Unfair dismissal for seasonal staff

From 1 January 2027, an employee with 6 months' service can claim unfair dismissal, with no compensation cap, replacing the current 2-year qualifying period. For seasonal hospitality staff, this matters more than for most sectors — someone taken on for a summer season starting around 1 July 2026 would reach 6 months' service right around 1 January 2027, the date the new right starts.

Use the calculator on the employment hub to check a specific start date.