Probation and the Employment Rights Act: a masterclass

Training Session

Probation has been standard practice in many businesses for years. The Employment Rights Act will reduce the timeframe for unfair dismissal claims down to six months, making probation periods more critical.

Assessing a new hire's suitability, performance, and conduct is an important step in the employment process. Employers, teams and workplaces benefit from having people capable and well suited to roles.

Join Acas and experts where we will be focusing on probation and changes to the law. We will provide advice on effective probationary strategies, process, good practice and the importance of well-trained managers. 

We will also outline risks to employers relating to unfair dismissal claims.

Business Need

The qualifying period for unfair dismissal claims is being reduced significantly and getting the probation process right takes on more importance.

This event will cover:
  • probation and the law 
  • clarifying contracts
  • developing more effective strategies to evaluate performance and cultural fit
  • effective onboarding 
  • risk management and processes for when probation standards are not met
This event will draw on real life case studies and you will receive practical tips you can apply at work.

Training Suitable for

Those who would benefit from attending this event include: 

  • Line managers, supervisors and team leaders
  • HR professionals
  • Business owners
  • Trade Union/employee representatives
  • Individuals who wish to further their professional development

Session Outline

Chaired by Emma Harmer, Senior Business Advisor, Acas

Speakers:

Probation and the Employment Rights Act - Emma Harmer, Senior Business Advisor, Acas

  • January 2027 – 6 months continuous employment for right to claim unfair dismissal 

Probation and the law - Alice Kinder , Employment Law Solicitor, Bexley Beaumont Limited 

  • clarifying contracts
  • record keeping

Effective onboarding - Tracie Hornbuckle, Senior HR Business Partner, SOCOTEC

  • beyond induction: setting people up for long-term success
  • core elements of a strong onboarding experience
  • common onboarding pitfalls

Effectively evaluating performance and cultural fit - Alison Magee-Barker, CEO, AJ Lakes Consultancy & AJ Lakes Training Academy

  • defining performance clearly
  • understanding cultural fit and avoiding bias
  • the role of the manager
  • effective evaluation approaches
Please note: this programme may be subject to change to ensure the content reflects current best practice guidance
Venue:Delivered digitally via zoom
Date:18/06/2026
Time:09:30 - 12:30
Price: £270.00 per person   Please note our training events are VAT exempt
To book now please select how many people will be attending:
* Max of 4 delegates per organisation. Please call Acas on 0300 123 1150 or email events@acas.org.uk if number exceed this or for more details about the training session.