Probationary Reviews

Safe Probationary Periods

It is essential during the probationary period to set clear expectations for new hires, review their performance regularly, document any concerns objectively, and make timely decisions about confirmation or termination of employment. A well‑managed probation period is now even more critical because, under the new Employment Rights Bill, employees will gain the right to bring an unfair dismissal claim after six months’ service, with qualifying time accruing from 1 July 2026. This significantly shortens the window in which employers can exit a new starter without the full unfair‑dismissal risk framework applying.

For employers, particularly small businesses, this means delays, poor documentation, or unclear expectations during probation can result in an employee passing the six‑month threshold by default, exposing the organisation to legal challenge, financial risk, and reputational damage. A structured, evidence‑based probation process is therefore essential to protect the business and ensure decisions are fair, timely, and defensible.

How Amicus People can help:

We create clear, compliant probation frameworks, provide review documentation that aligns to your business, and support managers to hold regular, meaningful 1:1’s. We help businesses to document concerns objectively, make evidence‑based decisions, and take timely action well before the six‑month qualifying period is reached. This reduces legal risk, strengthens fairness, and improves the likelihood of new hire success.

Get in touch to see how we can help.