The most significant UK employment law reform for 30 years includes radical plans for unfair dismissal rights to be available from day one of employment. When this was announced before the election, the government indicated that this would not prevent the “fair and transparent” use of probationary periods to assess new hires, and the Financial Times reported last week that employers will be able to engage new staff on probationary periods of up to six months, allowing them to be dismissed more easily in this time. 

This, naturally, raises the question as to how a six-month probationary period will sit alongside a day-one right. The answer to that question remains unclear. Continue Reading Day-one unfair dismissal rights and a six-month probationary period – how will that work?