When we first answered "why can't I just fire them?", employees needed two years before unfair dismissal protection applied. From 1 January 2027, the Employment Rights Act 2025 reduces that to six months.

Unfair dismissal claims are up 72% year on year. The average case takes 33 weeks. The compensation cap is being removed. And if you run a six-month probation, reviews need to happen before that window closes — notice periods included.

In this episode: what's changed, what it means for small businesses, and why settlement agreements are about to become a much more common conversation.