To be a 'fair' dismissal, a UK employer must show that it was due to one of five specific reasons. The employer must also have acted fairly and reasonably in carrying out the dismissal.

The Employment Rights Act 2025 will make significant changes to UK employment law including dismissal. More information on these changes is available for CIPD members in the Employment Rights Act 2025 tracker. This page outlines the current legislation around unfair dismissal that should still be followed until any changes come into force. We will update this page once any changes are enforced.

This factsheet explains the difference between wrongful, unfair and constructive dismissal.

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