With effect from 01.02.2012 the limit on the amount of a weeks’s pay for the purpose of calculating redundancy payments and the basic award for unfair dismissal increased to £430. The maximum compensatory award for unfair dismissal increased from £68,400 to £72,300. These limits apply for dismissals which take effect on or after 1 February 2012.

With effect from 06.04.2012 a further change is the increase in the qualifying period for bringing a claim of unfair dismissal before the Employment Tribunal. This has increased to two years. Employees whose period of employment began before 5 April 2012 will still be subject to one year qualifying period.