The employment law landscape is shifting fast; and for all employers, including early stage and growing businesses, even a single misstep can be enough to disrupt momentum at a critical stage of growth.
Join us as we explore what's changing as early as January next year, what it means for your organisation, and how to prepare.
Our seminar will be made up of two parts (with a short coffee break between sessions).
Part 1: Unfair dismissal reform. From 1 January 2027, the qualifying period for unfair dismissal protection disappears and the compensation cap is lifted. For early stage and growing businesses, this is not just a compliance issue. A single contested dismissal can consume management time, cash and focus at a critical stage of growth, and the removal of the cap means managing exits will come with much higher stakes.
Will Winch will take a practical look at what this means day to day: how dismissal risk changes once the qualifying period disappears, and how employers and HR leaders should adapt before problems escalate.
Part 2: Other key changes. Unfair dismissal is only one part of a broader UK employment law reform programme. Our Employment Innovate team will look ahead to other significant changes coming into force over the next year so you don’t miss them, including:
- Changes to the hire and fire regime, and their impact on amending employment terms;
- Changes to how flexible working requests should be considered;
- Significant changes affecting zero and low hours contracts; and
- Informing employees of their right to join a trade union (and other trade union matters).
This session will look at what these changes mean for your organisation, as well as identifying the practical steps you should be taking now, to prepare for the changes.