ShuttlewrightFrom 1 January 2027, unfair dismissal protection starts at 6 months, not 2 years.
Short answer: From 1 January 2027, an employee can claim ordinary unfair dismissal after 6 months in the job, not 2 years, and the cap on the compensatory award is removed. So a dismissal during probation after 6 months needs a fair reason and a fair process. Source: GOV.UK timeline.
If you hire in the UK, your probation process now matters earlier, and compensation for unfair dismissal will no longer be capped. Find the date each new starter becomes protected, free. Then get the review forms and tracker.
Find a protection date See the pack
Free protection-date calculator
What changes
- From 1 January 2027, employees can claim ordinary unfair dismissal after 6 months in the job instead of 2 years, and the limit on the compensatory award is removed (Acas, GOV.UK).
- Probation periods themselves do not change. There is still no legal requirement to have one.
- Acas: ending probation before 6 months does not avoid legal risks. Discrimination, whistleblowing and contract protections apply from day one.
- You can still dismiss fairly after 6 months. A fair, documented process is what counts.
The Probation Review Pack
- Probation policy to fill in.
- Objectives and support plan for each new starter.
- Month 1, mid-point and final review forms, and an outcome record.
- Manager fair-process checklist based on Acas guidance and its Code of Practice.
- Excel tracker: probation end, 6-month date, protected-from date, review dates, notes log.
What it is not: a template pack, not legal advice. For a specific dismissal, call the Acas helpline or take advice from an employment solicitor.
One-off. Instant download after payment. Word and Excel files.
Buy the pack - $59Checkout by Polar, in US dollars. If the file does not arrive, email fuseini.metadata@gmail.com with your receipt.
Questions
Can I just end probation before 6 months? Acas says that does not avoid legal risks. Other protections still apply. Use a fair process.
Does it cover agency or zero-hours staff? Acas says probation usually applies to people with employee status. The policy has a line for stating your approach.
Northern Ireland? Different law. This pack is for England, Wales and Scotland.