and employee engagement Listen to consultant editor Darren Newman's views on some of the Government's proposals for reform, including: increasing the qualifying period for unfair dismissal, "protected conversations"; employment tribunal fees; financial penalties for employers; and no-fault dismissals for micro-firms. 

Government announces "the most radical reform to the employment law system for decades" The Government has published its response to the consultation on resolving workplace disputes. The proposals, which the Government describes as "the most radical reform to the employment law system for decades", include increasing the qualification period for unfair dismissal protection from one to two years; a "standard text" for compromise agreements; and consulting on the introduction of a system of "protected conversations".