United Kingdom: Unfair/ Wrongful Dismissal

The Employment Rights Act introduces sweeping changes to UK employment law, from day-one unfair dismissal rights to restrictions on zero-hours contracts and fire-and-rehire practices. This comprehensive dashboard tracks implementation timelines, explains current versus future legal positions, and clarifies how these reforms will transform workplace rights across England, Wales and Scotland.

As businesses navigate technological advances and significant employment law reforms, workforce planning has become critical to success. But what happens when organisations fail to forecast future skills needs, and how can the legal risks of poor planning be minimised in an evolving regulatory landscape?

The Labour Government's Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces sweeping reforms to worker protections and employment practices across the UK. With implementation phased over the next two years, employers face significant changes to unfair dismissal rights, zero-hours contracts, flexible working arrangements, and trade union relations. Understanding the detailed timeline and preparing for these transformative measures will be crucial for businesses navigating this new employment landscape.

A recent Employment Appeal Tribunal case examines the statutory requirements for workers to exercise their right to be accompanied at disciplinary and grievance hearings. The decision clarifies when this right arises and what obligations employers have when convening such meetings, highlighting a potential gap in worker protections.

This is the seventh in our series of ADR practical guides, designed to provide clients with practical guidance on various processes falling under the banner of "alternative dispute resolution" (ADR)...

The Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces sweeping changes to UK employment law, fundamentally altering protections for workers and obligations for employers. From reduced qualifying periods for unfair dismissal claims to enhanced harassment protections and strengthened trade union rights, these reforms represent the most significant overhaul of employment rights in decades. Senior executives must navigate both their expanded rights as employees and their heightened responsibilities as managers under this t

Settlement agreements often include confidentiality clauses and restrictive covenants that can significantly impact your ability to secure new employment. Understanding what you've agreed to—from what you can disclose to prospective employers to whether you can work for competitors—is crucial before beginning your job search.

The UK Government has published plans to implement significant restrictions on 'fire and rehire' practices under the Employment Rights Act 2025, with measures expected to take effect on 1 January 2027. These changes will make it automatically unfair to dismiss employees who refuse certain contract variations related to pay, hours, holiday and pension, fundamentally altering employers' ability to force through contractual amendments.

Employment Law Partner Natalie Abbott examines whether UK employers can legally terminate employment contracts via text message, exploring the procedural requirements for fair dismissal and the circumstances under which SMS termination may constitute grounds for an unfair dismissal claim.