What is automatic unfair dismissal?

Sorry, we couldn't load thisvideo.

Content / trigger warning

You've probably heard about unfair dismissal. But have you heard about automatic unfair dismissal?

This is a series of rights that you might not know that you have.

Let me explain.

So employees in the UK who have worked at a company for more than two years have the right against unfair dismissal.

It means that when they're dismissed, their employer needs to have a fair reason and follow a fair process.

But what about employees who haven't worked for two years?

All employees from day 1 have the right against automatic unfair dismissal, which is essentially like super bad unfair dismissal. And it's so bad that the two year rule doesn't apply. And you don't have to prove that they broke the fair reason or fair process rule as well.

This GOV.uk page lists out most of the major types of automatic unfair dismissal. That includes things like trade union organising, whistleblowing, discrimination, maternity, things like that.

Get the free toolkit

Learn how to identify your leverage, build a solid argument, review your options and resolve your employment issue.

Get the free toolkit

Learn how to identify your leverage, build a solid argument, review your options and resolve your employment issue.

Use Valla to manage your tribunal case

Valla offers a low-cost alternative to pricey law firms. We can guide you through the process and help you create the legal documents you need for your case.

All of Valla’s case planning features are completely free for everyone.

Get the letters and documents you need to resolve your employment issue

Use Valla to manage your employment issue

Valla offers a low-cost alternative to pricey law firms. We can guide you through the process and help you create the legal documents you need for your case.

All of Valla’s case planning features are completely free for everyone.

Ask a question

Got questions about this article? Ask in our free Employment Tribunal community.

What is Valla?

Valla is a platform built to allow people to resolve their own employment issues when they can’t afford a law firm.

We offer a low-cost alternative to pricey law firms, and we can guide you through the process and generate the documents you’ll need for your case.

Lawyers can be expensive. But access to justice doesn’t have to be.