the United Kingdom

Termination from the employer valid grounds with any fair reasons. There are five potentially fair reasons for dismissals:

• Employee's capability or qualifications for performing work of the kind the employee was employed to do;

• Employee conduct;

• Employee redundancy;

• Employee could not continue work in position without contravening statutory duty or restriction; or

• Other substantial reason justifying dismissal

Notice period depends on the length of the employment relationship and is different depending on if the notice is being given by the employer and the employee.

From the employer, the minimum notice periods are as follows:

• For employment from 1 month to less than 2 years: 1 week

• For employment from 2 years to less than 12 years: 1 week per year of employment

• For employment of 12 years or more: 12 weeks

From the employee, the minimum notice period is 1 week where an employee has been employed for a month or more.

There is no legal stipulation for minimum and maximum probation periods. Employers can set probationary periods in the employment contract. It is typical for a probationary period to last no longer than six months, and three months where an employee is moving to a new post internally.