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 Bill, introduced in October 2024, makes significant changes to UK employment law including dismissal.

This factsheet explains the difference between wrongful, unfair and constructive dismissal and looks at future developments. 

Please note 

Under the Employment Rights Bill, the two-year unfair dismissal qualifying period will be replaced with new statutory probationary period arrangements. Keep up to date with the latest on these changes with our Tracker of potential law changes.

This page outlines the current legislation for dismissal that should still be followed until any changes come into force. We will update this page once any changes are enforced.

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