Dismissal Timing Checker

Does an employee have enough service to claim ordinary unfair dismissal? From 1 January 2027 the qualifying period drops from two years to six months, and the statutory notice period can push the date past the line.

Claim deadline with ACAS early conciliation

An employee must contact ACAS before making a claim. The days between contacting ACAS and getting the certificate don't count, and there is always at least a month after the certificate (ERA 1996 s.207B).

Claim deadline (before ACAS)

Day ACAS was contacted

Day the certificate arrived

Whole team: who reaches the line soon?

Paste one employee per line as id,start date (for example E104,2026-06-01). Use an ID, not a name: nothing leaves your browser, but you don't need names to plan. For each person we show a key date: if notice (statutory minimum) is given after it, employment ends once they already have unfair dismissal protection. Use it to plan reviews and probation with the right dates in front of you.

Employees

As at

Flag within (days)

What this does not cover. Many claims need no qualifying service at all: for example dismissal for pregnancy, whistleblowing, health and safety reasons or asserting a statutory right (ERA 1996 s.108(3)), and all discrimination claims under the Equality Act 2010. Breaks in employment and service with an associated employer can also change the answer. The claim deadline shown does not include any extension for ACAS early conciliation. This is a self-check, not legal advice.

Based on the Employment Rights Act 1996 ss.86, 97, 108, 111, 210-211, as amended by the Employment Rights Act 2025 (SI 2026/559, SI 2026/954). Checked on legislation.gov.uk, October 2026.