Following the general election, the new Government committed to publishing its proposals for employment law reform within 100 days. With a few days to spare, the highly anticipated Employment Rights Bill was published on 10 October 2024.
It is described as the biggest upgrade to rights at work for a generation, and here is an overview of the key proposals.
Unfair dismissal
The proposal to confer day-one unfair dismissal rights has been controversial. Currently, two years of service is required.
There will be a new statutory probation period. This will give employers time to assess someone’s suitability properly. During that period, employers will be able to adopt a “lighter-touch and less onerous approach” when dismissing someone who is not right for the job.
The Government prefers a nine-month statutory probation period and will consult on this during 2025. However, the reform of unfair dismissal will not be before autumn 2026.
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