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Event
Webinar | Employment Masterclass | Employment Rights Act 2025: What do the changes to unfair dismissal law mean for employers?
21 January 2026 | Applicable law: England and Wales
12.00 – 13.00 GMT | ZOOM WEBINARAfter a long parliamentary battle, the Employment Rights Bill completed its passage through Parliament on 16 December 2025 and received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025, and while the government ultimately abandoned plans for day-one unfair dismissal rights, the reforms that remain will still transform the landscape. Key changes are set to include:
- From 1 January 2027, all employees who have six months’ service - whether acquired before or after that date - will gain protection against unfair dismissal.
- In a surprise move, the cap on unfair dismissal compensation will be removed entirely. This measure was not in the Labour manifesto and has received little scrutiny to date.
The government has also reaffirmed its commitment to the implementation timetable published in July 2025. Some changes will take effect as early as April 2026, with further significant reforms arriving in October 2026.
In this masterclass, our employment team will examine the practical impact of these sweeping changes to unfair dismissal law, look ahead to other parts of the Act due to come into force in 2026, and outline what employers should be doing now to prepare for a new era of employment rights.
If you would like to find out more about this event, please register your interest using the above or below buttons, or get in contact with Jasmine Sparks.