Probation Support
Probation is your clearest opportunity to address concerns early. We make sure you use it properly, with structured check-ins, clear documentation, and the right process if things are not working out.
Before You Set Off
Picking Up the Pace
Maintain Momentum
Shifting Up a Gear
Bumps in the Road
Changing Direction
Why probation matters more than ever
Under the new Employment Rights Act, employees hired from 1 July 2026 will have unfair dismissal protection from six months of service, from 1 January 2027. This is a significant change from the previous two-year qualifying period.
For businesses used to having a long runway to decide whether a new hire is working out, the runway has shortened considerably. A probation period with no structure, no documented check-ins, and no written record of concerns is a riskier position than most employers realise.
What a good probation looks like
A well-run probation period includes: clear objectives set at the start, regular structured check-ins (we recommend at least monthly), written records of every conversation, honest and timely feedback when concerns arise, and a formal review at the end with a clear outcome.
These check-ins are not optional formalities. They are your evidence if you ever need to defend a dismissal decision. If it is not written down, it did not happen.
If it is not working out
If concerns arise during probation, raise them early and in writing. Do not wait until the end of the period and hope the situation resolves itself. Early, honest conversations are easier to have and easier to defend than conversations that have been avoided for weeks.
If the decision is to end employment during probation, the process still matters. We will guide you through it step by step, making sure the outcome is fair, documented, and defensible.
Extending probation
You can extend a probation period, but the 6-month service rule still applies. We advise on the right way to handle extensions, including the paperwork involved and the conversations to have.
What is a probation period?
A probation period is an agreed period at the start of employment during which both parties assess whether the role is the right fit. For the employer, it is an opportunity to assess performance and conduct before the relationship becomes fully established. For the employee, it is a chance to settle in, understand the expectations of the role, and demonstrate what they can do.
Most probation periods are now six months, to fix in with the new legal initial period of employment, though there is no fixed legal requirement for probation periods. What matters more than the length is what happens during it.
Common Questions
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