With effect from 1 June this year the period of qualifying employment before an employee can bring a claim for unfair dismissal has been reduced from two years to one year.
The Government is expected shortly to implement the provisions in the Employment Relations Act 1999 which will increase the maximum award an Employment Tribunal can make for future losses stemming from an unfair
dismissal from £12,000 to £50,000.
As before no qualifying period of employment is necessary before an employee can make a claim based on alleged discrimination by reason of sex, race or disability. Further there remains no statutory maximum on the compensatory award an Employment Tribunal can make in relation to such a claim.