UK Revises Bill for 6-Month Unfair Dismissal Protection

The UK government announced on Thursday that it is revising its plans under the Employment Rights Bill to provide protection against unfair dismissal after six months of employment, rather than from the first day on the job. This change, which shortens the current two-year qualifying period, aims to secure the bill's passage through Parliament amid ongoing resistance in the House of Lords.

The adjustment follows a series of discussions between government officials, trade unions, and business representatives convened by the Department for Business and Trade. Officials described the talks as constructive and stated that the compromise would allow the legislation to reach royal assent on schedule. "The discussions concluded that reducing the qualifying period for unfair dismissal from 24 months to six months, whilst maintaining existing day-one protection against discrimination and automatically unfair grounds for dismissal, is a workable package," the department said in a statement.

Under the revised proposal, employees will gain the right to challenge unfair dismissal after six months, while other day-one entitlements, such as protections against discrimination and access to sick...